Full throttle ratio	70%
Top speed race	310 km/h
Longest flat-out section	24 sec / 1865 m
Right-/left-hand turns	9/10
Tyre wear	medium
Brake wear	low
Downforce level	low
Gearshifts per lap	52

Circuit Profile: Spa Francorchamps, Belgium

Making a comeback in 2007 after being left out of the championship in 2006, Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit is perhaps one of the most historic ones on the calendar. Its racing history dates as far back as 1924 when the circuit played host to a non-championship Grand Prix round.

Like the Nürburgring in Germany, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit was originally built on tight and narrow public roads and claims to possess a good rhythm as it follows the geographical boundaries of the land. Originally, the track layout was a whopping 14.9 kilometres in length and was as notorious as it was long. Though its length was eventually reduced over the years, it still measured at just over 14 kilometres when the original circuit held its final Grand Prix in 1970.

From 1970, the circuit was retired for almost 13 years before making a comeback in 1983 with a facelift when the track was halved to under seven kilometres. Miraculously, Spa-Francorchamps managed to somehow retain its allure to drivers and fans alike. The upgrade works ensured that the best parts of the old circuit along with the legendary and technically demanding Eau Rouge corner with its high speed and sudden elevation change were retained. The other changes included the revised and slower corners of the Bus Stop chicane and La Source.

Spa has since then held on to the title of being the longest circuit on the calendar. In addition to being challenging to engineers, the variety of corners and the high-speed nature of circuit is what has earned Spa-Francorchamps a reputation as a great race track and a favourite with most drivers. It continues to appeal to both veteran and rookie drivers though only the true greats can ever claim to have actually mastered it.

Only five men have actually ever won the race at Spa more than twice – Juan Manuel Fangio and Damon Hill with three wins each, Jim Clark with four wins, five race wins for the legendary Ayrton Senna and six for Michael Schumacher. Of the current crop of drivers, only the Finnish Iceman Kimi Räikkönen can claim the accolade joining Fangio and Hill with three Belgian Grand Prix titles to his name.

It also earns it reputation through its notoriously capricious and changeable weather conditions, making it impossible to predict what the condition would be like on any given race weekend as it could be simultaneously raining on one part of the track and completely dry on another.

Set in the Andreas Mountains, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is situated in the Hautes Fagnes region in the south-eastern part of Belgium, 50 kilometres from Aachen and Liege. close to the German border, the circuit is approximately 150 kilometres by road from Brussels. 

 

The BMW Sauber F1 Team on the Belgian GP:
 

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“Spa – three letters which have cemented themselves in motor racing history. Spa is an essential date on the F1 calendar, a fantastic natural race circuit cut into the beautiful, rugged Ardennes. Recent modifications have meant that Eau Rouge is now taken flat out in the dry, creating an extremely long section of full-throttle driving. As this part of the track also rises significantly, engine output and durability are really put to the test. Added to which, you always have to be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. Nick had a fast and furious end to the rain-affected race here in 2008; a brave strategy saw him slip through to second place at the finish.

Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“Spa is a natural race track in the classical sense. Most of the drivers love it here – and for good reason. Eau Rouge is one of the most spectacular corners in Formula One, which will now be more of a challenge for the drivers again with the reduction in the cars’ downforce. Spa requires less downforce than most of the other circuits in F1. The big unknown in the Ardennes is always the weather – it can change completely in a matter of minutes, but sometimes only on certain sections of the tracks.

Nick Heidfeld:
“I like circuits – such as Spa – which have a very distinctive character. At seven kilometres, a lap of this rollercoaster track is very long and features some special corners. The most famous is Eau Rouge. It may not be quite as breathtaking as before, but powering through it is still a great feeling. I also recommend this as a place to watch the race from, but make sure you bring your rain gear. The weather is unpredictable. In 2008 I took the line that it would rain quite heavily towards the end of the race, and changing tyres at the right time got me onto the podium.