How would you react if the sports team you had avidly followed since the late 1970’s sent you an email such as the following?
You could probably hear my screams of excitement from where you are when this dropped into my email box!
Welcome to Silverstone
We had been asked to get to Silverstone car park 49 for 7:45 from where we were bused to the pits. Williams had taken over four of the garage bays – two for the launch event and two for running the FW47 throughout the day. Down the middle of the garage was a show car in the livery that was going to be used today before the race livery is revealed on Tuesday. The car also served the purpose of separating the fans from the team personnel, sponsor guests and journalists!
The launch event was to be live-streamed at 9:30, and we were asked not to take any pictures of the car until 10 when the embargo was lifted for the press. Channel 4’s Steve Jones compared the event, and we were treated to interviews with Team Principal James Vowles, driver pairing Alex Albon and new boy Carlos Sainz, and Williams ambassador Jenson Button.
We were told in advance that there would be no meet-and-greet possibilities, and that was the case for the drivers, but I was able to snag a couple of selfies with Vowles and Button, both of whom were very generous with their time on what must have been a particularly busy day.
Immediately the presentation was over, Sainz hopped into the car and took it out for the first laps. Compared to previous seasons, where in some cases the car hasn’t even been ready, this seemed to be a particularly smooth run, and there were no times when it stopped on track. Due to FIA restrictions, the number of laps was limited, and the tyres were not slicks, so there is only so much you can tell, but at least it is running.
Trips and Tours
That over Williams could have chosen to send us on our way and got on with the test without a load of guests to deal with, instead, they treated us to a number of different activities.
Firstly, we were bused to Stowe corner where we stood in freezing conditions (I was thankful for my new Atlassian Williams Racing beanie!) waiting for Carlos to come by which he did a couple of times.
Back at the pits, we were treated to a visit into the garage where the car was being prepared, ready for the next run. I found myself standing next to Carlos Sainz’s manager, Carlos Oñoro, who was there watching his cousin test. The covers were off the back of the car so we could see details that you don’t normally get to see, and Sainz was there debriefing his engineers and getting ready for his next run. As we exited I was within touching distance of Sainz but we’d been warned off doing so!
Finally, we were taken to an area it seems very few get to visit – race control, the cool down room and podium. Race control was very cool with a huge banks of monitors across one wall (see image in gallery below) which had live feeds covering about 98% of the track. The guys working in there gave an interesting talk about the work they do, including working the automated signals around the track. As we were in there Sainz entered the pitlane and we saw him pass us outside the window.
The cool down room was empty so not very interesting but being taken out onto the podium and standing on the top spot was a real privilege. I just hope that we see Alex and Carlos up there very soon.
Thanks, Williams
I need to say a massive thank you to Williams for not only inviting me to the event but making the day such a special one. Everyone I spoke to from the team was very welcoming and the tours laid on a great bonus. I hope it’s not another 48 years before I get invited to another one!
