The British Grand Prix is now a motorsport Glastonbury

The British Grand Prix has transformed at Silverstone into an event closer to a major music festival than a traditional race weekend, with organizers expecting a Formula One record crowd of 565,000 fans this year. The article contrasts this with earlier trouble around British GP dates, including severe mud and gridlock during the 2000 race in late April, when traffic stretched up to 15 miles and approach roads bogged down. It also cites financial strain in later years, including a £4m spend in 2012 for extra machinery after organizers had to urge tens of thousands of fans to stay away, plus estimated annual losses that could reach £5m and about £50m in total in the 2010s. Today’s weekend adds large-scale entertainment beyond motorsport, listing performers such as David Guetta, Richard Ashcroft, James Arthur and Chase and Status, plus late-night DJs including Rudimental, Pendulum and MK. A new Sheffield Hallam University study says Silverstone generated £167m in UK economic activity last year.