Silverstone shows off its new 'Wing'
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Mark Webber gave Silverstone's new pit and paddock complex an ear-splitting Formula One baptism on Tuesday as MotoGP great Valentino Rossi and a cast of champions looked on appreciatively.
The Australian's arrival in a darkened auditorium at the wheel of his howling Red Bull came at the end of the formal opening of a 27 million pound (US$43.91 million) facility designed to put the circuit back among the world's best.
"Pretty hard to find neutral on the steering wheel and switch the car off in the dark," grinned the Australian, last year's British Grand Prix winner, who took his time emerging from the cockpit after the dramatic entry.
Formula One champions John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jenson Button were in the audience along with grand prix veteran Stirling Moss and team bosses as the Duke of Kent then unveiled a commemorative plaque.
All were confident the 'Silverstone Wing' was the world-beater that would finally silence the British Grand Prix venue's critics.
"Silverstone, I hope, is going to be a world leader within the next 10 years," said 1992 world champion Mansell, a three-time winner at the circuit. "Silverstone has moved forward in a massive way."
Mercedes GP Ross Brawn agreed the 'Wing' was much needed.
"The history of Silverstone can't be manufactured," he said. "There's a few iconic things in Formula One - Ferrari, Silverstone, one or two others. You can't manufacture that, it's created in history and we have to preserve that."
Silverstone hosted the first Formula One championship race in 1950 but has been taken to task repeatedly in recent years by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who famously likened it to a 'country fair masquerading as a world event'.
The 80-year-old Briton was conspicuous by his absence, despite having earlier accepted an invitation to attend. Instead he sent a message congratulating the owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, while unable to resist a sting in the tail.
"Rest assured that I followed all the progress from planning through to the current launch," he declared.
"The new pit and paddock complex is a state-of-the-art facility and will form the backbone of Silverstone's plans to be a world class facility in its time.
"I am delighted with the progress and prospect for the future of Silverstone. It's a great shame it couldn't have been completed 10 years ago."
Hill, the 1996 champion and BRDC president, said he would have liked to see Ecclestone attend but his no-show was not taken as a slight.
"Much of this is the way it is because of the way Bernie wanted it. So he's got what he wanted," he told reporters. "We're very pleased with the fact he's pleased with it."
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