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Formula One Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps
The Belgian Grand Prix is an automobile race, part of the Formula One World Championship. The first national race of Belgium was held in 1925 at the Spa region's race course, an area of the country that had been associated with motor... [more]
The Belgian Grand Prix is an automobile race, part of the Formula One World Championship.
The first national race of Belgium was held in 1925 at the Spa region's race course, an area of the country that had been associated with motor sport since the very early years of racing before the turn of the century. To accommodate Grand Prix motor racing, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps race course was built in 1921 but it was only used for motorcycle racing until 1924. After the 1923 success of the new 24 hours of Le Mans in France, the Spa 24 Hours, a similar 24 hour endurance race, was run at the Spa track.
Drivers and fans alike love the Belgian Grand Prix. Since inception, Spa-Francorchamps has been famous for its unpredictable weather. At one stage in its history it had rained at the Belgian Grand Prix for twenty years in a row. Frequently drivers confront a part of the course that is clear and bright while another stretch is rainy and slippery. Most drivers today say that the Spa course is the most challenging race track that remained on the F1 calendar.
In 2006, the FIA announced the Belgian Grand Prix would not be part of the 2006 Formula One season, since the local authorities have started major repair work in Spa Francorchamps. The race returns in 2007. -- source www.wikipedia.org
Linked from http://www.formula1.com/race/circuitdetail/783.html
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Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit is among the most historic on the Formula One calendar, having hosted a (non-championship) Grand Prix as long ago as 1924, and remains one of the most popular venues with drivers and fans alike.
Run on narrow public roads, the original Spa layout was an amazing 14.9 kilometres long and notoriously dangerous. The lap distance was reduced slightly over the years, with some corners eased, but when the 'old' circuit staged its final Grand Prix in 1970 it still measured just over 14 kilometres and remained staggeringly quick - Chris Amon set that year's fastest lap at an average speed of just under 245 km/h.
Spa did not return to the calendar until 1983 and then in drastically revised form, with lap distance cut to just under seven kilometres. Somehow, though, the circuit's magic was retained. Around two thirds of the lap used the original layout and the legendary Eau Rouge corner remained intact. Only the new Bus Stop chicane on the run down to La Source drew criticism.
More than twenty years on Spa remains the longest circuit on the calendar. Its mix of long straights and challenging fast corners, coupled with its picturesque setting, means that most drivers still rank it among their favourite tracks. The weather is still notoriously changeable (it can often be simultaneously raining on one part of the track and dry on another) and Eau Rouge, with its high speed and sudden elevation change, maintains its reputation as one of Formula One racing's most technically demanding corners.
Such is the challenge of Spa that only the truly great drivers can really claim to have mastered it. In fact just five men have won the race more than twice – Juan Manuel Fangio (three times), Damon Hill (three times), Jim Clark (four times), Ayrton Senna (five times) and Michael Schumacher (six times).
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is situated in south-east Belgium. The town is about 50 kilometres from both Aachen and Liege, close to the German border. The drive from Brussels Zaventem International Airport is about 150 kilometres - take the highway to Liege and then to Verviers and continue to the Francorchamps exit. The circuit will be signposted from there.
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Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit is among the most historic on the Formula One calendar, having hosted a (non-championship) Grand Prix as long ago as 1924, and remains one of the most popular venues with drivers and fans alike.
Run on narrow public roads, the original Spa layout was an amazing 14.9 kilometres long and notoriously dangerous. The lap distance was reduced slightly over the years, with some corners eased, but when the 'old' circuit staged its final Grand Prix in 1970 it still measured just over 14 kilometres and remained staggeringly quick - Chris Amon set that year's fastest lap at an average speed of just under 245 km/h.
Spa did not return to the calendar until 1983 and then in drastically revised form, with lap distance cut to just under seven kilometres. Somehow, though, the circuit's magic was retained. Around two thirds of the lap used the original layout and the legendary Eau Rouge corner remained intact. Only the new Bus Stop chicane on the run down to La Source drew criticism.
More than twenty years on Spa remains the longest circuit on the calendar. Its mix of long straights and challenging fast corners, coupled with its picturesque setting, means that most drivers still rank it among their favourite tracks. The weather is still notoriously changeable (it can often be simultaneously raining on one part of the track and dry on another) and Eau Rouge, with its high speed and sudden elevation change, maintains its reputation as one of Formula One racing's most technically demanding corners.
Such is the challenge of Spa that only the truly great drivers can really claim to have mastered it. In fact just five men have won the race more than twice – Juan Manuel Fangio (three times), Damon Hill (three times), Jim Clark (four times), Ayrton Senna (five times) and Michael Schumacher (six times).
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is situated in south-east Belgium. The town is about 50 kilometres from both Aachen and Liege, close to the German border. The drive from Brussels Zaventem International Airport is about 150 kilometres - take the highway to Liege and then to Verviers and continue to the Francorchamps exit. The circuit will be signposted from there.
The much-loved Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes has had its racing licence re-instated, theoretically guaranteeing the future of the Belgian Grand Prix for at least 2010.
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[Macau, November 22. Image via Getty] Models pose for photographers prior to the Macau GT cup race event, part of the 57th Macau Grand Prix, on November 22, 2009. The Macau Grand Prix Formula Three race is being held in city November 19-22. AFP PHOTO / ED JONES (Photo credit should read Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)
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From gawker.com
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An association of residents living close to Spa-Francorchamps has come out in support of the home of the Belgian Grand Prix - launching an online petition in a bid to save the race's future.
From rss.crash.net
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- Residents: We support not oppose Spa-Francorchamps! (rss.crash.net)
The residents who live near the track of Spa-Francorchamps have taken it upon their shoulders to ensure the survival of the Belgian Grand Prix which is a regular fixture at the Spa Track. I opened my email yesterday to a statement from an association which claims to represent the residents of the area near the track :
We are an association of people who live near the track of Spa-Francorchamps and we want to confirm that we are not disturbed...
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From f1chronicles.com
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Malaysian oil producer Petronas, a familiar name in Formula 1, will continue to sponsor the Malaysian Grand Prix, according to the Malaysian National News Agency.
It is a pretty short story, so here it is :
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 5 (Bernama)—Petronas says it will continue to be the title sponsor of the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix which has proven to be an effective platform to promote Malaysia on the global stage.
In a statement issued to...
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From bleacherreport.com
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Giancarlo Fisichella started what appears to be his final season in Formula 1 with the Force India team. They made a decent start, with Fisichella taking the team's first pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix. ...
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From blogsearch.google.com
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BRAWN GP WILL compete as Mercedes Grand Prix next season after the German company completed a buyout of the Formula 1 World Champions. Mercedes has purchased a 75 percent stake in the team, and will take control of operation immediately. Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug will act as...
New York Times - Motorsports Links: Mercedes Takes Over Brawn GP
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From industry.bnet.com
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