Aggregate Industries resurfaced the Silverstone circuit earlier in the year in a multi-million pound deal. The company was not shy of promoting the fact on social media:
Racing circuits is just one application our #asphalt division covers. We manufacture and supply British and European standardised asphalt, including our recent resurfacing work at @SilverstoneUK 🏎 https://t.co/3WYBMnpkWz pic.twitter.com/ekyj29u85k— Aggregate Industries (@AggregateUK) March 5, 2018
Looking forward to today's @F1 #BritishGP at @SilverstoneUK? Earlier this year, our racing circuit experts helped to resurface the track at the historic home of British motorsport 🇬🇧 🏎 pic.twitter.com/EzHVJN4Sgk— Aggregate Industries (@AggregateUK) July 8, 2018
Thumbs up 👍 @MotoGP star @calcrutchlow has given his seal of approval for the new @SilverstoneUK track surface we recently laid at the historic racing venue https://t.co/HpMgcrbGtp pic.twitter.com/8DHobx1V06— Aggregate Industries (@AggregateUK) May 18, 2018
But the crowing has backfired – big time.
In July, Lewis Hamilton slammed the new surface as "wasted money, which could've gone to much better use":
Mercedes #F1 driver Lewis Hamilton slams the new Silverstone track surface for this year's #BritishGP as a "waste of money":https://t.co/DlP0lY6O3U— Autosport (@autosport) July 7, 2018
It's bumpier than the Nordschleife, which is 100 years old. It's rattling your freaking eyeballs out of your brain.
Apart from that it's fantastic but jeez, they need to hire someone better. I don't know how you could do such a bad job in layering the track.
But this weekend, publicity for AI got a whole lot worse.
Silverstone’s new asphalt was branded a 'disaster' by MotoGP riders after the opening day of the British Grand Prix. There was chaos as rider after rider came off in the rain during practice on Saturday, with the bumpy surface being blamed for water retention and aquaplaning. One rider suffered a badly broken leg. British MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow – who apparently gave AI a 👍 in the tweet above – told the Independent:
We’ve seen today that it’s worse than last year, even though the track’s been resurfaced... I have no idea why but there’s a lot of bumps on the track.
Other MotoGP riders were also "very critical about the new Silverstone tarmac".
Remedial work on the surface was undertaken overnight, but to no avail. The track couldn't handle the British weather, and on Sunday:
— Motorsport Week (@MotorsportWeek) August 26, 2018
Massively #embarrassing for #Silverstone after their perfectly smooth (now hilariously bumpy) brand new track surface fails to drain properly and causes the @MotoGP #BritishGP to be cancelled. A complete and utter disgrace https://t.co/IQHFty401m— Sam Hall (@samhallsport) August 26, 2018
From February...“It’s hugely impressive to see the accuracy that the @AggregateUK team is working to. We are addressing some known bumps and dips as well as improving drainage. The result should be very close to the perfect surface.” @SilverstoneUK #FAIL https://t.co/7O1ZRQYP85— Jonathan Martin (@_iamJM) August 26, 2018
Mike Webb: Event cancelled due to accumulation of water on track surface. Circuit is not in a condition to safely run races. #BritishGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/fnWghTawNA— CRASH.NET/MotoGP (@crash_motogp) August 26, 2018
Webb: Yes, (cancellation) is a direct result of the new track surface. #BritishGP #MotoGP— CRASH.NET/MotoGP (@crash_motogp) August 26, 2018
Watching this live & they’re saying due to bumps & amount of surface water, MotoGP race had to be cancelled. Silverstone has started a 6-wk investigation but expecting they will have to replace asphalt that was only laid earlier this year. Shocking & embarrassing.. https://t.co/wxfYifvwHi— Harry Metcalfe (@harrym_vids) August 26, 2018
LIVE 📡 Press Conference with Race Direction and representatives at the #BritishGP 🇬🇧 https://t.co/VS87pGKsty— MotoGP™🇬🇧🏁 (@MotoGP) August 26, 2018
MotoGP race director Mike Webb blames new Silverstone surface for not draining properly after #BritishGP cancelled for the first time everhttps://t.co/vWiv7K2qEk— Jack de Menezes (@JackdeMenezes) August 26, 2018
A record attendance of 122,000 fans, who had patiently waited hours for the race to start, were left disappointed and angry. According to the BBC – "British Grand Prix: MotoGP boss blames new Silverstone track for cancellation" – Silverstone's management will launch an investigation:
We will be reviewing all the data we have on the track and gathering more, and together with the contractor, Aggregate Industries, a full investigation will be carried out.
The Twittersphere played host to thousands of angry fans; angry at AI, and looking for refunds.
So glad I live near the a14, can't wait to go aquaplaning on your new tarmac! Hope @SilverstoneUK get their money back for the piss poor job and all the cost involved including refunds for fan tickets— dan (@d4nhardy_) August 26, 2018
I’m here now and club corner was just a series of puddles that eventually became one big puddle.— Andrew Gardiner (@AndrewjG79) August 26, 2018
I was here for F1 and even the F1 boys were saying the new surface is shite.@SilverstoneUK we want our money back your shite resurfacing job your problem.
@AggregateUK you have well and truly messed up @SilverstoneUK for the @MotoGP weekend.All those promises you made when laying the new asphalt..ooops!There are a lot of unhappy customers today from around the world.Not one of your companies finer accomplishments.#motogp #britishGP— Dean Neal (@deanneal46) August 26, 2018
Meanwhile, jokers on Twitter thought AI should stick to driveways in future, or swimming pools. The company attracted a variety of memes; here's a small assortment for your enjoyment:
Great job! pic.twitter.com/G4ZEkHhG0h— @inakicm (@inakicm) August 26, 2018
— Speedtriple (@Scrubz03) August 26, 2018
— Craig (@ValentinoMossy) August 26, 2018
— Felipe Arriagada (@arriagadazeta) August 26, 2018
Silverstone's new world class track surface seems to be causing a few issues clearing water delaying MotoGP. The contractors seem surprised. pic.twitter.com/6jooohThca— Motorsport Radio (@MSportRadio) August 26, 2018
