Anthony, who attended all twenty-four System 1 races in 2024, tells us how he deliberate the journey and shares his highs and lows from an epic 12 months of motorsport journey.
Photographs equipped by Anthony
Anthony Riley hails from Sydney and has been following System 1 for the reason that late Nineteen Nineties, when he supported Mika Häkkinen and have become a McLaren fan. Anthony works in monetary markets and paid for his epic journey by way of “financial savings, investments and plenty of laborious work.”
What made you resolve to attend each race on the 2024 System 1 calendar?
You solely dwell as soon as. I’ve been to each race on the V8 Supercars calendar a number of occasions, so thought it was time to step it up a notch.
How did you propose your journey?
I began planning in late 2023, previous to all of the tickets happening sale. This helped me get the seats I needed and in addition avoid wasting cash. I arrange a spreadsheet which I used to plan my 12 months. This included my flight particulars, the place I used to be staying, rental automotive data, race tickets and particulars of different actions I used to be planning in every place, plus the prices related to all the pieces. I made it a standard follow to all the time journey to every metropolis from Monday to Monday, guaranteeing that I may maximize the environment and pleasure of race week in each place.
Did you keep away the entire 12 months or did you come to Australia between races?
My 12 months was deliberate as three separate journeys. The primary included Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in addition to the Daytona 500 within the USA. Then I returned house for a number of weeks, which coincided with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The subsequent leg of my journey noticed me depart Australia for about six months. In between F1 races, I additionally attended different motorsport occasions throughout Europe. This included the Le Mans 24 Hours, Goodwood Pageant of Pace, Rally Finland, British touring vehicles and even a DTM race in Germany.
After the Singapore Grand Prix, I flew again to Australia for a few weeks whereas there was a spot within the F1 schedule. My ultimate journey of the season took me to the Americas and the Center East. With Australia being so distant from the remainder of the world, it didn’t make sense to return too usually in the course of the 12 months and spend extra on airfares. I most well-liked to spend the cash on extra experiences while travelling.
How did you resolve which tickets to purchase for every race and the place did you purchase them?
I needed to purchase tickets in probably the most iconic grandstands or areas for every race, similar to overlooking Eau Rouge at Spa-Francorchamps and Flip 3 on the Purple Bull Ring. I booked nearly all of my tickets by way of official websites, aside from some ‘problematic’ races similar to Brazil, China and Japan. I by no means purchased hospitality tickets, although I did attend the races in Azerbaijan and Qatar with F1 Experiences. I favored their actions, however typically the grandstand I needed to sit down in was not out there by way of F1 Experiences
Did you keep in lodges or Airbnbs when you have been away? Did you camp at any races?
I primarily stayed in lodges and Airbnbs. Greater than as soon as although, I had points with Airbnb hosts cancelling my reserving within the weeks main as much as the race, which was an actual inconvenience. The one circuit the place I camped was at Spa-Francorchamps. We rented a motorhome in Frankfurt and obtained a campsite fairly near the observe, which was an incredible expertise.
On race weekends, I primarily stayed in 2-4 star lodges. I used to be searching for the most effective worth for cash, as costs are already closely inflated and I didn’t spend plenty of time in my room. What was vital for me was handy test in and take a look at occasions, a safe room, secure space and proximity to public transport. I really stayed at a lot nicer locations in between race weekends as I had extra time to truly benefit from the lodging.
Which airways did you fly with and the way did you get round on race weekends?
I exploit the Virgin frequent flyer program in Australia and I predominantly flew with their companions, which included ANA, United Airways, Air Canada, and Qatar Airways. On the bottom, I rented a automotive at a number of races (Imola, Miami Silverstone, Austin) however the remainder of the time I used native trains and buses, in addition to Uber or different experience sharing companies.
Any notably good or dangerous journey experiences in the course of the 12 months?
As I organized and booked all the pieces myself, many of the greatest experiences occurred once I was doing issues I actually favored, similar to visiting automotive museums and factories, and naturally assembly plenty of cool and attention-grabbing individuals alongside the best way.
General, I didn’t have plenty of dangerous journey experiences throughout the 12 months, although I all the time dreaded the queues and delays leaving the circuit after the race. It may simply take 2-3 hours to get again to my lodge after some races. Loads of taxi drivers tried to tear me off, together with one man in Turkey who made me pay for tolls that didn’t exist. I additionally had a number of dangerous experiences with shady rental automotive corporations who disclosed obscene hidden fees once I was selecting up the automotive. I ended up cancelling these bookings, however it was nonetheless an inconvenience.
Which races did you most get pleasure from attending?
When it got here to an amazing celebration environment, Miami was a standout for me. Although it was one of many dearer races to attend, the People actually know find out how to placed on present and maintain the followers entertained all through the day. There was a lot to see and do across the observe. I’m biased right here, however it was additionally nice to see Norris win for my staff, McLaren!
The environment was additionally improbable at Zandvoort. That they had trackside DJs to get everybody excited, there was plenty of on-track motion and excessive ranges of fan participation. It simply led to a very enjoyable environment. The Japanese followers at Suzuka have been the friendliest. Their love and keenness for System 1 is unimaginable, and it made it a pleasure to attend.
For trackside views, the most effective race for me was the Belgian Grand Prix. The views from the Gold 3 grandstand on the high of the hill close to Eau Rouge have been unimaginable. I positively wasn’t a fan of the cost system at Spa, however the grandstand views (and trackside tenting) made up for that.
When it comes to race services, I might say that Yas Marina Circuit supplied the most effective expertise. The grandstands have been spacious and supplied actually good views and loads of facilities. The grandstands have been shaded, and also you had unobstructed view of the motion even from the entrance rows. It was good to not have 10-feet excessive fences blocking your view, which is nice should you prefer to take pictures of the vehicles.
Which races have been the most effective and worst organized?
For me the most effective organized occasion was Zandvoort. The trains have been continuous after the race, which means that despite the fact that queues have been large everybody was capable of exit the venue in a good period of time. There was additionally quite a bit to see and do between the station and the observe, and contained in the circuit, the toilet and meals scenario was very effectively sorted! I did nevertheless just like the see by way of baggage that American occasions advocate because it makes the entry course of way more seamless when the gates open.
I favored the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix general, however the group must be improved. There was an actual lack of signage for the entry gates and the workers working on the race weren’t a lot assist. I used to be notably upset in regards to the pit lane stroll. Nobody working on the observe was capable of inform me the place the doorway was and I ended up lacking out on this expertise utterly.
Monza was additionally very poorly organized, and for me, probably the most overrated occasion on the calendar. The ticketing and bag searches when coming into the observe took too lengthy, and the buying course of for food and drinks was extraordinarily inefficient. All of this made the fan expertise poor, particularly contemplating the excessive price of grandstand seats at this occasion.
What have been the most effective non-F1 locations you visited between races?
Two locations actually stood out for me, Daytona Seaside in Florida and Finland. The Daytona 500 was an superior occasion and I liked the cool, chilled out vibes at Daytona Seaside. I additionally went to Finland for the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the course of the F1 summer time break and liked it there. The individuals are cool, the tradition was attention-grabbing and attending my first WRC occasion couldn’t have been extra completely different to F1.
What have been your favourite and least favourite F1 cities?
Imola was improbable. The observe is correct subsequent to the city and the environment after the racing completed every day was superior. There’s lovely Italian structure, nice meals and plenty of cool issues taking place within the piazza on race weekend.
I wouldn’t prefer to single out one place as my least favourite. Some cities weren’t as clear and secure as others. Some cities had plenty of F1 occasions taking place throughout race weekend, others you wouldn’t even know that F1 was taking place. Locations have their good and dangerous sides, however I’m of the opinion that it is best to all the time go to in all places no less than as soon as.
Did you ever really feel unsafe wherever?
I wouldn’t say I felt unsafe in São Paulo, however the excessive focus of police and safety guards in all places made it really feel prefer it was an unsafe place. You positively must be in your guard in sure locations the place F1 visits, however I by no means felt like I used to be in a very harmful space or scenario. Petty theft is extra frequent in locations like Spain, Mexico and Brazil, particularly on public transport, however I had no points.
Which races would you most prefer to return to and why?
I all the time go to my house race in Australia, and I’ll be there once more this 12 months. I’m biased, however I believe the worth for cash and on-track motion at Albert Park is outstanding. We normally have between 4 and 6 world-class assist classes, plus bigger and higher fan activations than most different races. Exterior of Australia, I actually loved Japan and Belgium. I are inclined to want conventional circuits reasonably than road circuits, despite the fact that the latter are extra simply accessible. The trackside views of the vehicles are simply higher at conventional circuits.
How a lot did all the journey price you?
For the F1 tickets, lodges and flights alone it was round $80,000 AUD ($50,000 USD). With all the pieces else I skilled and purchased, the full was effectively over $100,000 AUD ($62,000 USD).
Are you continue to planning to maintain attending F1 races?
I’ll be going to the Australian Grand Prix this 12 months, and possibly another. However I’m additionally thinking about attending some bucket-list motorsport occasions for the primary time. The Pikes Peak hill climb, Indy 500, Macau Grand Prix, Rally Japan, Knoxville Nationals, and an entire bunch extra are at present on my record!
What’s your recommendation for individuals contemplating attending each race in a season?
Begin planning early and know what you wish to get out of the expertise. Save up so you are able to do it proper. That is subjective, however I might a lot reasonably spend extra to get the race tickets I would like reasonably than a barely nicer lodge. Don’t count on all the pieces to go precisely as you deliberate. Issues will go improper, however being as ready as you’ll be able to helps quite a bit. Get some snug, water-proof sneakers and all the time pack a rain poncho as you by no means know when the climate forecast can be improper. Dwell within the second and luxuriate in it!
