EXCLUSIVE TACH COVERAGE

British Grand Prix

Reports from Andrew & Nicholas Frankl,
TACH European Bureau:

Silverstone GP Preview

or Damon-mania hits Britain

Andrew Frankl
European Bureau Chief

"Would you like a ticket Mister?"-said the rather shady looking character just outside this famous British Grand Prix circuit.

"How much?" said I tamely.

"150 pounds or about 225 dollars."

" Is that for a grandstand seat?"

" What are you, some sort of comedian? said afore mentioned gentleman and walked on by. "Just to get in, stupid!"-were his parting words.

Well, that just about sums up the situation. There isn't a single solitary ticket to be had for the British round of the l996 Formula One World Championship. The way 90 thousand tickets were sold -many exactly a year ago, the day after the l995 race you may well think that they are giving these away. Right? Wrong! Very wrong.

There is only untimed, unofficial practice on Friday and still you are looking at the sharp end of 50 dollars to get in and to get anywhere near the heart of the action.

Saturday ,when there is real qualifying is of course much more, something like 85 dollars per person-without a seat of course-and Sunday, well, you may have to take out a loan if you would like a couple of grandstand seats opposite the start/finish line. Hundreds of dollars and of course you have to get there in the first place.

Yesterday, Thursday, double world champion conceded the 1996 championship to Hill with a warning that he will take it away from him in 1997. It was fairly unpleasant, Michael finds it very difficult to say a good word about Damon whom he clearly consider s someone of lesser ability. This guy of lesser ability is at the time of writing the fastest man on the track whilst Schumacher is struggling in 8th place. What was that old proverb about people in glass houses throwing stones..?!

Fellow TACH correspondent Nicholas and I will be keeping you up to date with all the latest results and gossip as the weekend unfolds.