Talking heads: What went wrong at Silverstone

The main story of the British Grand Prix took place away from the track in the mud and the jams. Could Silverstone have done better?

So, then, Silverstone - shambles or sublime?
Neither. The race was a bit 'meh' compared to some others we've seen this year, perhaps, but still pretty damn good and with a nice twist at the end. And, yes, there was a shambles on Friday with campsites turned into battlefields and people stuck in traffic jams for hours at a time, but it wasn't something they could ultimately control. Freak weather, in other words. But couldn't they have prepared better? The rain was forecast - and nothing new this summer...
A contingency plan was in place in the event of rain - but clearly not for the amount that actually fell. Also, organisers underestimated the number of spectators who turned up on Friday; they thought the weather would mean that people would stay away. By the sounds of it, they could have worked the A43 (the main road to the track) better - it's a dedicated route during the course of the weekend but apparently local traffic was directed towards Silverstone regardless of whether it actually wanted to go there. Also the park and ride scheme - which would have cut down on the traffic - was not operating on Friday because no deal could be reached with a bus company. Perhaps the biggest problem on Friday was that of campers turning up on spec. expecting pitches, only to be turned away because of the wet ground. Also, the temporary car parks were not usable and cars eventually had to be parked bumper-to-bumper on hardstanding ground. You say Silverstone 'underestimated' the number of people who turned up. But they sold the tickets. Surely they can't complain about people turning up?
They didn't complain. They asked people with the general parking pass not to come on Saturday and refunds have been offered for unused tickets from both Friday and Saturday. But that was after the horse had already bolted. In short, organisers were caught out by the weather. It's been the same with other events up and down the country. So if it rains again next season we'll have to go through this again?
I'm sure they'll learn and improve their contingencies. However, even if it were to rain that heavily again in 12 months' time, I doubt the British Grand Prix would pass without a hitch. I think when you have hundreds of thousands of people descending on a countryside location i.e. one that doesn't have urban infrastructure, then there will always be collateral problems - especially given such awful, awful weather. What Silverstone has to do is keep learning and improving. For example, it seems the problems didn't simply lie outside the perimeter fence: there was also mumbling that the track's drainage is not what it perhaps could be. So what they can do better? If not tarmac, then better directions perhaps? Or even metal sheets? (You know what I mean, the things that can be laid down for cars etc over grass...)
Silverstone have already said they hope to improve infrastructure and have planning permission for what they term 'The Masterplan' - a comprehensive development including more hotels, a museum, a karting track, a technology park, an outdoor stage...as well as further improved spectator facilities. However, these changes are dependent upon outside investment. Silverstone have already borrowed to pay for the improvements they've made so far and they're a marginal business at best. The grand prix is by far and away their biggest event of the year but even the