Silverstone track configuration undecided

The new Arena section – seen in the middle of the picture – could be used for this year's race

Organizers at Silverstone are yet to confirm whether this year's British Grand Prix will be staged on the traditional Grand Prix circuit or whether a switch to the new Arena layout will take place. The race, Round 10 of the 2010 World Championship, will be held on 11 July.

With the new Arena setup having been chiefly introduced for the MotoGP event, which moves from Donington Park, Silverstone Managing Director Richard Philips admits that plans are not yet confirmed with regards to which track configuration will be used for the F1 race.

"We're doing a lot of work at the moment," Phillips said at the Autosport International show on Thursday. "If you went to Silverstone now, you wouldn't recognize it; we're building the new Arena circuit and it's gone to the FIA for homologation, so we should be able to run MotoGP and F1 on it.

"The issue, really, for 2010 is whether we can do that logistically – we maybe have issues with the Paddock Club, Paddock Club parking and things like that."

Phillips added that much work is currently ongoing on all parts of the Northamptonshire venue, with the Stowe circuit also being modified. The new Arena layout will see competitors turn right at Abbey, onto the International Circuit (in the opposite direction) before a new complex of corners leads the track onto the National Straight and down to Priory corner.

The introduction of the Arena circuit could cause upsets for F1 enthusiasts, however, as the high-speed Bridge corner – generally regarded as one of the best in the sport – would not be featured. gpupdate.net