Belgian Grand Prix Facts & Figures

By Andrew Hooper
August 23 2002

 

 

  
Belgian GP Facts & Figures
 
* The Spa-Francorchamps circuit has hosted 36 of the 48 Belgian Grands Prix. In 1920 the idea of taking advantage of the triangle drawn by the roads connecting Malmedy, Stavelot and Francorchamps to make a racing track was born. Ready by August 1921, the first race for cars could unfortunately not take place as only one competitor was registered. Eventually, the track was inaugurated by the motorcyclists, second the car racing followed a year later in 1922.

* 1924 saw the first 24 Hours of Francorchamps. The first big international race for single-seaters, the European Grand Prix, was run in 1925. Seven cars took part in this event which was won by famous Alfa Romeo driver, Antonio Ascari.

* Due to World War II, racing activities stopped until 1947. In 1970, the last Grand Prix took place on the former 14 kilometre long track. As a consequence of increased performance of the cars it had become too dangerous. The seven-kilometre-long track was opened in 1979. Measuring exactly 6,968 kilometres, the Belgium race track is the longest on the current F1 calendar.

* Today the most famous corner is Eau Rouge. This left-right-combination is located in a depression and notorious for catching out the unwary and the brave. In the past drivers have had massive accidents there as it is a sweeping curve that challenges over confident drivers to take it flat.

* Other famous parts are the high speed section "Blanchimont", the narrow "Bus-Stop-Chicane" or "La Source", the hairpin which was the venue of the biggest multiple pile-up of F1 history back in 1998.

* In 2001 the BMW WilliamsF1 Team had a perfect qualifying with Juan Pablo Montoya recording pole position with a lap of 1m 52,072s by choosing slicks at the ideal moment in the changeable weather. Ralf Schumacher claimed second place on the grid. Expectations were high. But what followed was a race full of misfortunes which saw the team walk away empty-handed. Several starts were necessary to get the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix underway. At the second start to the formation lap, Juan Pablo stood still on the grid with a stalled engine and had to line up in last row.

Then the race had to be interrupted and restarted after a massive accident involving Brazilian Luciano Burti. The team then decided to change the rear wing on Ralf's car on the grid when the mechanics were surprised by a 3-minute signal instead of the expected 5-minute signal. The work could not been completed in time and Ralf's car was still on jacks when the field started for the green flag lap. Finally Ralf Schumacher finished the race in seventh place, while Juan Pablo Montoya was forced to retire due to an engine failure.

* Before 2001 Ralf came second in 1998, fifth in 1999 and third in 2000. Juan Pablo is facing just his second F1 race at Spa. WilliamsF1 has four wins to its credit on this circuit.

* Michael Schumacher for Ferrari won the 2001 Grand Prix and also set the lap record of 1m 49.758s.

* Tyre degradation is supposed to be quite high in Spa. The traditional pit-stop windows are between lap 22 and lap 25 for a one stop strategy. A two stopper would require services between laps 15 to 19 and between laps 28 to 34.

* The race will start at 14.00 local time (12.00 BST) on Sunday, 1st September 2002.

 
 
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