Silverstone's Members' Days Are Becoming Harder to Get Into
For most of the past decade, the calendar of members' trackdays at Silverstone has been a generous one, with enough open sessions through the spring and summer that any member with a road-registered performance car could, with a fortnight's notice, expect to find a place.
That has changed. The 2026 calendar shows 38 members' days against 54 in 2022, with the cap on cars per session reduced from 40 to 28. The circuit has cited two reasons: a tightening of the operating licence terms imposed by Northamptonshire authorities after a series of complaints in 2023, and the new insurance regime which requires individual underwriting for each participating vehicle valued above £400,000.
What the insurance change means
The underwriting requirement, introduced for the start of the 2025 season, has had the practical effect of pricing some of the most prestigious cars out of certain sessions. A McLaren Senna or Aston Martin Valkyrie now attracts a per-day track insurance premium that can exceed £4,500 depending on the operator and the cover requested. Several members we spoke to confirmed that they now run their hypercars only at private events organised by the manufacturer, where the manufacturer's umbrella policy is in force, and reserve their Silverstone outings for cars closer to the £250,000 mark.
The allocation lottery
With fewer sessions available, the circuit has moved to a balloted allocation for the most popular dates. Members are entered into the ballot at no cost; successful applicants pay the standard session fee. The system has been broadly welcomed, although a number of long-standing members have raised concerns about the small number of corporate hospitality slots reserved outside the ballot. The circuit's commercial director, addressing the members' committee in February, defended the reservations as necessary to maintain the financial viability of the programme.
For the 2027 season, the indication is that the calendar will remain broadly stable. The cap on cars per session may rise marginally if a planned upgrade to the pit lane signalling system is completed on schedule. Members hoping for a return to the open access of five years ago should not expect it.
