Published July 17, 2011 17:32
BUKC 2011 winners Bath A had the experience of a life time as VIP guests of Red Bull F1 Racing Team at Silverstone.
Rubbing shoulders with F1 drivers and team principles the day before a GP weekend isn't the stuff that most people usually get the chance to experience, but that's exactly what the team from Bath University got the chance to do as VIP guests of the Red Bull F1 Team.
The day started early as the team consisting of Dave Turton, Chris Bell, Jaques Jenson & Fred Martin-Dye arrived outside the Red Bull F1 factory in Milton Keynes. Bleary eyed and barely awake, it was thought that it would be a good idea to have a Red Bull - the first of many on this very special day.
It was time to get the Red Bull mini-bus to Silverstone and 20 minutes later the team were being driven directly into the heart of the F1 paddock, VIP passes at the ready.
Now, a Thursday at a Grand Prix meeting could be mistaken for a rather boring day, after all there is no action on the track and it would seem, given that there were hardly any people wondering around looking glamourous that this is what most people think too. But, you'd be far from wrong.
First of all the team were taken to Red Bull's humongous and stupidly impressive energy station. The building takes 2 days to erect and 8 lorries to transport. Red Bull have two of them for when the races are on back to back weekends. It's where the engineers, drivers & team principles have their dinners. It's where the multi million dollar sponsors schmooze and booze on the GP weekends. It's where they look after their VIP guests with 5 star service and gourmet food. And for this special day, the BUKC team from Bath University were Red Bull's special guests. Time to chill and drink coffee and more Red Bulls at their energy station taking it all in.
Half an hour later after a quick walkabout behind the back of Silverstone's new "Wing" comparing the motor homes of all the F1 teams, the team from Bath were been taken inside, yes INSIDE, the Red Bull garage and at close up got to see Sebastien Vettel's RB7 - Kinky Kylie - naked, in the flesh. She was stunning. And no, we couldn't take photos - that would have been inappropriate.
After gawping at Kylie's rear end, which can only be described as engineering porn, the team were given free reign to hang out around in the pit lane and bump into many of the F1 drivers about to commence their pit-walk. Rubens Barrichello, Timo Glock, Nick Heidfeld (likes to grunt), Heikki Kovaleinen, Paul Di Resta. It was pretty awesome. Then a quick pose for the camera on the starting grid.
Time for lunch at the energy station - a three plate gourmet meal of mouth watering deliciousness, various bottles of beer and glasses of wine. The winning BUKC team from Bath University were truly treated like VIPs.
Then to top it all off the team bumped into Christian Horner (who congratulated the team for winning the BUKC - how did he know to do that?) and Mark Webber got up from his lunch to have a chat with everyone as well. It was amazing and Mark is a thoroughly nice guy. Apparently the BUKC sounds a lot more fun than F1. Is that cool?
Then back to the factory for a tour around their amazing facilities. It was an experience of a life time and a day to be remembered. Many thanks to the Red Bull F1 Racing Team!
