With Lewis Hamilton on pole again, Roy’s hoping for rain during the race, to make things “more interesting than the old procession, with the two Mercedes way ahead of everyone else.” With just 10 minutes to go, it’s pouring – and is that hail? Oh, wait – the sun’s come out!
Roy’s last British Grand Prix was about 30 years ago, he says. His cousin, Anthony (Tony) Jardine, was doing PR for Camel in those days – when cigarette brands were major sponsors of Formula One, along with JPS, Marlborough, Rothmans et al (and many of us used to smoke, remember?). Camel was sponsoring Lotus at the time, he says.
And here Roy is again – this time with me – at the 2016 British Grand Prix. Our tickets to the fabulous Woodcote Apex hospitality suite were arranged by Roy’s daughter Wendy as her gift to him for his 65th birthday (thanks again, Wendy!), once again through Tony. (He, of course, is still very involved in F1, and motor sports in general: he races and rallies in his own right.)
Silverstone is infamous for diabolical traffic, and the usual English midsummer rain makes things worse. Having set off from the marina at Reading at the ungodly hour of 6.15am, however, we had a clear run through. From our designated Parking Area 26, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Woodcote, and we walk in just in time for coffee and breakfast. Drinks flow from 10.30am all the way through to the suite’s closure at 6pm; a buffet lunch is served from 11.30am.
There’s plenty to keep the punters occupied at the F1 Village. Merchandise from the various teams is on sale; there’s a Giant Wheel, London Karting doing electric go-karts, Segways, a bungee trampoline and more. And I’ve been in England long enough to appreciate the fact that the weather’s mainly “dry” – actual sunshine is always hoped for, but never really expected.
When the race ends at 3pm, there’s the Grand Prix After Party, hosted by cousin Tony – The Feeling and The Dolls will perform. We have backstage tickets! – and a room for the night booked at The Bull, at Stony Stratford. Let the games begin!
