Comments on: Formula One Factories: Honda & Super Aguri

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:01:10 +0000

Thanks Shaun. I too have found it strange that Formula One, the pinnacle of international motor sport, is run out of some very strange and isolated buildings. BMW’s Hinwil factory is opposite an abattoir, Super Aguri’s are built in a bungalow and those crazy kids at Red Bull are located in Milton Keynes of all places.

It’s not exactly glamorous, is it!?

By: shaun

shaun — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:27:36 +0000

I dare say you know where all the factories are Oliver; but just in case…
The Williams factory is just outside Wantage; if you leave the Town on the Grove road.I pass it a couple of times a week if i’m out there on business.See if you can get the attention of Sir Frank by taking the mini roundabout opposite the entrance with plenty of speed, ha ha.
The Renault factory is also local to me.It is based in the – well, middle of no-where.Just take the Woodstock road to a place called Enstone, and as you pass by the airfield – which is on your right [travelling from Bicester] – about two miles further on on your left you will see the blue Renault factory hidden in the picturesque countryside of the Cotsworlds.I often cycle pass it and have to shake my head in amazement at the thought of such fame and fortune produced from such a building which is kind-of…off the beaton track, so to speak.
Anyway, good luck with the tour and i hope i’ve been some sort of help mate.

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:57:30 +0000

Good point, Oliver! I don’t know about the speed camera on the A43 because I’ve not been to Silverstone since 2002 (when that part of the A43 was still a building site). Hope you enjoy your little tour of the factories

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:42:25 +0000

Thanks Ali. Yeah, Silverstone is along the F1 corridor so It’ll probably be included, although I’ll always consider it the Jordan factory until another team spends more then ten minutes there!

And I hate travelling to Silverstone because of that nasty speed camera that crops up on the A43.

If readers click Brackley’s Google Maps link in the post above and zoom out a bit (to about 50%), Silverstone is located North East of the Honda factory.

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:12:59 +0000

Oliver, if you pop seven miles down the road, you’ll find the Force India factory (follow the signs for Silverstone, but turn right instead of left at the main entrance).

I remember seeing the Honda (then BAR) factory as the bus I was on went past on the way to Reading in 2003. I thought “very swish!” as I saw the shiny outer surfaces, but if I’d known the other side of it looked like the local council scrapyard, maybe I wouldn’t have got so excited…

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:28:19 +0000

Thanks Shaun. I’ve got me some time off work in February and intend visiting a few factories in the F1 corridor, I’m sure Brackley is on the list.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:57:59 +0000

Thanks for the link (this has been reciprocated) to my site featuring the out-buildings at the Honda factory Oliver.
They were taken last year by my Dad – he remembers watching Stirling Moss, you know – but since these pictures were taken the ugly outage buildings have been pulled down to make way for a visitors centre or something.
Keep up the good work on the site and i will certainly be checking it out on a regular basis.Not long now till they blast off in March, oh yeah!.