Vale corner is one of the best overtaking spots on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. The huge general admission spectating area here, plus the massive Vale grandstand give some of the best views to watch the action from.
This article provides all the detail you need about spectating at Vale, including images and videos of the view, grandstand seating plans, info on the big TV screens, nearest entrances and lots more.
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Where is Vale at Silverstone?
Vale corner is a left-right chicane which is classed as corners 16 and 17 on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit configuration.
It is right near the end of a lap, directly after the fast Stowe right hander. It is a very tight and slow chicane which leads on to the faster right hand corner of Club, before crossing the start / finish line on the following Hamilton Straight.
Map below courtesy of the Silverstone website.
Whether the Formula One or MotoGP is racing here, this spot is always a great place to see some overtaking. The heavy braking zone in to the first left hander of Vale always invites drivers, or riders, to dive up the inside of their competitors.
Vale grandstand tickets
Vale stand is incredibly popular so tickets usually sell out fast for the F1. If that’s the case but you still want to try and sit here, I’d suggest buying tickets through Viagogo or StubHub.
They always have lots of tickets for sale, including single-day options. Tickets can appear for sale on either site cheaper than list price in the run-up to the event.
I’ve used both sites for Formula 1 tickets lots of times over the last couple of years, including when I went to the first Las Vegas GP. I’ve always had a great experience with them and will definitely use them again.
They also have a very good ‘FanProtect guarantee’ which means your tickets and money are well protected.
What's the view like from Vale?
Whether you are stood in the general admission area or seated in the grandstand, you can see pretty much the same amount of track. Both the standing area and grandstand are on the left hand side of the circuit on the straight run between Stowe and Vale. The grandstand is adjacent to the Club Corner A stand, to its left.
From the spectating area, to your right you can see the cars as they apex and exit Stowe Corner. They will speed along from right to left in front of you as they hit the brakes for Vale.
You can see them through both the left and right sections of Vale, and will be able to follow them all the way around Club Corner as they enter the Hamilton Straight. The cars will go out of sight as they pass by the start of the pit wall and pitlane buildings. You also have a great view of the pitlane entry.
The general admission standing area in front and to the right of the grandstand is huge, one of the biggest at Silverstone. It means that if you’re standing you can get pretty close to the edge of the track but the grandstand is pushed back a little way further to make room for all the other spectators.
Bear in mind that the grandstand is higher up, so if you’re seated in the stand you will have a slightly better overall view than if you’re stood in the general admission area.
The image below shows the areas of track that are visible from the Vale grandstand highlighted in pink.
This video below filmed at the F1 at Silverstone gives a perfect example of how much can be seen of the action, in both directions.
Is Vale a good place to sit?
At big events such as the F1 and MotoGP Vale always has a great atmosphere as there are so many spectators here.
The views gives you a range of experiences; firstly the F1 cars coming around Stowe at high speed with their downforce pinning them to the track is a sight to behold.
Secondly, Vale corner is one of the best overtaking corners at Silverstone, where the most overtaking moves are likely to happen. Perhaps the only other spot on the track that sees so much overtaking action is the tight right of Village corner.
As well as the on-track action, the podium is only just out of sight. If you wanted to see some celebrations at the end of the race it is only a very short walk to the Silverstone Wing building where the podium is located.
For those camping at Silverstone campsites such as the Golf Club, Woodlands and the Ridings are the shortest walk to Vale corner.
Is Vale grandstand covered?
Vale grandstand is not covered, it is completely open to the elements.
Are there big TV screens visible from here?
There are a couple of giant TV screens on the other side of the track that are visible from here. The first is as you look back towards Stowe on the inside of the circuit.
The second is as you look towards Vale on the inside of the track right at the turn in point. There were actually 2 separate screens here in 2022, but only the right hand of these was angled towards Vale. Bringing a pair of your finest binoculars is never a bad idea.
Additionally there is one extra screen just for the general admission spectators. This is directly adjacent to the Vale grandstand, to the right of it. It means you have to turn around to look at it but it is much closer and easier to see than the ones across the track.
Vale grandstand seating plan
Below is the seating plan for Vale grandstand. Enter your name and email in the boxes below and the full hi-res plan will be sent straight to your inbox.
Vale is a one of the biggest grandstands at Silverstone. The rows go from A (front / lowest) to U (back / highest) and seat numbers run from 1 (closest to Stowe) to 297 (closest to Vale). There is no row I (eye).
There isn’t much difference in what you can and can’t see based on your seat in the grandstand. One thing to consider is the large spectator screen just to the right of the stand. If you are sat on the extreme right hand side this can potentially obstruct your view up to Stowe.
Nearest spectator entrance
Entrance gate 15 is the closest to Vale, it is directly behind the grandstand and spectating area. Gate 10 (near Stowe) and gate 16 (near Abbey) are both only a short walk away too.
Other Silverstone Grandstands
Check out my spectating guides for all other grandstands at Silverstone:
- Abbey grandstands
- Becketts grandstands
- Chapel grandstand
- Club corner grandstands
- Copse grandstands
- Farm Curve grandstands
- Hamilton Straight grandstands
- Luffield grandstands
- National Pit Straight grandstands
- Stirling grandstands
- Stowe grandstands
- The View grandstands
- Village grandstands
- Woodcote grandstands
Given a choice betwen Abbey, Vale, or Becketts, which grandstand would you chose?
Vale – likely to see some overtaking in to the club chicane.