Belgium: Spa Francorchamps Track Guide


By Phil Huff
August 29 2009

Nestling deep inside the Ardennes forest near Liege, Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most historic and evocative circuits in Formula One and makes a welcome appearance on the calendar, after an enforced absence for modernisation of the circuit and facilities in 2007.

Spa features a mixture of long straights combined with very high speed corners and low speed technical sections. Chassis set-up requires a compromise between reducing drag to aid straightline speed and generating downforce to aid cornering. Braking stability is also an important consideration, particularly when stopping the car after the flat-out Blanchimont corner for the new low speed chicane.

Brawn GP Range
RealBrawnGP.com readers can use code AVFT for a 10% discount. Min £40 spend.

With a 7.004 km lap, Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar and its fantastic corners, wonderful scenery and adrenalin pumping elevation changes make it a place where driver bravery and skill become even more significant than usual. The weather is notoriously changeable which only adds to the excitement of the race weekend.

Last years race saw Honda Racing F1 suffering, with Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button qualifying the reluctant RA108 in 16th and 17th places respectively. The race saw Barrichello retire early on with gearbox problems, while Button struggled on to finish the race in 15th place, a lap behind winner Felipe Massa, Back in 2005, Button took a podium finish, ending the race behind just Kimi Raikkonen and eventual champion Fernando Alonso.

Bookmark or share this story with: