British Grand Prix green light for fans "saved Silverstone" that was "staring over the edge"

British Grand Prix

British Grand Prix green light for fans "saved Silverstone" that was "staring over the edge"

Capacity crowd expected across July 16-18

Ian Parkes

Friday 9 July 2021 14:52

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Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle has revealed the UK government's decision to allow fans for next weekend's British Grand Prix has stopped the circuit from going out of business.

The venue will host capacity crowds across July 16-18, with 140,000 on race day expected after the government stated the event would form part of its Event Research Programme [ERP as the country emerges from the Covid-19 bubble.

After Silverstone staged the British and the 70th Anniversary Grands Prix last year without fans, Pringle has declared if the race had gone ahead again on this occasion with empty grandstands it would have sounded the death knell for the fabled track.

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With regard to the government's decision to open the gates to fans, speaking on the Silverstone podcast, Pringle said: "It was absolutely critical.

"Put it another way, if we hadn't [have been able to welcome fans] our entire viability, our ability to survive Covid was probably stacked against us.

"I know for a fact, technically, we would not have been a viable business.

"There's always a bit of wiggle room and ways you may be able to get around it but we were staring over the edge.

"It was highly, highly marginal and this decision has secured Silverstone."

"Logical" Silverstone is being used a test venue

The British Grand Prix will serve as the last of the UK government's ERP test events as the likes of Wembley has been opened up to fans for Euro 2020, and Wimbledon for the tennis before the last of the major lockdown restrictions end on July 19.

Pringle believes the right step has been made given the number of spectators that will again be seen at Silverstone.

"It's really logical the government chose the British Grand Prix to be the final, and the largest of the test events because we are the last day before life restarts," he said.

"The events research programme [ERP], which we are now part of, has been working away for some months now, steadily increasing the volume of spectators at events, analysing the data that is acquired on each occasion and only when it is understood, and understood to be safe, is the next level stepped up to.

"So actually, it is right and logical that a large outdoor venue not served by public transport in the large part is going to host the largest of the sporting trial events.

"Hopefully a lot of data will be gathered so that if football this winter has to deal with a spike in Covid, there is a plan on the shelf that can keep sport and business alive in this country."