Silverstone to host two races in August as part of revised Formula One season

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Credit: PA

Silverstone will host two races in August as part of the opening eight races of the revised 2020 Formula One season.

The Northamptonshire circuit will stage two British Grands Prix behind closed doors on consecutive weekends, with the first being held on August 2 and the second on August 9.

The news was announced by F1 on Tuesday, who confirmed the championship will kick-off with two races in Austria on July 5 and July 12, before heading to Hungary a week later.

Teams will then fly to Spain for a Grand Prix on August 16, before furtherraces in Belgium on August 30 and Italy on September 6.

The announcement is a huge boost for everyone connected with Silverstone after the government's new quarantine rules threatened to scupper the circuit's chances of staging the races.

Under the programme, which is due to be introduced on June 8, travellers arriving in the UK will have to self-isolate for 14 days, but elite sporting events are now set to be exempt.

In a statement posted on Twitter, a spokesperson for Silverstone said the circuit would provide the "perfect setting for a great show for everyone watching at home."

"We are pleased to be able to set out our opening eight-race calendar today and look forward to publishing our full calendar in the coming weeks," Formula One chairman Chase Carey said.

"While we currently expect the season to commence without fans at our races we hope that over the coming months the situation will allow us to welcome them back once it is safe to do, but we know the return of Formula 1 will be a welcome boost to sports fans around the world."

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