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Engineering the excitement: Embrace’s giant wraps at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix

THE LOCATION

Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire has been the proud home of the British Grand Prix since its first race in 1948. In July 2025 the iconic 5.891km track once again hosted a four-day, sell-out event with tens of thousands of fans in attendance. Among the largest spectator areas on site are the Luffield Corner Grandstand and the Abbey Grandstands. Luffield Corner sits at a central point on the circuit (coming off the fast Wellington Straight) and even features a concert stage behind it during the event. Abbey A and Abbey B are located along the high-speed Abbey corner, giving fans dramatic views of the racing cars. These grandstands draw huge crowds every year, making them prime locations for on-site advertising and immersive branding.

THE BRIEF

For Silverstone 2025, Embrace was contracted to create large printed wraps for these grandstands. The client’s goal was to cover the side and rear façades of both Luffield and Abbey stands with giant graphics carrying sponsor messaging and event branding, maximizing exposure throughout the race weekend. Embrace agreed to a full turnkey scope of work. This involved coordinating with Silverstone’s marketing team and sponsors on the designs, selecting durable and compliant materials, and managing all engineering, printing and installation logistics. The timeline was tight: every banner needed to be fully installed and inspected during the week before race day, so close collaboration and careful scheduling were essential.

THE SOLUTION

Embrace delivered a complete end-to-end solution. The process began with detailed site surveys and engineering analysis of each stand. Embrace’s engineers measured the exact dimensions of the existing scaffolding and calculated the wind loads for the banners. Using this data, they engineered custom metal frame supports that would securely hold the wraps without modifying the original structures. In parallel, the graphic artwork (sponsor logos, event graphics, etc.) was scaled and laid out at full size. Embrace’s design team worked with the client to finalize each layout, ensuring that all logos and messaging would align perfectly on the massive banners. The artwork was proofed and approved before any printing began.

All printing was done in-house on Embrace’s specialist wide-format printers. The chosen material was a heavy-duty mesh PVC: it is flame-retardant and weather-resistant (meeting Silverstone’s safety standards) and its open weave allows wind to pass through without tearing the banner. Because the Luffield and Abbey B graphics each exceeded the printer’s width limit, these wraps were produced as two adjacent panels. On site, the panels were fitted edge-to-edge and a fully printed cover strip was applied over each seam, effectively hiding any join. This meant that from a distance the banners appeared as one continuous image, with no visible separation. The production team performed colour and registration checks to ensure that every panel matched perfectly.

Installation took place over the days leading up to the Grand Prix. The custom wire-frame supports were assembled around the Luffield and Abbey stands, and then the printed mesh panels were lifted into place one by one. Technicians attached each panel from the top and worked downward, using tensioning tools (ratchets and turnbuckles) to pull the material taut and eliminate wrinkles. The crews worked methodically through the night – for example, Luffield was largely in place by Thursday night – and completed the Abbey wraps by Friday. On the Luffield stand, Embrace also fitted a 2.4-metre-high band of red mesh along the lower edge. This complementary band conceals the scaffolding below and ties the look together, as planned. After installation, safety checks were performed to confirm that all panels were secure and the graphics were perfectly aligned.

The final result was truly monumental. The completed wrap on Luffield Corner measured 105m × 6m (630m²), Abbey B’s was 156m × 3.5m (546m²), and Abbey A’s was 55m × 6.7m (~369m²). In total, over 1,500 square metres of printed media were installed. With the banners in place, the grandstands were transformed into vibrant visual canvases that could be seen from across the track. Crucially, Embrace delivered the entire project on schedule and within the agreed budget, as promised. The banners remained in pristine condition through the weekend’s weather, delivering the intended visual impact for spectators and broadcast viewers alike.

After the British Grand Prix concluded, Embrace also managed the takedown and disposal of the wraps. Crews carefully removed each panel and rolled them up. Any sections that could be reused were stored for future events; the remaining vinyl was sent for recycling or converted into energy. This closed the loop on the project’s lifecycle in line with Silverstone’s sustainability initiatives. In addition, Embrace’s environmental commitment includes offsetting its footprint – for example, after Silverstone 2024 the company funded the planting of 520 new trees, and for the 2025 project it will sponsor roughly 1,600 new trees.

Through Silverstone 2025, Embrace Building Wraps demonstrated its ability to execute extremely large-scale graphics projects for live events. By combining precise engineering, high-resolution printing and efficient installation, Embrace fully met the client’s requirements. The transformed grandstands – now bold, eye-catching billboards – highlight how architectural-scale branding can elevate a world-class sporting event, engaging fans without compromising safety or schedule.