Silverstone finish 'jigsaw puzzle' with 'genuinely world class' reveal

Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle has explained that the venue has completed the "jigsaw puzzle" with the "genuinely world-class reveal" of its new KART Silverstone facility. 

Located close to the Silverstone Museum and the Brooklands, Luffield section of the track, the new facility boasts five different configurations of tracks in karts capable of reaching 55mph with 390cc engines.

The venue was formally opened on Wednesday by Mercedes F1 driver George Russell, with RacingNews365 in attendance, and sampling the 'Grand Prix' layout of the track, which takes in a section of the old Bridge corner, last used in 2009 before the current layout was adopted for 2010. 

Detailing the new facility, Pringle explained that it was "genuinely world class" and one of the "biggest investments ever made at Silverstone."

"This is the most important thing we have done at Silverstone, ever," Pringle explained at the launch of the KART Silverstone facility, attended by RacingNews365.

"Perhaps this is up there with running the first-ever Formula 1 world championship round in 1950, but having seen this run for the last month, you cannot overstate the impact of having karting activity right in the heart of Silverstone.

"It is introducing motorsport to everybody, young and old, and there are already children saying: 'Can I come back, I want to do more, how can I learn more?'

"The competitive karters are off the clock, they don't seem to go to school, they come here and test and here at all hours.

"We've got five British drivers in F1, and that is absolutely where we want this country to stay; it is what the BRDC stand for, not for profit, and this has been the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle, right here in the centre of Silverstone.

"The club has put its money where its mouth is. This is the biggest investment since the Wing was built, and it is one of the biggest investments ever made at Silverstone.

"It is something which is genuinely world class, because the importance is absolutely recognised and appreciated by everybody."