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Spa-FrancorchampsThe Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motor sport-racing track in Belgium. it lies in the Ardennes between the towns spa, Malmedy and Stavelot, just 20 km away from the German Belgian border near Monschau. Because of the height difference in the distance course of a total of about 100 metres and the numerous curves in which high centrifugal forces appear the distance also carries the epithet "Ardennes roller coaster". Since 1925, with interruptions in the years 1932, in 1936, from 1940 to 1946, in 1957, in 1959, in 1969, from 1971 to 1983, in 2003 and 2006, the Grand Prix of Belgium is held there; since 1950 as a Formula-one-world championship run.
History
Original distance course
The
originally 14,863-km-long distance was finished in 1921 and existed to a great
extent of usually public country roads. Nevertheless, only one participant
appeared first to planned car racings, so that it was called off and the course
was opened, instead, with a motorcycle race. At that time the later famous
become "courage curve" Eau Rouge did not exist yet; till 1939 a hairpin bend was
at this point round an old duty station which had been a part of the
Belgian-Prussian border arrangements still till 1920. But the roughly top
corner-shaped distance existed of long straight lines and only few, but mostly
to very quick curves. Nevertheless, shortly before start and finish the drivers
had to brake La Source hard for the narrow hairpin bend. Not only the quick
distance leadership and the bad security – lanterns, street signs, trees and
buildings stood not secured near in the distance,
drain lids in the roadway provided for astonishing slide matches – but also Spa-Francorchamps
made the unpredictable weather extremely dangerous. By the distance length it
was possible that it was dry by start and finish, while it some kilometres
farther rained in streams, so that the racers drove like with the
Formel-1-Grand-Prix in 1966 at high speed in a wet distance segment. The first
car racing took place in 1922, the first 24-hour race in 1924.
Exile from the racing calendar
The distance was exiled after 1970 from the Grand Prix calendar because it was classified on account of the high speeds as too dangerous. Last the Mexican Pedro Rodriguez on the distance still 14,099-km-long at this time with his BRM P153 achieved an average speed of just 240 km/h. The old distance variation can be "driven on" in the PC with simulations like Grand Prix Legends or Factor (with the help of add-ons) furthermore virtually. The film rotated in 1966 Grand Prix which was turned partly in Spa-Francorchamps also delivers a good impression of the distance relations and dangers in the 1960s.
Rebuilding measures
In 1983 spa was taken up after protracted rebuilding measures again at place of the course in Zolder in the calendar. The distance had been shortened already in 1979 on possibly half. The new distance part branches after the Cemmel straight line from and goes back to the Stavelot curve on the old distance. By this rebuilding one succeeded in raising the security and in receiving, nevertheless, the original character partially.
From 2001 parts of the distance 6,976-km-long now which were still regular country roads were blocked for the public transport and were substituted with a new by-pass road. Since that time is of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps a permanent racing distance.
After the season 2005 the Formula-one administration (FAO) demanded extensive rebuilding work on the distance, above all in the infrastructural area. In the beginning of 2006 had not began with the construction work yet, so that a completion was not guaranteed to the planned race and the Belgian Grand Prix was stroked. Meanwhile, the leadership took over the FAO under the direction of the Formula-one promoter Bernie Ecclestone for the rebuilding work and the future of the course and undertook by contract to host a Formel-1-Grand-Prix in Spa-Francorchamps from 2007 for at least five years in each case. With it the whereabouts would be protected in the season calendar till 2012.
The works estimated with about 18 million euros began at the middle of November, 2006 and were finished in May, 2007., Among the rest, the bus stop chicane was converted into a narrow legal link combination, the La Source hairpin bend were modified and complemented with a bigger outlet zone as well as a new boxing arrangement was built with driver's camp. In addition came the construction of new stands in the area of the start and finish straight line, with La Source and Eau Rouge with an enlargement of the spectator's capacity of from 70,000 to 84,000. The doubles left turn "Pouhon" received a more level layer and an asphalted outlet zone. The topically 7,004-km-long distance was taken up for the Formula-one seasons 2007 (16th of September) and in 2008 (14th of September) again in the calendar
specific features
An oddity of spa are two start variations and boxing arrangements. While the start line and target line is for the formula one before La Source, other races are still begun on the downhill-straight lines before Eau Rouge. There is still the old boxing arrangement. This becomes used partly in big events possibly on the Formula-one week-ends or with the 24-hour race – in addition to the new boxes. The teams of the frame races are usually accommodated in the old boxing arrangement and also the racing start of these vehicles occurs on the old start and finish straight lines.