Silverstone attendance was third highest

Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, has heralded this year's FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX an overwhelming success and one of the biggest and best in recent years. The 120,000 race day attendance was the third highest of all time, with fans treated to a dramatic, action packed race at a sun drenched Silverstone.

Phillips commented: “The British Grand Prix was back to its very best this year. For us it's all about the fans' experience and I don't think the event could have gone any better. We had huge crowds here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – Sunday was our third biggest attendance of all time – and early feedback from the fans has been exemplary. The biggest indicator for us is on-event sales for next year's British Grand Prix, which were up 50% over the weekend. That alone speaks volumes about the success of this year's event.

“There was a real festival atmosphere; the sun shone, everyone got in and out of the circuit in record time and the race itself was full of drama, keeping us all on the edge of our seats. We almost had a British driver on the podium too – a few more laps and Lewis would have been up there. But if we can't have a British driver, we'll settle for two local teams; I was pleased for Mercedes and Red Bull.”

Race winner Nico Rosberg later joined British drivers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Paul Di Resta and Max Chilton, plus a host of British motor sport legends and current F1 drivers, at Silverstone's post-race Grand Prix Party on Sunday evening.

More than 18,000 fans stayed behind for the traditional post-race finale to hear from the drivers at the Grand Prix Party, which was free to all ticket holders.

All of the drivers were greeted on stage to rapturous applause, but the biggest cheers of the day were saved for the four British drivers and Mark Webber, who finished second at his final British Grand Prix.

Fellow F1 drivers Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Perez, Jean-Eric Vergne, Daniel Ricciardo and Jules Bianchi also made appearances on the Grand Prix Party stage, along with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, former World Champion Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan, BRDC President Derek Warwick and BBC presenter Suzi Perry. MotoGPâ„¢ star Cal Crutchlow, who will be back at Silverstone on 01 September for the Hertz MotoGPâ„¢ British Grand Prix, also joined host Tony Jardine on stage, having earlier met with Lewis Hamilton and visited the F1 Paddock and Grid.

The circuit's flagship event attracted attendances of 80,000 for Practice on Friday, 94,000 for Qualifying on Saturday and 120,000 on race day, combining to make 294,000 over all three days.

Richard Phillips also highlighted the success of the improved public transport offering for this year's British Grand Prix, plus the impact of the ever enthusiastic Race Makers: “We increased and improved the number of public transport options for this year's event and I am delighted with how it has all worked. There were very few, if any, delays getting in and out of the circuit, which is a major achievement for an event of our size. We also saw a lot more people car sharing. I would also like to thank the Race Makers who, along with my own superb team, helped us to deliver another fantastic British Grand Prix.”

Tickets for the 2014 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX are now on sale at Early Bird prices. Visit www.silverstone.co.uk, or call 0844 3728 300.