The BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) spent £7 million to add a new “Arena” section to the fabled Silverstone circuit.  But the real fear was that F1 would cancel the British GP, as Bernie Ecclestone has repeatedly threatened over the years.

The re-design has stretched its length to 3.66 miles, cutting out Bridge and Priory, instead heading infield from Abbey, onto the newly-named Farm Curve, Village corner, The Loop, Aintree corner and Wellington Straight, before rejoining the old track at Brooklands. It is the first step in a £40 million overhaul of the Northamptonshire circuit which will also bring a new pit and paddock complex in time for next season’s British Grand Prix.

New Silverstone Unveiled [Sky Sports]. Next year will see the start-finish line moved and a new pits and paddock. The start-finish line will be moved in 2011 to the other side of the track, making the first corner of the new complex unveiled on Wednesday the first corner of the lap. “The good thing is that they have kept all the good stuff,” said Mark Webber, who was second at Silverstone in 2009. Silverstone unveils new grand prix layout | BBC Sport F1.

It seems to be a good tweak of the oldest track in F1 — home to the first World Championship Grand Prix race in 1950 — which has been revised over the years in an effort to keep speeds in check. David Coulthard gave the new Silverstone layout a thumbs-up after becoming the first driver to complete a lap of it with Formula 1 machinery.