A last-minute guide to the Hungarian Grand Prix

As with all mass spectator sports, Formula 1 racing has important elements of play both on and off the field. Given the globe-trotting nature of grand prix racing, however, the actual game is sometimes less important for the live audience than everything surrounding it. So instead of running down the likely winners and losers of this weekend's 20th anniversary Hungarian Grand Prix, it may be more useful to look at some of the practical issues involved in attending the race.

The first thing to know about the Hungarian Grand Prix is that it is broadly considered to be one of the low-points on the Formula 1 race calendar. Often mocked as "Monaco without the Mediterranean," the Hungaroring is exceedingly tight and twisting, and seldom the scene of exciting races full of cars actually passing each other. Meanwhile, the bowl-like location of the track, roughly 20 kilometers from downtown Budapest, is usually dusty and baking hot. (Though the weather this year looks to be more temperate.) And despite the glamorous, Monte Carlo image of Formula 1, the crowd is largely composed of decidedly unglamorous - and often blind-drunk - fans from Germany, Finland and other countries. It is also spectacularly noisy. All this means that, if you don't like auto racing, or suspect it's not your thing, the Hungarian GP is probably not for you.

Meanwhile, like many such mass events, getting there and back can be a barely endurable ordeal. While there is ample parking, the access roads in and out of the track grounds are more congested than a rush-hour trip across one of Budapest's trans-Danube bridges, and the signage to the assigned parking zones spotty at best. And if the driver has been drinking, you might face trouble on the road back to Budapest. Because of this, a good bet is taking the M2 metro to its terminal station at Örs vezér tere, from where you can catch a commuter HÉV line to the track. Budget at least 60 minutes for the trip. There is also a bus running regularly from Árpád Bridge in District XIII to the track that is free to ticket holders. Meanwhile, some taxi firms are offering flat-rate tariffs from central Budapest to the Hungaroring for Ft 9,600 (€35.23).

If €35.23 seems like a lot, it is nothing compared to the other costs of attendance. The average price for a weekend ticket - and to see the race on Sunday you generally have to buy the whole package - is around €200, with the best seats going for €400. This does not count occasionally extortionate prices for food and beverages. Note that the gatekeepers at the track generally do not allow spectators to bring in outside food or beverages, especially alcoholic beverages.

While tickets can be bought at the gate, there are several location in downtown Budapest acting as official sales agents, including locations at Apáczai Csere János utca 11 and Váci utca 18, both in District V. Meanwhile, if you refuse to pay full price, and don't know someone with one of the many free tickets handed out to sponsors, the reader forum on www.f1-online.hu currently features several last-minute offers of cut-price tickets, from erstwhile grand prix fanatics who have decided that even they don't really feel any need to go.

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