£20m Silverstone Experience finally opens doors

The Silverstone Experience, a £20m (US$25.7m, €23.1m) attraction that hopes to inspire a new generation of motor racing engineers, has opened at the famous Northamptonshire racing circuit.

Set inside a refurbished RAF hangar (Silverstone was originally a World War Two airfield), the new museum will be home to the archives of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), including items from the 1940s, as well as more recent Formula One memorabilia.

Additional displays will reflect the site’s wartime past, with RAF and WAAF uniforms, aircrew badges and part of the structure of a Wellington bomber on show.

Visitors will be able to take part in a range of activities, including changing a tyre on an F1 car, piloting a Wellington bomber plane on a recreated training machine and learning about the science behind modern-day motor racing. Sports museum specialists Mather & Co were responsible for designing the interactive features, while Cube Design handled the restoration and design of the 4,000sq m (13,100sq ft) building.

The project has taken seven years to bring to fruition, and has benefited along the way from a National Lottery Heritage Fund contribution, to the tune of £9.1m (US$11.7m, €10.5m), as well as patronage from HRH Prince Harry and stars from across motorsport, including former world champion driver Sir Jackie Stewart and commentator Murray Walker.

“Creating a home to tell the historic story of Silverstone was first discussed by the BRDC as long ago as 1971, so I am immensely proud to see this seven-year-long project come to fruition,” said Sally Reynolds, CEO of Silverstone Heritage ‒ the charity behind the initiative. “The talented and committed team of staff and suppliers behind the project have built an exceptional attraction that will inspire visitors with its incredible stories.”

The attraction will be open year-round and has free on-site parking, a cafe and gift shop. It’s opening had been delayed from July, after the project’s original contractor entered administration.