With the FIA F1 World Championship finely balanced, the British faithful will be in for a treat this weekend as the ninth round of the series roars away from the starting grid.

The top four in the Drivers' Championship are separated by just ten points, with Ferrari's Brazilian star, Felipe Massa, leading the way.
Poland's Robert Kubica (BMW-Sauber) is just two points back, with 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen a further three. Britain's Lewis Hamilton is fourth, although after a strong early start to the year, he has seen his form dip during recent races in Canada and France.

However, Hamilton topped the Silverstone testing timesheets last week and is in a confident mood ahead of arriving at Silverstone.

He said on Monday: "The Silverstone crowd is great. To see so many people waving their flags is such a boost – I want to do a great job and win for them!"

Hamilton will be joined on the Silverstone grid by fellow Brits, Jenson Button and David Coulthard.
Both Button and Coulthard have found the going tough at times this year.

Button's Brackley-based Honda team will be hoping he can perform well in his home race, the team's local event, while Coulthard, a previous British Grand Prix winner, acknowledged earlier this week that this year's British Grand Prix could be his last.

Joining Button in the local cars will be Rubens Barrichello, another former Silverstone race winner, for Honda, while Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will drive the Silverstone-based Kingfisher-sponsored Force India-Ferrari cars.

Damon Hill, 1996 F1 world champion and president of the BRDC, said this week: "Silverstone is ready for a great weekend of motor racing. The British Grand Prix is one of the leading sporting spectacles to take place in our country each year and I have no doubt in my mind that the 2008 event will be another thriller."

Track action starts from 8.45am today (Friday).
Races for the GP2 Series, Formula BMW Europe, Porsche Supercup and Historic Sportscar Challenge take place during Saturday and Sunday, with the Santander British Grand Prix – round 9 of the 2008 FIA F1 World Championship – starting at 1pm on Sunday.

For details of road closures and diversions, click here.