I prefer to sit on the backstretch. I always try to sit on the upwind side of the track and the back straight is on the south side - i.e. rarely on the downwind

If you can bring a radio with muff style headphones you can listen to the track PA on a low-powered FM signal. That really helps keep up with what is going on.

I bought tickets on the back straight last week and could only get as high as three rows up.