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What does Spa mean in F1?
Belgian Grand PrixCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps (2007–present)Race informationNumber of times held78First held1925Most wins (drivers)Michael Schumacher (6)13 more rows
What is special about Spa F1?
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is fast – very fast. With only one hairpin over its more than four miles, Spa features enormous straights, some of which are connected to each other by long, sweeping corners that can be taken flat out. Most of Spa's corners can be conquered with speeds of more than 180 mph.
Is Spa a good track for F1?
It says something about the place that even in its modern, abbreviated and somewhat neutered configuration Spa remains the most beautiful, challenging and plain best circuit on the modern F1 calendar, and it defies belief that removing it from the schedule is being actively considered.
Why do F1 drivers like Spa?
Undoubtedly a part of the charm of Spa is the weather. It is unpredictable to say the least, as was demonstrated again during the (almost) cancelled Belgian Grand Prix in 2021. Last year it was too much of a good thing, but usually, the unpredictable conditions provide the necessary spectacle during the races.
How do you get into F1 Spa?
Getting to the Belgian Grand Prix by train or bus Shuttle buses from Verviers to Spa (bus 294 or 395) run regularly on race weekend with a journey time of 45 minutes. Trains from Luxembourg stop at the Trois Ponts station, from where you can take the 294 bus to the circuit (40 minutes travel time).
Is Spa easy to overtake?
“Overtaking is good here, it's a wide track, it's very nice. It's one of the easier tracks to make moves around and hopefully we can make up a lot of positions in the races.
Which track is the hardest in F1?
Nürburgring Nordschleife is the legendary race track that earned its nickname because of difficulty. The number of turns, the various surfaces and unpredictable weather conditions made this track even tougher. Unfortunately, many drivers didn't survive their Nürburgring adventure.
How fast do F1 cars go at Spa?
Formula 1 cars have a top speed of 360KPH (223MPH) but have been known to reach speeds closer to 400KPH (248MPH). These cars accelerate from 0 – 100KPH (62MPH) in 2.4 seconds and have cornering speeds of 300KPH (186MPH). There are no cars faster around a racetrack than F1 cars.
What is the nicest F1 track?
Spa, Belgium There's no race track on the planet quite like Spa-Francorchamps. At 7km the track is the longest on the F1 calendar, hence why only 44 laps are needed to complete a full grand prix distance of 300km.
Is Spa the longest track in F1?
Belgium - Spa-Francorchamps The track was redeveloped in 1979, and although the new circuit is only half the original's length, it's still the longest on the current calendar at 7.004km.
Is SPA removed from F1?
On the weekend of what could have been Spa's last F1 race for the foreseeable future, both parties thrashed out a fresh one-year contract extension that will keep the popular circuit on the calendar in 2023.
How long is a lap at Spa F1?
Circuit informationLap dataLap length7.004km (4.352 miles)Pole positionRight-hand side of the trackLap record*1'46.286 (Valtteri Bottas, 2018)Fastest lap1'41.252 (Lewis Hamilton, 2020, qualifying three)15 more rows
Why is Spa the best F1 track?
It's a track that showcases the best the sport has to offer, and has been the scene of some legendary wins. So much so that the atmosphere at Spa is palpable. The majority of the grandstands are located around the first few corners – La Source, Eau Rouge and Raidillon – and the pit straight.
Why is Spa-Francorchamps so popular?
It is the current venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, hosting its first Grand Prix in 1925, and has held a Grand Prix every year since 1985 (except 2003 and 2006). Spa also hosts several other international events including the 24 Hours of Spa, the World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
What does F1 mean on a lazy spa?
The error code FL1, FLO or a message "Open Flow Switch" means that your hot tub is not detecting sufficient water movement when the pump is running.
What does SPA mean in Ferrari Spa?
Società Piemontese Automobili(Società Piemontese Automobili), was an Italian automobile, military vehicle and aero-engine manufacturer founded in Turin by Matteo Ceirano and Michele Ansaldi.
Where is Spa located?
Spa is located in the Belgian Ardennes countryside , and the old circuit was, and still is, used as everyday public road, and there were houses, trees, electric poles, fields and other obstacles located right next to the track.
Where is Spa Francorchamps?
www .spa-francorchamps .be. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motor-racing circuit located in Stavelot, Belgium. It is the current venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, hosting its first Grand Prix in 1925, and has held a Grand Prix every year since 1985 (except 2003 and 2006). Spa also hosts several other international events ...
Why was Masta removed from Formula One?
Masta was removed from F1 racing after the 1970 season. Jackie Stewart's crusade to improve safety in racing was set in motion by his crash there in 1966, when his BRM ended upside-down in a ditch near a farmhouse on the outside of the corner, with fuel gushing out of the tank onto Stewart, who had broken ribs. At this point, many of the Formula One drivers disliked Spa (including Stewart and Jim Clark, who had some of his greatest wins there) because of the immense speeds that were constant on the track. While he was spectating at the 1972 12 Hours of Sebring, Stewart attempted to organise a boycott of the Spa 1000 km race that year, a move that was not respected by many of the drivers, because Spa was still popular with racing drivers outside of Formula One. Stewart later described the old Spa circuit in 1986 as being as "ferocious as a tiger", and he later described Masta in an interview in 2011 as perhaps the hardest corner on any racetrack he raced on in his career; even more so than Eau Rouge.
What was the original Spa-Francorchamps circuit?
The original Spa-Francorchamps circuit was essentially a speed course, with drivers managing higher average speeds than on other race tracks. At the time, the Belgians took pride in having a very fast circuit, and to improve average speeds, in 1939 the former slow uphill U-turn at the bottom of the Eau Rouge creek valley, called the Ancienne Douane (until 1920, there was a German Empire customs office here ), was cut short with a faster sweep straight up the hill, called the Raidillon. At Eau Rouge, southbound traffic was allowed to use the famous uphill corner, while the opposite downhill traffic had to use the old road and U-turn behind the grandstands, rejoining the race track at the bottom of Eau Rouge.
Why were the Formula 1 races smaller than usual?
As a result, the Formula 1 and motorcycle Grands Prix and 1000 km sportscar races saw smaller than usual fields at Spa because most drivers and riders feared the circuit and did not like racing there.
When was Spa-Francorchamps first used?
The circuit was first used for Grand Prix racing in 1925. The original Spa-Francorchamps circuit was essentially a speed course, with drivers managing higher average speeds than on other race tracks.
When was the first race at Francorchamps?
The track's inaugural race was planned for August 1921, but was cancelled when only one driver entered. The first car race was held at the circuit in 1922, and 1924 saw the first running of the now famous 24 Hours of Francorchamps race. The circuit was first used for Grand Prix racing in 1925.
What is Spa in Formula 1?
Spa is seen as one of the ultimate tests of a driver. In particular the Eau Rouge and Raidillon corner combination is one of the most spectacular sights in Formula 1, especially when the cars are launched through there at full throttle.
Why was Spa made?
Simply put, Spa was made for speed and favours the brave.
How to get to Spa Francorchamps?
If you're driving then Spa-Francorchamps can be accessed by the E42 motorway. Fortunately the country roads which surround the track are well signposted.
What is the most famous race track in Formula 1?
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most iconic race tracks on the Formula 1 calendar.
When will Spa host the Grand Prix?
Spa's current contract to host the Belgian Grand Prix runs until the end of 2021.
Is Spa a home race?
Max Verstappen: “Racing at Spa is always special. I was born just an hour down the road so it is pretty much a home race for me. You can see by the orange crowds and campsites full of Dutch caravans that the fans come out in force, this only adds to the home race feel."
When was the track built?
The original, triangle-shaped track was built in 1921, with designers Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois van Ophem using public roads between the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot to create an amazing 14.9km circuit taking in the forests and rolling hills of the beautiful Ardennes region.
When was its first Grand Prix?
Having hosted a non-championship Grand Prix as long ago as 1924, Belgium’s iconic circuit was one of just seven to be part of Formula 1’s maiden championship in 1950. That race was won by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, who led home an Alfa Romeo one-two ahead of team mate Nino Farina.
Why go?
What’s not to love about one of Europe’s classic tracks? Only the truly great drivers conquer Spa, with Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher among those to master this magical circuit.
Where is the best place to watch?
The elevated grandstand located near Eau Rouge gives you the best view of the iconic corner, while also boasting panoramic views from La Source through to Raidillon. But if you fancy taking in some of the best trackside atmosphere, then the grandstand located on the Pouhon corner should be right up your street.
Overview
Track configurations
Designed in 1920 by Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois Van Ophem, the original course used public roads linking the Belgian towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. The track's inaugural race was planned for August 1921, but was cancelled when only one driver entered. The first car race was held at the circuit in 1922, and 1924 saw the first running of the now famous 24 Hours of Francor…
Problems and renovations
Due to the introduction of the Television Without Frontiers Directive (1989), tobacco advertising and sponsorship on television were banned within the European Union from 1991. Formula One faced a major threat regarding races in its historical European heartland. Due to these political and legislative circumstances, the Grand Prix at Spa was left out of the 2003 calendar as a response to the internal tobacco legislation in Belgium. The event was tagged as a world class event withi…
Other racing series
Besides Formula 1 other races in different motorsports classes are hosted at Spa-Francorchamps. The most notable ones are the GT World Challenge Europe, Formula 2, Formula 3, the RCN, Motorbike Endurance, DTM, and previously the ADAC GT Masters and the WTCC. The most famous long-distance and sports car races are the Spa 24 Hours and the 1000 km Spa. The circuit also hosts a 24-hour 2CV race.
In popular culture
As the long-time home of the Belgian Grand Prix and its location within the Ardennes forests it has been a popular backdrop for all kinds of fictional media, from appearances in comics and motion pictures, to regular appearances in dozens of video games going back into the 1980s.
Tour de France
The circuit has been used several times in the Tour de France cycling race. In 1980, the circuit was part of an individual time trial stage, won by Bernard Hinault (Renault–Gitane); while in 1989, several laps of the circuit were completed before the finish of the third stage, which was won by PDM–Ultima–Concorde's Raúl Alcalá. In 2017, the circuit was used as part of the third stage, starting in Verviers, Belgium and ending in Longwy, France.
See also
• List of Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps fatalities
• Nürburgring (nearby fellow historical circuit in Germany).
External links
• Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
• One lap at Spa Classic 2011 on Kinomap
• BBC guide to the track
• BBC Belgian GP circuit guide