By Red Bull Racing
April 30 2010
Bishops, Princes and Mark Webber were all at Silverstone yesterdayday to witness the opening of the new-look circuit where Red Bull will be looking to re-create their dominant 1-2 finish of 2009.
The track layout has been re-configured and lengthened and was unveiled by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. Webber described the occasion as “a great day for British motorsport.”
The first person to drive a single-seater around the new Silverstone was David Coulthard in the Red Bull Running Showcar. The Duke of York was taken for two laps in a two-seater by former world champion and British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) president Damon Hill, but didn’t look as if he enjoyed the experience…
Afterwards, DC who has won here twice, said: “It will be interesting to drive it at proper speed, if you make a mistake someone will make a runner out of you. “It was great to be one of the first F1 cars to drive around. I've raced at Silverstone since 1989 so I’ve seen many different tracks, configurations and this one is one of the best they have come up with."
The BRDC owns Silverstone which will host the MotoGP and World Superbikes races this season as well as the British Grand Prix. Earlier the Bishop of Brixworth, Rt Rev Frank White blessed the track before DC, Mark Webber and motorcycling father and son racers Ron and Leon Haslam spayed champagne across it.
Other guest included our own Christian Horner, former driver Sir Jackie Stewart and Mercedes’ Nick Fry.