British Grand Prix look set to be a record-breaker

Silverstone are anticipating a potential record crowd for this weekend's British Grand Prix after announcing that race day is a sell-out.

Although tickets are still available for the two practice sessions tomorrow and qualifying on Saturday, it appears likely sales will top the 310,000 mark over the course of the three days.

"We expect this year's British Grand Prix to attract one of the biggest three-day crowds in the event's history," said Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips. "We anticipate nearly 90,000 people on Friday, over 100,000 on Saturday and a record crowd of over 120,000 on race day. We certainly have all the ingredients for this year's race to be one of the best in recent memory. It will certainly be one of the biggest."

Taking pride of place at the circuit this year is the new pit and paddock complex, a 390-metre long building that cost 27 million, known as the Silverstone Wing.

"The atmosphere will be incredible over all three days," added Phillips. "We can not wait to see the new Silverstone Wing being used for our flagship event. In addition to the Wing, we have a new start-finish straight, a new first corner for the drivers to tackle, new and improved viewing for the spectators and three British drivers to get behind.

"After all the hard work, we cannot wait for the action to start on Friday."

Lewis Hamilton can't wait either. After all the doom and gloom that emanated from the driver after the European Grand Prix ten days ago, Hamilton has since understandably made way for the anticipation that comes with a race on home soil.

The likely record attendance suggests real support for Hamilton and McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, despite the grave championship picture, as no-one appears capable of halting Sebastian Vettel's charge towards back-to-back titles.

Despite a scenario in which Vettel has won six of the eight grands prix so far to lead Button by 77 points and Hamilton by 89, the latter has his sights set on a rare British feat.

"The dream for us would be to have a one-two at Silverstone," said Hamilton. "That would be the best weekend I could ever imagine in Formula 1.

"The dream would be to see what kind of effect that would have on everyone. I think the atmosphere would be unreal.

"When I got pole position in 2007, that was insane, and when I won in 2008, that was also insane. But just imagine having a British one-two in a British team, that would be a weekend that would go down in history."