The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the F1 Belgium Grand Prix and the Spa 24 hours endurance race. It is also home to the 25 Hours of Spa event. It is considered to be one of the most challenging circuits in the world, mainly due to its fast, hilly and twisty nature. Spa is a favourite circuit of many racing drivers and fans.
Over the years, Spa has been modified several times. The biggest change saw the circuit being shortened from 14 km (8.7 miles) to 7 km (4.35 miles) in 1979. Like its predecessor the new layout still is a fast and hilly route through the Ardennes where speeds in excess of 330 km/h (205 mph) can be reached. Since inception, the place has been famous for its unpredictable weather. Frequently drivers are confronted with one part of the course being clear and bright while another stretch is rainy and slippery.
Trackside quote
On the Eau Rouge / Raidillon combination, Fernado Alonso (Former F1 champion) said: “You come into the corner downhill, have a sudden change of direction]at the bottom and then go very steep uphill. From the cockpit, you cannot see the exit and as you come over the crest, you don't know where you will land. It is a crucial corner for the timed lap, and also in the race, because you have a long uphill straight afterwards where you can lose a lot of time if you make a mistake. But it is also an important corner for the driver's feeling. It makes a special impression every lap, because you also have a compression in your body as you go through the bottom of the corner. It is very strange - but good fun as well."
And Michael Schumacher has this to say:
" Negotiating the extraordinary slope of the Eau Rouge is an indescribable sensation. I think it’s the best track. The strategies of the race have to be planned in very great detail." L'humanité
Time Zone : (GMT +1:00 hour) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
Major Events : F1, Spa 24 Hours, GT, Track Days
Circuit Length : 4.3 miles / 6.973 km
Turns : 14
Lap Record : 1m 43.726s M.Schumacher (2002) (average speed 150.3mph)
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Cheever In United Autosports’ Star-Studded Spa 24 Hour Race Attack Posted on: 15/06/2010
• American former Indy 500 winner to line-up with fellow ex-Grand Prix driver Mark Blundell in Audi R8 LMS
• United Autosports’ Co-Owners Zak Brown and Richard Dean complete quartet with Cheever & Blundell
• Eddie Cheever and Stefan Johansson test Audi R8 LMS for first time – Mark Blundell gets second run
Read More >>
JOHANSSON RETURNS TO AUDI FOLD WITH UNITED AUTOSPORTS FOR EPIC 24 HOUR RACE IN BELGIUM Posted on: 08/06/2010
“Super Swede” unable to resist lure of twice-around-the clock race at Spa-Francorchamps and driving an Audi GT3 sports car
United Autosports’ regular American FIA GT3 European Championship driver Mark Patterson also in driver line-up
Hong Kong-based Frenchman Alain Li set to contest his ... Read More >>
BRITISH GT: LAMBORGHINI WIN AT SPA FOR KOX & HAYEK Posted on: 05/06/2010
Avon Tyres British GT Championship debutant Marc Hayek and his vastly experienced co-driver Peter Kox claimed an emphatic fifth round win today at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, their Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Gallardo lapping the field to take the win.
It was Swiss driver Hayek's solid first stint in the 150-minute enduran... Read More >>
KOX STOPS THE CLOCKS AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Posted on: 04/06/2010
The scene is set for an enthralling two-and-a-half-hour race battle at Spa-Francorchamps tomorrow after a nail-biting qualifying session for the fifth round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Peter Kox topped the timesheets for the Reiter Engineering team, the Dutch driver making a triumphant return to the series after a six-year absence. Read More >>
Historic F1 2010 - Round 2 Spa Francorchamps Posted on: 24/05/2010
Race Report Compiled by Stuart McCrudden
Proving the adage that age and experience can beat youth and enthusiasm, Joaquin Folch celebrated his 29th wedding anniversary with a text-book victory at Spa yesterday, edging home just five hundredths of a second ahead of the McLaren MP4 of Bobby Verdon-Roe to move into the lead in the championship ... Read More >>
Spiritual Home Of Sports Car Racing Awaits British GT Championship Posted on: 17/05/2010
The highlight of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship calendar is its annual visit to the spiritual home of sports car racing, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, and this year the popular round is set to be more exciting than ever thanks to a host of new sporting features and the return of the fearsome Ford GT.
RPM Motorsport has this week confirmed t... Read More >>
Stormy Le Mans Dress Rehearsal For Audi Posted on: 13/05/2010
• Weather plays decisive role during 1000 km race at Spa
• Race interrupted due to power cut!
• Rain shower shortly before finish costs Audi chance of victory
As expected the weather played a decisive role during the Le Mans dress rehearsal at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). Rain just before the end of the race cost... Read More >>
Spa 1000kms GT Class: Matech Dominates Posted on: 13/05/2010
Proper training for the 24 hours of Le Mans, Matech Competition started the race of the 1000 km of Spa from 2nd and 6th positions.
Marc VDS Racing scored the pole position, so the first row of the GT1 category was 100% Matech Ford GTs !
Thomas Mutsch, who was quickest with the Matech Ford GT n°60, started the race fro... Read More >>
BLUNDELL MARKS HIS RETURN TO RACE ACTION WITH UNITED AUTOSPORTS AT SPA Posted on: 07/05/2010
* British former 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner & F1 Driver to drive Audi GT3 sports car
Britain’s Mark Blundell will drive an Audi R8 LMS sports car for United Autosports in the Spa 24 Hours in Belgium this summer (Jul 31-Aug 1).
The 44-year-old Royston-based Londoner who won the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans but stepp... Read More >>
Le Mans Dress Rehearsals for Peugeot & Audi in Spa 1000kms Posted on: 06/05/2010
• Three Factory Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs and three Audi R15 TDI cars in 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps
• Final assessment and preparations made before Le Mans 24 Hours
• Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen is fit for racing again
Le Mans Series, 1,000 km de Spa-Francorchamps (May 7-9, 2010) ... Read More >>
MSCG Exclusive: Interview with Pierre-Alain Thibaut, General Manager of Spa Francorchamps Posted on: 11/12/2009
Pierre-Alain Thibaut raced in Touring Cars for over 20 years in a variety of tasty machinery and now gets to manage the awesome circuit of Spa Francorchamps. Does life get any better than this?!
Chris Jenkins (CJ): Pierre-Alain, first of all thanks for talking with us. There have been a lot of driver changes in F1 since the end of the 2009 ... Read More >>
Racing at Spa Francorchamps Goes On As Permit Problem Resolved Posted on: 25/09/2009
Motor Racing Circuit Guide spoke with Spa Francorchamps to clarify the situation this week that had temporarily forced the circuit to close, amid worries that racing might be banned for 17 years!
But racing fans can breathe a sigh of relief because we're happy to report that the circuit has re-gained their permit and racing this weekend and beyond ... Read More >>
2010 FIA GT1 World & GT2 European Series - Tracks and Cars Update Posted on: 05/09/2009
During an SRO Motorsports Group press conference, held at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday July 24th during the Total 24 Hours of Spa meeting, Stephane Ratel gave an update on the 2010 GT World project before unveiling the third GT1 car built to the 2010 regulations, the Lamborghini Murciélago R-SV.
Read More >>
For Sale: Used Renault, 1 owner, VGC, no engine. Posted on: 28/08/2009
ING is auctioning its F1 replica race car for charity
From 28 August 2009 ING Belgium will offer its Formula 1 replica race car for sale on the auction site eBay. By selling this car ING wants to collect funds in aid of two charities: “L’Accueil Familial” and “VZW Hartekamp”. These organisations can expect some sound b... Read More >>
Iconic Spa-Francorchamps Welcomes The Super Trofeo - 23, 24 & 25 July Posted on: 22/07/2009
After the eventful and dramatic second race weekend at Norisring, Germany, the world’s fastest one-make series, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, will travel to Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, on 23-25 July 2009, for the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds of the season.
With tough competition and exciting racing, the series welcomes professional and &l... Read More >>
F1 is back at Spa from 28th - 30th August 2009! Posted on: 17/07/2009
An event in class of its own
Spa-Francorchamps, a legendary name, a name steeped in history since the 1920s.
Without exception, all of the champions have pitted their skills against this, the most beautiful racing circuit in the world. The Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix is always a race charged with intense thrills and excitement.
Hilton Brussels In the heart of Brussels the Hilton Brussels hotel is 5 minutes’ from the city’s attractions.
Conrad Brussels The Conrad Brussels is located on the famed and highly fashionable Avenue Louise in Belgium.
Hilton Brussels City Hotel The Hilton Brussels City hotel is in the heart of the city by the smart Rue Neuve shopping district.
The circuit is located inbetween the towns of Francorchamps and Burnenville off the N62 "Route du Spa", near the E42/A27 autoroute, about 30km south east of Liege in Belgium.
3 - 4 Spa Summer Classic
10 - 11 25 Heures VW Fun Cup
17 - 18 Rencontres Peugeot Sport
24 - 25 Bug Show
31 - 1 Aug 24 Hours of Spa
AUGUST
14 - 15 6 Hours of Spa (moto)
27 - 28 - 29 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
SEPTEMBER
11 - 12 Porsche Sport Cup
18 - 19 Francorchampagne
25 - 26 Spa Six Hour (classic)
OCTOBER
2 - 3 Racing Festival
16 - 17 24H24' 2cv
World's greatest circuit?
Posted by: Sam Collins
Spa is one of motor racing's greatest circuits, situated deep in the woods of the Belgian Ardennes it is loved by drivers and fans alike. Half public road and half permanent race circuit, the track is one of the biggest challenges a driver can face. It is also one of the oldest circuits in the world, dating back to the 1920s and significant portions of the course have not changed including the one corner that everyone talks about - Eau Rouge. This corner has been the site of some of the most spectacular driving in the history of motor racing, and some of the biggest crashes. When you stand in the spectator area at the bottom of the hill leading into Eau Rouge you are confronted with what appears to be a sheer wall of asphalt, and the view of the corner from the Gold 2 (Radillion) grandstand is unrivalled in motor racing.
The original circuit was much longer sweeping its way through the Belgian countryside passing through locations such as Stavelot, where there is now a small museum about the track’s history with some fabulous cars on display. History buffs are well catered for as this area was the front line of the 1944 Battle of the Bulge. The crossroads town of Bastogne made famous in the TV series Band of Brothers is only a short drive away.
For reasons of safety the track was shortened in the 1970s (eliminating high risk areas between Les Combes and Blanchimont) but even in its current format it remains the longest track on the Formula One calendar.
Watching a motor race at Spa is a must, the highly prized (and expensive) Gold grandstand seats afford a reasonably good view - though the pits, grandstand and hospitality units are not the best place to watch the action. Much better value are the bronze general admission tickets that provide access to some of the best viewing in motor racing if you are prepared to walk a little distance. The public area around La Source hairpin is a great place to pick up merchandise, and in the village of Francorchamps there is a great little model shop, which is a must-do visit.
A lot of people attending the race stay in Brussels, which is around an hour’s drive away depending on the traffic. It offers great hotels and bars, which the area around the track certainly lacks.
Travelling to Spa is fairly easy, with Eurostar and flights to Brussels where you can pick up a hire car and drive to the track – but probably a better option is to join one of the many organised coach tours out to the track. If you are thinking of driving yourself a little insider tip is to fly to Frankfurt (Hahn) Airport and rent a car – the journey is about 150km but it takes you through some stunning scenery. You can also drop in at the Nurburgring for a quick lap!
Anyone visiting Spa should be aware that the weather is very changeable and it almost always rains at some point during the race weekend.
