Press release

Traffic advice for British Grand Prix

Motorists advised to plan ahead for their journeys ahead of this week’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

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Motorists using the M1 and the A43 in the East Midlands and the M40 around Oxfordshire, are being advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys ahead of this week’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Some 330,000 people are expected to attend the 10th round of this year’s Formula 1 Championship, between Thursday, 7 July, and Sunday’s race day.

Highways England’s East Midlands Emergency Planning Officer Sandie Higginbotham said:

We do all we can to alleviate congestion and keep the traffic flowing but we’d like to remind drivers that obviously it will be busier than usual in the Silverstone area.

We work with our emergency service colleagues and the event organisers to ensure those heading for the Grand Prix get there with minimum disruption or delay.

Our aim is to keep the Highways England network running whilst keeping Grand Prix goers and other road users safe and informed. Our advice is to check our traffic and travel information channels, set off early and allow plenty of time when journey planning.

On 8, 9 and 10 July, the A43 will be closed to through traffic between Brackley and Towcester. The road is planned to be closed from 5am until 9pm each day but this one-way system into Silverstone is intended to be dynamically managed to cater for demand. Non-race traffic is advised to avoid the area if at all possible. Road users heading for the Grand Prix will be directed along one-way systems, and this system will be reversed as traffic leaves the event.

Highways England will use its electronic message signs on approaching motorways to give drivers information about any diversions and delays, and provide up-to-the minute traffic information via local radio and our website.

Further information, including travel updates, can be found on the Silverstone website.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Updates to this page

Published 5 July 2016