Police have warned the estimated 300,000 motor racing fans heading to Silverstone this week to leave the sat navs at home and rely on an old-fashioned map to get to the Northamptonshire circuit.
Officers say some sat navs will not pick up the temporary road changes and closures over the weekend, warning the event’s traffic plan could take motorists who are reliant upon a sat nav on “a road to nowhere”.
Police are also asking race goers to leave other valuables at home and not bring them to Silverstone unless “absolutely necessary”.
Superintendent Sean Bell, the event commander, said: “The one-way system and the local road closures for the event will only update the newest sat nav devices, many will not update this information.
“I would advise drivers coming to the Grand Prix to leave them behind because if you closely follow the signs on the main routes and then on the approach to the circuit, they will get you where you want to be.
“They are also a desirable piece of kit for an opportunist thief, so by not leaving them in your car or accommodation you also reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.
“If you really can’t go without the sat nav, then we would advise you to remove it from the vehicle and keep it with you at all times.”
The A43, between Towcester and Syresham, will be closed on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Grand Prix weekend to accommodate the race traffic.
One-way systems will be in place to funnel traffic into the circuit and diversion routes are in place for all other traffic wanting to avoid the Silverstone area.
The main regional diversion route for traffic that would ordinarily use the A43 to travel between the M1 and M40 on Friday morning and evening is as follows:
M1 Junction 15 – A508 to Stony Stratford – A422 to Buckingham – A421 to join the A43 south of Brackley – A43 to M40 Junction 10
M40 Junction 10 – A43 to A421 turn – A421 to Buckingham – A422 to Stony Stratford – A508 to M1 Junction 15.
The best routes in and out of Silverstone, and any local roads information, is best accessed via our website www.northants.police.uk/silverstone