Silverstone gambling on Button success

By Phil Huff
September 6 2006

Silverstone are gambling on Jenson Button succeeding with Honda Racing F1 next year, offering visitors to the British Grand Prix a £50 refund should the Briton win the race.

Riding on the back of Button's Hungary success a couple of weeks ago, Silverstone Circuit are keen to create an electric atmosphere at the trackside, with British F1 fans clearly being encouraged to back Honda's race winner.

"It would be great if a British driver won. Jenson and David Coulthard always enjoy huge support at the British Grand Prix," says Richard Phillips, Managing Director at Silverstone, "but our offer to give fans £50 back if Jenson wins his home race will take that support to an entirely new level."

There's conditions, of course. The offer is only valid to those buying a full adult grandstand seat, so general admission ticket holders are excluded. These tickets must also be purchased from Silverstone directly.

Perhaps pre-empting yet another contract dispute, the conditions also explicitly state that 'Jenson Button must be driving for the Honda Racing F1 Team, otherwise the offer is void.'

Taking place on its traditional midsummer 6-8 July dates, the British Grand Prix sees ticket prices frozen for the third year running. General admission tickets are available at £99, with the cheapest grandstand seats starting at an additional £80. Tickets can be purchased at www.silverstone.co.uk, or via the phone on 08704 588 300.