Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Address: Circuit of Spa Francorchamps, S. A. Route du Circuit, 55 4970 Francorchamps
50.4380555555565.9697222222222Koordinaten: 50 ° 26 ' 17 " N, 5 ° 58 ' 11 " O
The Circuit de Spa- Francorchamps is a motorsport race track in the Ardennes in Belgium. It is situated in the triangle between the cities of Stavelot (whose municipal area of the course is ), Spa and Malmedy - just 20 km from the German -Belgian border near Monschau. The start-finish area of the track is located near the village of Francorchamps, where the name of the course is due.
Because of the difference in altitude along the route of a total of about 100 meters and the numerous curves, where high centrifugal forces, the route also carries the nickname " Ardennes Rollercoaster ". Since 1925, the Grand Prix of Belgium will be hosted there with some interruptions; since 1950 as the Formula 1 World Championship race.
- 4.1 lap records 4.1.1 14.12 km route ( 1950-1956 )
- 4.1.2 14.10 km route ( 1958-1970 )
- 4.1.3 6,949 km route (1983 )
- 4.1.4 6,940 - km - range (1985-1991 )
- 4.1.5 6,974 - km - range (1992-1993, 1995)
- 4.1.6 6,968 - km - range ( 1996-2002)
- 4.1.7 6,976 - km - range (2004-2005)
- 4.1.8 7,004 km route (since 2007)
- 5.1 External links
- 5.2 Notes and references
History
Original Route
Until the entry into force of the Treaty of Versailles in January 1920, the eastern part of the race track to the German Reich was. The area of Eupen - Malmedy was incorporated after a controversial referendum, which was received as a "petite farce belge " in the history of Belgium after a five -year transition period in the Belgian State.
The original 14.863 km long route was opened in 1921 and consisted largely of other public highways in the triangle between the towns of Francorchamps in the north, Malmedy and Stavelot in the southeast to the southwest. For the first scheduled race car but appeared only one participant, so it was canceled and the course was instead opened with a motorcycle race.
Shortly after the Valley Eau Rouge the original route turned sharply left, only to result in a hairpin right uphill. This curve was named because there were the former Belgian-German border installations " Virage de l' Ancienne douane " ( at the old customs house curve). It was not until 1939, was created to increase the average speed of the course as a steep uphill abbreviation which later became famous Mutkurve " Raidillon ". In the public road that led up to 2001 on the route, this part was to ride uphill or in race direction, the opposite direction downhill was out behind the bleachers of the old hairpin. In the valley, the two carriageways clashed again. The second German -Belgian border station was behind the long right curve by " Bürnenville " at the beginning of the long " Masta " straight from Malmedy Stavelot. To get around the tight curve in the road through Stavelot, and to increase the average speed of the course, an abbreviation in the form of an elongated slightly inflated right-hander was inserted there.
Otherwise, there was a triangular -scale distance of long straights and few, but mostly very fast corners. The famous exception to this rule is the hairpin " La Source " in the north, which was not circumvented by another measure. The hairpin was once the last curve before the initial start-finish installation in the middle of the downhill track to Eau Rouge, and start driving the entire field at high speed on this narrow point to. For Formula 1 pit area and an additional start-finish has been built on the flat section before La Source, so that the starting field only needs to walk around this hairpin, after which the cars usually solitary and thus safer driving through Eau Rouge.
Not only the fast route and the poor protection - lanterns, street signs, trees and buildings were unsecured close to the track, manhole cover in the pavement made for surprising glissades - but also the unpredictable weather made Spa -Francorchamps fatal. Because of the length of the track it happened that it was dry at the start and finish, as it continues to rain for a couple kilometers in streams. When Formula 1 Grand Prix 1966, the car went to the start at high speed in the wet track section at Burnenville and injured part, which was documented in the film " Grand Prix" from the helicopter perspective.
The first car race took place in 1922, the first 24 -hour race in 1924.
The old and new Grand Prix track in comparison ( gray = old) (south is up)
The track before conversion 2006 ( south is up)
Banishment from the race calendar
The track was exiled after 1970 from the Grand Prix calendar, because it was considered too dangerous because of the high speeds. Last scored the Mexican Pedro Rodríguez on the at that time still 14.099 km long track with his BRM P153 at an average speed of almost 240 km / h The old version of the circuit can be virtually " navigate " on the PC with simulations such as Grand Prix Legends or rFactor (with the help of add-ons ) continues. Making a good impression of the track conditions and hazards in the 1960s also delivers the 1966 film made Grand Prix, which was partly filmed at Spa -Francorchamps.
Reconstruction measures
The route was shortened to 1979 to about half. The new part of the track branches off to the Kemmel straight down, descends and flows into the Stavelot curve into the existing road. This modification increased the security and still partially preserved the original character of the track. 1983 Spa was taken after lengthy renovations again in place of the course in Zolder in the calendar.
Since spring 2001, the parts of now 6.976 kilometers long track, which were still regular highways, permanently closed to public traffic. In the east to a new bypass ( N62c ) from Francorchamps to Les Combes or Burnenville was built. The section of the old track from the village of Stavelot to the confluence of the new curve Stavelot was a dead end or to the southern entrance to the paddock with some very bad road surfaces. Since then, the Circuit de Spa- Francorchamps is a permanent race track.
After the 2005 season, the Formula 1 Administration demanded (FOA ) extensive conversion work at the track, especially in the infrastructure area. Beginning of 2006 had not yet started the construction work so that a completion at the scheduled race was not guaranteed and the Belgian Grand Prix was canceled. As a result, the FOA took over under the leadership of formula -1 promoter Bernie Ecclestone the lead for the renovation work and the future of the course and under a contract from 2007 for at least five years in each case a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spa -Francorchamps align. So staying in the season calendar would be saved by 2012.
The estimated at about 18 million euros Work began in mid-November 2006 and were completed in May 2007. Among other things, the Bus Stop chicane was transformed into a tight right-left combination, the La Source hairpin modified and supplemented with a larger run-off area and built a new pit area including paddock. For this purpose, the construction of new bleachers in the start- finish straight, at La Source and Eau Rouge came with an expansion of the seating capacity from 70,000 to 84,000. The double left turn " pouhon " received a more level surface and a tarmac run-off area. The current 7.004 km long route was resumed in the calendar for the Formula 1 season 2007 (September 16 ) and 2008 (September 7 ). Also in 2008, the curve No. 15 was (formerly Stavelot ) named after the Belgian racing driver Paul Frère.
Special
A curiosity of the spa are two variants start and pit facilities. While the start and finish line is for F1 before La Source, other races are still run on the downhill straight before Eau Rouge. There is also still the old pit area. This is partly for major events - such as the Formula 1 weekends or in the 24 -hour race - used in addition to the new boxes. The teams of the support races are usually housed in the old pit area and also the start of the race these cars made on the old start - finish straight.
Michael Schumacher celebrated on 2 September 2012 in Spa his 300th Grand Prix participation. There he was on 25 August 1991, drove his first Formula 1 race.
Other racing series
In addition to the Formula 1 race also numerous other motorsport classes will be held at Spa- Francorchamps; these include the Blancpain Endurance Series, Formula 3, RCN, the Motorcycle Endurance, the ADAC GT Masters, and formerly the DTM and WTCC. The most common discharged in Spa endurance race and sports car races are the 24- hour race at Spa -Francorchamps and the 6- hour race at Spa -Francorchamps FIA World Endurance Championship ( WEC). Furthermore, there is on the premises a kart track and a motocross track.
Statistics
Lap records
Q = qualification; R = race
14.12 km route ( 1950-1956 )
14.10 km route ( 1958-1970 )
6,949 km route (1983 )
6,940 - km - range (1985-1991 )
6,974 -km range (1992-1993, 1995)
6,968 - km - range ( 1996-2002)
6,976 - km - range (2004-2005)
7,004 km route (since 2007)
All winners of the Formula 1 race at Spa- Francorchamps
Record winner Driver: Michael Schumacher ( 6) Record winner designers: Ferrari / McLaren (12 each ) Record winner Engine Manufacturer: Ferrari ( 12) Record winner tire manufacturer Goodyear (16 ) Record winner Nations: United Kingdom ( 14)