Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Address: |
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Stavelot , Belgium | ||
Route type: | permanent race track | |
---|---|---|
Opening: | August 1921 | |
Formula 1 venue : |
since 1950 | |
Time zone: | UTC + 1 ( CET ) | |
Track layout | ||
Route data | ||
Important events: |
Formula 1 , FIA GT1 World Championship , WEC | |
Route length: | 7.004 km (4.35 mi ) | |
Curves: | 21st | |
Audience capacity: | 84,000 | |
Records | ||
Track record: (Formula 1) |
1: 46.286 min. ( Valtteri Bottas , Mercedes , 2018 ) |
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www.spa-francorchamps.be |
Coordinates: 50 ° 26 ′ 17 ″ N , 5 ° 58 ′ 11 ″ E
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motorsport race in the Walloon region in Belgium . It is located in the Ardennes , in the triangle between the towns of Stavelot (to whose municipality the course belongs), Spa and Malmedy - just under 20 km away from the German-Belgian border near Monschau . The start-finish area of the route is near the village of Francorchamps, which is where the name of the route comes from.
Because of the height difference in the course of a total of around 100 meters and the numerous curves in which high centrifugal forces occur, the route is also known as the “Ardennes rollercoaster”. Since 1925 the Belgian Grand Prix has been held there with a few interruptions ; since 1950 as a Formula 1 world championship race.
history
Original route
Until the Versailles Treaty came into force in January 1920, the eastern part of the racetrack belonged to the German Empire . The area of Eupen-Malmedy was incorporated into the Belgian state after a controversial referendum , which also went down in Belgian history as the “petite farce belge” after a five-year transition period.
The originally 14.863 km long route was opened in 1921 and consisted largely of otherwise public country roads in the triangle between the villages of Francorchamps in the north, Malmedy in the southeast and Stavelot in the southwest. However, only one participant appeared for the first planned car race, so it was canceled and the course was instead opened with a motorcycle race .
Shortly after the Eau Rouge depression , the original route turned sharply to the left and then led uphill to the right in a hairpin bend . This curve was called Virage de l'Ancienne Douane (curve at the old customs post) because the former Belgian-German border fortifications were located there. It was not until 1939 that the later famous Raidillon courage curve was created as a steeply uphill abbreviation in order to increase the average speed of the course. The public road traffic, which led through the route as a diversion of the not yet completed section of Autobahn 27 until 2001 , was routed behind the grandstands over the old hairpin bend. The two directional lanes met again in the depression. The second German-Belgian border station was behind the long right-hand bend through Bürnenville at the beginning of the long Masta straight from Malmedy to Stavelot. In order to bypass the narrow curve in the through-town of Stavelot and to increase the average speed of the course, an abbreviation in the form of a long, slightly elevated right-hand curve has also been inserted there.
Otherwise the triangular route consisted of long straights and only a few, but mostly very fast, corners. The famous exception to this rule is the La Source hairpin in the north, which was not circumvented by any further measures. The hairpin was once the last bend before the original start-finish facility in the middle of the downhill section to Eau Rouge and at the start the entire field drove towards this narrow point at high speed. For Formula 1, an additional pit area and start-finish line were built on the level section in front of La Source, so that the starter field first has to go around this hairpin, after which the cars usually drive individually and thus safely through Eau Rouge.
Not only the fast route and the poor security - lanterns, street signs, trees and buildings stood unsecured close to the route, manhole covers in the roadway caused surprising slides - but also the unpredictable weather made Spa-Francorchamps life-threatening. Because of the length of the route, it happened that it was dry at the start and finish, while it was pouring rain a few kilometers further. At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1966 , after the start, the cars drove at high speed into the wet section of the track near Burnenville and sometimes had an accident, which was documented from the helicopter's perspective in the film Grand Prix .
The first car race took place in 1922, the first 24-hour race in 1924 .
Banished from the Formula 1 racing calendar
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was banned from the Grand Prix calendar after 1970 because it was classified as too dangerous due to the high speeds. Most recently, the Mexican Pedro Rodríguez achieved an average speed of almost 240 km / h on the 14.099 km long route with his BRM P153 . The old route variant can still be virtually “driven” on the PC with simulations such as Project CARS , Grand Prix Legends or rFactor (with the help of add-ons ). The 1966 film Grand Prix , some of which was shot in Spa-Francorchamps , also gives a good impression of the track conditions and dangers in the 1960s .
Remodeling
The route was shortened to about half by 1979. The new section of the route branches off after the Kemmel Straight, leads downhill and joins the existing road at the Stavelot curve. This conversion increased safety and still partially preserved the original character of the route. In 1983 , after lengthy renovation work, Spa was again included in the Formula 1 calendar instead of the course in Zolder .
Since spring 2001, parts of the 6.976 km long route that were still regular country roads have been permanently closed to public traffic. To the east, a new bypass road (N62c) from Francorchamps to Les Combes and Burnenville was built. The section of the old racetrack from Stavelot to the confluence of the new Stavelot curve became a dead end or the southern entrance to the paddock, sometimes with very poor pavement. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has been a permanent race track ever since .
After the 2005 season , the Formula 1 administration (FOA) demanded extensive renovation work on the track, especially in the infrastructural area. At the beginning of 2006 , construction work had not yet started, so that completion for the planned race was not guaranteed and the Belgian Grand Prix was canceled. As a result, the FOA, under the leadership of Formula 1 promoter Bernie Ecclestone, took over the lead for the renovation work and the future of the course and contractually committed to a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps for at least five years from 2007 align. This ensured that they would remain in the seasonal calendar until 2012.
The work, estimated at around 18 million euros, began in mid-November 2006 and was completed in May 2007. Among other things, the Bus Stop chicane was converted into a tight right-left combination, the La Source hairpin curve was modified and supplemented with a larger run-off zone, and a new pit area including a paddock was built. In addition, there was the construction of new grandstands in the area of the start and finish straight, at La Source and Eau Rouge, with an increase in spectator capacity from 70,000 to 84,000. The double left turn Pouhon was given a more level surface and an asphalt run-off zone. The current 7.004 km long route has been added to the calendar for the Formula 1 seasons 2007 (September 16) and 2008 (September 7). Also in 2008, curve 15 (formerly Stavelot ) was named after the Belgian racing driver Paul Frère .
particularities
A curiosity about Spa are two starting variants and pit systems . While the start and finish line for Formula 1 is in front of La Source , other races are started on the downhill straight in front of Eau Rouge . The old pit area is also located there. This is sometimes used in addition to the new boxes at large events - for example on Formula 1 weekends or at the 24-hour race. The teams of the frame races are usually housed in the old pit area and the race start of these vehicles takes place on the old start and finish straight.
Michael Schumacher celebrated his 300th Grand Prix participation on September 2, 2012 in Spa. It was there that he drove his first Formula 1 race on August 25, 1991 , and a year later he clinched his first victory on this track.
More racing series
In addition to Formula 1, there are also races in numerous other motorsport classes in Spa-Francorchamps; these include the Blancpain Endurance Series , Formula 3 , RCN , Motorcycle Endurance, the ADAC GT Masters , and formerly the DTM and WTCC . The most famous long-distance races and sports car races held in Spa are the 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps and the 6-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). There is also a kart track and a motocross course on the site .
statistics
Lap records
Q = qualification; R = race; T = test drive
14.12 km route (1950–1956)
Q | 4: 09.8 min | 203.49 km / h | Juan Manuel Fangio | Ferrari | 1956 |
R. | 4: 14.7 min | 199.58 km / h | Stirling Moss | Maserati | 1956 |
14.10 km route (1958-1970)
Q | 3: 28.0 min | 244.04 km / h | Jackie Stewart | March-Ford | 1970 |
R. | 3: 27.4 min | 244.74 km / h | Chris Amon | March-Ford | 1970 |
6,949 km route (1983)
Q | 2: 04.615 min | 200.75 km / h | Alain Prost | Renault | 1983 |
R. | 2: 07.493 min | 196.22 km / h | Andrea de Cesaris | Alfa Romeo | 1983 |
6,940 km route (1985–1991)
Q | 1: 47.811 min | 231.74 km / h | Ayrton Senna | McLaren Honda | 1991 |
R. | 1: 55.087 min | 217.09 km / h | Alain Prost | Ferrari | 1990 |
6,974 km route (1992–1993, 1995)
Q | 1: 47.571 min | 233.39 km / h | Alain Prost | Williams-Renault | 1993 |
R. | 1: 51.095 min | 225.99 km / h | Alain Prost | Williams-Renault | 1993 |
6,968 km route (1996-2002)
Q | 1: 43.726 min | 241.84 km / h | Michael sSchumacher | Ferrari | 2002 |
R. | 1: 47.176 min | 234.05 km / h | Michael sSchumacher | Ferrari | 2002 |
6.976 km route (2004-2005)
Q | 1: 46.391 min | 236.05 km / h | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren-Mercedes | 2005 |
R. | 1: 45.108 min | 238.93 km / h | Kimi Raikkonen | McLaren-Mercedes | 2004 |
7.004 km route (since 2007)
Q | 1: 41.501 min | 248.42 km / h | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 2018 |
R. | 1: 46.286 min | 237.23 km / h | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 2018 |
All winners of Formula 1 races in Spa-Francorchamps
No. | year | driver | constructor | engine | tires | time | Route length | Round | Ø pace | date | GP of |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1950 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | P | 2: 47: 26,000 h | 14.120 km | 35 | 177.097 km / h | 18th of June | Belgium |
2 | 1951 | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | P | 2: 45: 46,000 h | 14.120 km | 36 | 183.989 km / h | 17th of June | |
3 | 1952 | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Ferrari | P | 3: 03: 46,300 h | 14.120 km | 36 | 165.962 km / h | June 22 | |
4th | 1953 | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Ferrari | P | 2: 48: 30,300 h | 14.120 km | 36 | 180.999 km / h | June 21st | |
5 | 1954 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Maserati | Maserati | P | 2: 44: 42,400 h | 14.120 km | 36 | 185.173 km / h | 20th June | |
6th | 1955 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Mercedes | Mercedes | C. | 2: 39: 29,000 h | 14.120 km | 36 | 191.238 km / h | June 5th | |
7th | 1956 | Peter Collins | Ferrari | Ferrari | E. | 2: 40: 00,300 h | 14.120 km | 36 | 190.614 km / h | 3rd of June | |
8th | 1958 | Tony Brooks | Vanwall | Vanwall | D. | 2: 37: 06,300 h | 14.100 km | 36 | 209.093 km / h | 15th June | |
9 | 1960 | Jack Brabham | cooper | Climax | D. | 2: 21: 37,300 h | 14.100 km | 36 | 215.052 km / h | June 19th | |
10 | 1961 | Phil Hill | Ferrari | Ferrari | D. | 2: 03: 03,800 h | 14.100 km | 30th | 206.235 km / h | 18th of June | |
11 | 1962 | Jim Clark | lotus | Climax | D. | 2: 07: 32,300 h | 14.100 km | 32 | 212.266 km / h | 17th of June | |
12 | 1963 | Jim Clark | lotus | Climax | D. | 2: 27: 47,600 h | 14.100 km | 32 | 183.175 km / h | June 9th | |
13 | 1964 | Jim Clark | lotus | Climax | D. | 2:06:40, 500 h | 14.100 km | 32 | 213.712 km / h | 14th June | |
14th | 1965 | Jim Clark | lotus | Climax | D. | 2: 23: 34.800 h | 14.100 km | 32 | 188.550 km / h | June 13th | |
15th | 1966 | John Surtees | Ferrari | Ferrari | D. | 2: 09: 11,300 h | 14.100 km | 28 | 183.360 km / h | June 12 | |
16 | 1967 | Dan Gurney | eagle | Weslake | G | 1: 40: 49.400 h | 14.100 km | 28 | 234.946 km / h | 18th of June | |
17th | 1968 | Bruce McLaren | McLaren | ford | G | 1: 40: 02,100 h | 14.100 km | 28 | 236.797 km / h | June 9th | |
18th | 1970 | Pedro Rodríguez | BRM | BRM | D. | 1: 38: 09.900 h | 14.100 km | 28 | 241.308 km / h | June 7th | |
19th | 1983 | Alain Prost | Renault | Renault | M. | 1: 27: 11.502 h | 6.949 km | 40 | 191.275 km / h | May 22 | |
20th | 1985 | Ayrton Senna | lotus | Renault | G | 1: 34: 19.893 h | 6.940 km | 43 | 189.811 km / h | Sep 15 | |
21st | 1986 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | Honda | G | 1: 27: 57.925 h | 6.940 km | 43 | 203.548 km / h | 25. May | |
22nd | 1987 | Alain Prost | McLaren | Porsche ( TAG ) | G | 1: 27: 03.217 h | 6.940 km | 43 | 205.680 km / h | 17th of May | |
23 | 1988 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | Honda | G | 1: 28: 00.549 h | 6.940 km | 43 | 203.447 km / h | 28 Aug | |
24 | 1989 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | Honda | G | 1: 40: 54.196 h | 6.940 km | 44 | 181.576 km / h | 27 Aug | |
25th | 1990 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | Honda | G | 1: 26: 31.997 h | 6.940 km | 44 | 211.729 km / h | 26 Aug | |
26th | 1991 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | Honda | G | 1: 27: 17.669 h | 6.940 km | 44 | 209.883 km / h | 25 Aug | |
27 | 1992 | Michael sSchumacher | Benetton | ford | G | 1: 36: 10.721 h | 6.974 km | 44 | 191.429 km / h | 30 Aug | |
28 | 1993 | Damon Hill | Williams | Renault | G | 1: 24: 32.124 h | 6.974 km | 44 | 217.795 km / h | 29 Aug | |
29 | 1994 | Damon Hill | Williams | Renault | G | 1: 28: 47.170 h | 7.001 km | 44 | 208.170 km / h | 28 Aug | |
30th | 1995 | Michael sSchumacher | Benetton | Renault | G | 1: 36: 47.875 h | 6.974 km | 44 | 190.204 km / h | 27 Aug | |
31 | 1996 | Michael sSchumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | G | 1: 28: 15.125 h | 6.968 km | 44 | 208.443 km / h | 25 Aug | |
32 | 1997 | Michael sSchumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | G | 1: 33: 46.717 h | 6.968 km | 44 | 196.159 km / h | 24 Aug | |
33 | 1998 | Damon Hill | Jordan | Mugen | G | 1: 43: 47.407 h | 6.968 km | 44 | 177.238 km / h | 30 Aug | |
34 | 1999 | David Coulthard | McLaren | Mercedes | B. | 1: 25: 43.057 h | 6.968 km | 44 | 214.596 km / h | 29 Aug | |
35 | 2000 | Mika Hakkinen | McLaren | Mercedes | B. | 1: 28: 14.494 h | 6.968 km | 44 | 208.468 km / h | 27 Aug | |
36 | 2001 | Michael sSchumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | B. | 1: 08: 05.002 h | 6.968 km | 36 | 221.050 km / h | Sep 2 | |
37 | 2002 | Michael sSchumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | B. | 1: 21: 20.634 h | 6.968 km | 44 | 226.133 km / h | Sep 1 | |
38 | 2004 | Kimi Raikkonen | McLaren | Mercedes | M. | 1: 32: 35.274 h | 6.976 km | 44 | 198.824 km / h | 29 Aug | |
39 | 2005 | Kimi Raikkonen | McLaren | Mercedes | M. | 1: 30: 01.295 h | 6.976 km | 44 | 204.580 km / h | Sep 11 | |
40 | 2007 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | Ferrari | B. | 1: 20: 39.066 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 229.266 km / h | 16 Sep | |
41 | 2008 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | Ferrari | B. | 1: 22: 59.394 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 223.873 km / h | Sep 7 | |
42 | 2009 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | Ferrari | B. | 1: 23: 50.995 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 220.431 km / h | 30 Aug | |
43 | 2010 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | Mercedes | B. | 1: 29: 04.268 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 207.510 km / h | 29 Aug | |
44 | 2011 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | Renault | P | 1: 26: 44.893 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 213.066 km / h | 28 Aug | |
45 | 2012 | Jenson Button | McLaren | Mercedes | P | 1: 29: 08.530 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 207.344 km / h | Sep 2 | |
46 | 2013 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | Renault | P | 1: 23: 42.196 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 220.817 km / h | 25 Aug | |
47 | 2014 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | Renault | P | 1: 24: 36.556 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 218.453 km / h | 24 Aug | |
48 | 2015 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | P | 1: 23: 40.387 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 215.874 km / h | 23 Aug | |
49 | 2016 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | Mercedes | P | 1: 44: 51.058 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 176.279 km / h | 28 Aug | |
50 | 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | P | 1: 24: 42.820 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 218.183 km / h | 27 Aug | |
51 | 2018 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | Ferrari | P | 1: 23: 34.476 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 221.157 km / h | 26 Aug | |
52 | 2019 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Ferrari | P | 1: 23: 45.710 h | 7.004 km | 44 | 220.663 km / h | Sep 1 |
Record winner
drivers: Michael Schumacher (6), Ayrton Senna (5), Jim Clark / Kimi Räikkönen (4 each)
Driver nations: Great Britain (16), Germany (10), Brazil (6)
Constructors: Ferrari (14), Lotus (5 )
Engine manufacturers: Ferrari (14), Mercedes (10), Renault (8)
Tire manufacturers: Goodyear (16), Pirelli (14), Dunlop (9)
References
Web links
- official page
- 24 hour race Spa
- Presentation of the route in 1955
- 24 hour race for 2CV in Spa-Francorchamps
Individual evidence
- ^ German topographic map "5501 Bürnenville", edition 1893 ( Memento from July 19, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Official route history on spa-francorchamps.be ( Memento from October 22, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) (French)
- ^ Daniel Bour: Bernie Ecclestone, nouveau patron du circuit de Spa Francorchamps. In: caradisiac.com , February 9, 2006 (French).
- ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: Communiqué of the authorities on the route conversion (February 9, 2007, French)
- ↑ Schumacher's number of Grand Prix participations is not given consistently in official sources. In Wikipedia, only those races are counted in which the respective driver started at least for the first time. According to this, this race would have been Schumacher's 299th Grand Prix.
- ↑ "300. Grand Prix: Fans agree with Schumacher " (Motorsport-Total.com on September 3, 2012)