2007 BRITISH GRAND PRIX
SILVERSTONE - PREVIEW
The Honda Racing F1 Team heads to the British Grand Prix
at Silverstone this week for the first of its two home races
in the 2007 season. The British Grand Prix, held at the Silverstone
circuit located just eight miles from the Brackley factory,
is Round Nine of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship.
On the back of a stronger showing at the French Grand Prix
in Magny Cours last weekend, which resulted in the first points
finish of the season, the whole team will be looking forward
to Silverstone and the excitement of competing at a truly
classic racing circuit, much enjoyed by the team's drivers
Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.
Following the British Grand Prix, the Honda Racing F1 Team
will be opening the doors of its Brackley factory to the public
on Sunday 15 July for its very first Charity Open Day. This
special ticket-only event will be hosted by team ambassador,
Murray Walker, with Jenson Button as one of the many special
guests.
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO - Senior Technical Director
"The race in Magny Cours last weekend marked a more positive
step in the season for the Honda Racing F1 Team. Following
much hard work back at the factory and in testing, we achieved
our first point of the season. Jenson drove a good race, the
pace of the car was very encouraging and our strategy paid
off. We were a little worried about the levels of grip for
Rubens but this situation improved by the end of the race.
The French Grand Prix was a small step forward but a significant
one for the whole team. We can now go to our first home race
of the season at Silverstone with more confidence in our ability
to challenge for points finishes this weekend and at future
races."
JENSON BUTTON
"The British Grand Prix is always special for a British
driver and although we are a Japanese team, we are based just
down the road from Silverstone in Brackley. We took a step
forward with the performance of our car at the French Grand
Prix last weekend, so we are now making progress and I hope
that we can have a good race at Silverstone and be challenging
for a point or two.
"I love this high-speed circuit with the very quick change
of direction and there are great corners like Becketts and
Stowe. It's still a big challenge for F1 drivers today, especially
parts like Becketts. It's a very difficult complex and also
one that reminds you how quick a Formula One car is and how
special it is to be driving in F1. You can't help but exit
that complex with a big smile on your face! It still gives
me and all the other drivers such a great buzz. There are
some good overtaking possibilities and because it's such a
high-speed circuit, when they do happen it's such a big move.
Silverstone reminds me of the old days in racing in the 50s
and 60s, when you didn't have any slow corners, even though
the last two corners are pretty slow. Silverstone is one of
the best circuits in the world and for me it always will be.
"The whole weekend at Silverstone is special and you
can't underestimate the boost that a home crowd gives you.
This year there are four British drivers to please the fans
and that is just fantastic for British motorsport. You don't
perform any differently because that is down to the driver
but you do get a buzz throughout the whole weekend - just
driving through the gates every day, seeing all those flags
in the grandstand and all the additional events we take part
in. It's such a special feeling in my heart because it's my
home; it's where I'm from."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is a big weekend
for the Honda team so I'm pleased to be heading to our home
base on the back of an improved performance at Magny Cours.
We can definitely say that the performance of the car has
improved which is encouraging. There is always a lot of expectation
on our shoulders competing at Silverstone and although we
don't have the car to fight at the front, I think we can have
a good race and aim for the points.
"We don't tend to test much at Silverstone these days
but it will always be one of my favourite tracks. It's a high-speed
circuit with some very challenging corners and one that I
still really enjoy driving. I have some very special memories,
not least of winning here back in 2003. It will be a busy
weekend for us but an important one, so we will be giving
it everything we can right now."
SILVERSTONE, UK
No of Laps 60 laps
Circuit Length 5.141 km
Race Distance 308.355 km
The historic Silverstone circuit, located on the site of
a former airfield, is one of the few remaining high-speed
and flowing tracks on the calendar, and one where Formula
One cars can really be unleashed. As a result, it is one of
the highlights of the season for most drivers and has seen
some great races in recent years.
The circuit itself is a thrilling drive although there is
some criticism over a lack of passing places. Overtaking moves
are possible into Vale and Abbey, although cars tend to lose
downforce following each other closely through the preceding
fast corners. The entry to Becketts is the quickest corner
on the track, a 290kph bend, while the slowest section is
the 80kph Vale left-hander that leads directly into Club.
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