Silverstone Circuit on Race Day

This week, former World Champion Damon Hill, chairman of the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), and chief executive of Silverstone Circuits, Richard Phillips, confirmed Silverstone would once again host the British Grand Prix. It will also be a significant boost to the local economy, especially as the MotoGP, the motorbike equivalent to F1, will also be held at the track next year.

‘There are several Formula One teams and numerous motor sports suppliers that are based near Oxford Airport and of course we now have two UK World Champions with Jenson (Button) and Lewis (Hamilton)’ commented the airport’s MD, Steve Jones.

With Williams, Renault, Red Bull, Brawn and Force India’s teams within a short ride to Oxford, many such teams have depended on the regional airport for logistical support for decades.

‘A good proportion of our business traffic is motor sports and motor industry related. We see flights associated with local race teams routinely, including non-F1 businesses such as BMW, Aston Martin and Honda with their plants in Oxford, Gaydon and Swindon. ‘With Coventry Airport’s recent closure, some of the business aviation traffic that used to go there may well now come to Oxford rather than Birmingham as an alternative’ commented James Dillon-Godfray, Oxford’s Head of Development and Marketing. The airport recently changed its fuel supplier to Gulf Aviation who’s parent company is the sponsor of the local Oxfordshire-based Aston Martin Racing team managed by David Richard’s Prodrive.

The F1 and motor sports industry employs thousands of highly skilled individuals locally and as a knowledge-based profession, there are many synergies with the aerospace industry in general. At Oxford Airport in particular, engineers are often transferring from the aviation world to the motorsports industry and visa versa with companies such as Eurocopter who employ 200 staff at the airport.

In Silverstone’s recent past, Oxford Airport has also served as the primary hub for helicopter access and once saw over 900 race-related air movements in just two hours whilst the Grand Prix circuit has seen 4,200 helicopter movements in just one day. It is significant, the airport notes, that in spite of this background and experience, there is likely to be little access granted, if at all, for helicopters to get close to the forthcoming Olympic park in 2012 with heads of state and other dignitaries potentially having to endure considerable journeys to gain access to the games. Several VVIP aircraft will likely use Oxford at the time of the Olympic games.

The decision to retain the UK Grand Prix at Silverstone has at last given great comfort to the many operators based at Oxford Airport who support both the race but also the whole industry through the year.

For further information and related images contact:

London Oxford Airport
James Dillon-Godfray
Business Development Director
Tel: +44 (0)1865 290 710
Fax: +44(0)1865 290 605
jdg@oxfordairport.co.uk

Oxford, Formula 1 and the UK Motor Industry

London Oxford Airport is wholly owned by the Reuben Brothers. The Reuben Brothers’ investment activities include private equity and real estate ownership and development. Investments are predominantly based in the United Kingdom and Europe. Businesses include shopping centres, mixed use commercial real estate, data centres, public houses, hotels and development projects.