Australian Grand Prix 2013 Guide

Want to go to the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, but need some advice? Check out a guest piece for the blog by Dave Gregory.

Melbourne Grand Prix 2013 – Advice For Spectators

The Australian Grand Prix has been held annually at Albert Park in Melbourne since 1996 and for the majority of that time it’s been the traditional F1 season curtain raiser. It’s the time of year when, after months of hard work and mind games from the teams, the cars go head to head and race. Spectator numbers have been consistently high over the years and it’s one of the most popular races on the calendar for fans and teams alike.

Even though the 2012 season hasn’t finished yet, tickets are on sale for the 2013 season. Here’s some advice for spectators to make the most of the weekend.

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Choose the Best Parts of the Track

Albert Park is a good track that has plenty of decent spectator points. If you want to see the best action with general admission tickets, try and get a good spot near turns 4, 5, 6, 13 or 14. These are the corners that you’re likely to see some overtaking.

If you’re spending a bit more money for grandstand seats then there are a range of seats to choose:

·         The Jones Grandstand overlooks the first corner and is likely to see a lot of action, especially at the start. As a bonus, you’ll also get to see the grid and most of the pit lane.

·         The Piquet Grandstand at turn 3 and the Clark Grandstand at turn 9 offer similar chances to see overtaking.

·         The stands along the main straight give you the best view of the start/finish and also allow you to see the garages during the pit stops but they are often more expensive.

·         Finally, the Waite Grandstands overlooking turns 11 and 12 give you the opportunity to see just how much downforce a modern F1 car produces as they take these corners at very high speed.

Paddock Club Tickets

If you can afford Paddock Club tickets they are well worth the expense. Not only do you get access to the paddock (and in some cases the pit lane too) and therefore get the opportunity to see the drivers and teams preparing for the race, you also get to access to the paddock club itself which includes fine dining, drinks and the rooftop terrace. These tickets have to be bought for both Saturday and Sunday.

Get To the Track Early

The drivers often do autograph signings at various points during the weekend, usually early in the day so it is worth trying to get to these. Also, if you’ve got general admission tickets, getting there early allows you to get a good spot to see the track from.

If you’ve not been to the F1 before you may not be aware that there are a number of support races that go on. These include the Porsche Carrera Cup, V8 Supercars and Formula Ford, all of which offer exciting racing.

Ear Defenders

Without a doubt, the thing that makes the biggest impression when you attend your first F1 race is the noise. On TV, the cars sound quite loud but nothing can prepare you for quite how loud they are in real life. While your ears are certainly not going to suffer any lasting damage as a spectator at one race, it can still get uncomfortable after a while. Soft foam ear plugs can be obtained very easily and they certainly help to take the edge off. If you have children with you then it’s important that you buy ear defenders for them too.

Book Your Flights and Hotels Early

Flights to Melbourne at this time of year are very popular so it’s best to try and book them as soon as you’ve got your tickets sorted. Flights are also usually cheaper when being booked in advance and it’s a good idea to take the same approach with accommodation. Albert Park is very central in Melbourne so getting to and from the track is easy. It is renowned as a cultural centre and a fun loving town so booking somewhere central will give you the opportunity to experience what the city is all about.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Victoria Hotel in central Melbourne is a great place to stay. Those on a more modest budget should consider the Ibis or one of the many hostels in the city.

Transport

By far the simplest way to get to and from the track is by public transport. Trains and trams are free for F1 ticket holders all weekend. The three main tram services are The St Kilda Road GP Shuttle, The Clarendon Street GP Express and The Light Rail GP Express and during peak times these will be running every 2 minutes. The best stations to get trains from are Southern Cross and Flinders Street.

The Australian Grand Prix is always one of the highlights on the calendar and should be on the hit list of every F1 fan. What’s more, the city of Melbourne is a fantastic destination in its own right and you’ll certainly have a weekend to remember.