[Alan]

Thanks for the info guys, such a shame that given how much F1 costs, they can’t provide a bit of better support for fans. The reason I’m against the app is it’s very doubtful I will have access to mobile data as we’re travelling from the UK – in Singapore our hotel actually gave us a local phone with unlimited data which was also handy, though the battery was a bit poor.

@S2G-Unit, what is the FM radio commentary like? At Silverstone we’ve always took a FM radio with us as we can just tune into BBC Radio 5 Live (national sports radio station) or Silverstone FM (a popup radio station for the weekend with decent commentary), though I guess the purpose of the popup station is helped by the fact there’s quite a large camping attendance and they even sell FM radio headsets at the circuit.

I wish FOM would just get their act together and broadcast commentary like KangarooTV/FanVision used to, the BBC or Sky feed would be fantastic for travelling fans.

[Alan]

We’re going this year, looking at doing the Senna Trio tickets as we like moving grandstands per day. It says grand stand 12 rather than 11 though which from what I gather 11 is a bit better view, but I’m sure it’ll be good whatever. Never been to Canada before (we’re heading from the UK) so gonna extend our trip to Toronto too.

[Alan]

Thanks for the response and will take your advice on the last corner, looked a pretty good place to watch it from by the TV coverage too.

What’s the cellular signal like out there? I’m wondering if it would be worth picking up a data package to see live timing at least.

[Alan]

Hey guys, just wondering what mobile phone coverage is like? In particular 3g for the weekend? Planning on using phone to keep up to date with the lack of FanVision this season.

[Alan]

Awesome, thanks for the help!

[Alan]

Last time I was at Silverstone, there was Silverstone FM (radio station) but I didn’t have a portable radio so didn’t get to listen other than in the car at the campsite. With the loss of FanVision this year, can anyone confirm if they provided commentary so I can just use an analog FM radio (such as the one my phone has), or do I need to pick up a portable DAB/DTV for 5liveextra/BBC1 for commentary/video at the circuit? I know there’s big screens, but my experience is that you’re usually quite a distance away and sunshine can make it hard to see.

[Alan]

Cheers for the responses guys, nice to have a few more options ! :)

[Alan]

Hey guys,

We’re looking at going but being put off by the huge camping costs. Through the official site they list £60 as the price per person for camping at Woodlands, but surely it should just be the cost of the pitch. I went in 2010 and only had to pay a single fee (there were 3 of us, in seperate tents and my car) so wondering what other people have done for booking. I had a look at Litchlake which is basically £135 for 2 nights for 2 people which seems like a massive rip off to camp somewhere, especially after the expensive race tickets.

Any advice on booking camping near the circuit or is my only option to pay £120+ to camp?

[Alan]

@rodney What was the ticket price like? I tend to weigh flyaway races against European races if the ticket is substantially cheaper, as makes up for the flight and a nice flyaway holiday.

[Alan]

Yep a great weekend (slow reply as I continued my trip to Bruges after the Grand Prix)

I was in camping green too, in my pokey tent amongst all the (predominantly German) motorhomes! Can say I was somewhat jealous on the Friday but the rest of the was great, even saw Vergne hanging around as we were putting our tent up.

Only complaint was all the sideways fireworks and the guys watching hardcore porn at a loud volume – the guys who the bus looked really lonely as they’d brough so much stuff and no one wanted to hang around. Also completely random to hear Gangnam Style pumping out during the night.

Circuit itself is amazing, watched the Practices on Kemmel (walking or sat down), we watched Q from Pouhon and the race from Les Combes, had fan vision so didn’t need a screen to see the rest of the stuff – don’t know how the people around us followed the race without it.

Hilariously I bought an umbrella after mine perished in the umbrella graveyard that was the Kemmel Straight on Friday, and I still haven’t had chance to use, weather has been too nice since!

[Alan]

Great, cheers for the info guys – I’m in green camping also :)

Less than a week to go ! MERE DAYS now

[Alan]

Had an amazing time at this race last year, hope it does stay on the calendar (long enough for them to improve things further). I know the area was supposed to receive investment that fell through so that was a shame. Obviously the infrastructure needs investment, getting a taxi to an industrial estate and then a bus from there was a bit daunting for our first day, but the volunteers (civil servants) were amazingly helpful and so friendly.

I stayed in Gwangju, which I found on Saturday had very regular buses to the circuit which didn’t take too long (no traffic problems) and met lots of nice Koreans on the bus. I watched from the main grandstand (the rest of the stands are those scary scaffolding ones, but then that’s what most of Silverstone et al are). There was plenty of food shops and even a minimart by the stand, so could pick up some fresh food and cold cheap beers. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole event, I think the level of organisation is brilliant and puts races like Silverstone to shame where the aim seems to be try to and rip people off at every turn.

Only downsides of the Korea GP for me are the lack of support races, there was only really 1 real support race which had about 3 different formula racing in it to make up the numbers.

[Alan]

You could always buy some at a 7eleven then sit out on Clarke Quay (I know a lot of locals do this, thus avoiding the bar prices).

When I was there, the cheapest beer I had was at the sellers at the circuit, was about 6 dollars for a pint(ish) of Tiger :D

Next best place was one of the popular bars around Chijmes, or one of the places in Chinatown. They run pretty decent happy hours like 10 dollars for 2 Tigers.

[Alan]

@anonymouscoward did you ever get an answer to your question? I’m wondering the same actually.

[Alan]

I went in 2009, I got my tickets via WWTE (through the Formula 1 website). To pick them up I just had to go to the accreditation office which is the Mandarin Oriental hotel (middle of the circuit where all the teams/drivers stay :D), actually saw a FOTA meeting on the same floor.

Anyway, Singapore is amazingly organised and remains still the easier race I’ve ever been to (was my first so was obviously nervous!).

[Author]

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