Spa-Francorchamps was created in 1922 from 14km of public roads in the Ardennes forest close to the town of Liege in Belgium. The circuit featured on the F1 calendar right from the beginnings of the chamionship in 1950, that race was won by Juan Manuel Fangio. The 14km track was used right up to 1970 but did not appear on the '71 calendar because of increasing calls to either modify or boycott the circuit over safety concerns - a realistic standpoint given that the circuit was largely unchanged from its creation in the 1920's, and that car performance was increasing year on year. After several years and a number of different proposals the new, shortened circuit was completedin 1979, although F1 did not return to the circuit in 1985. The new circuit retained many of the essential characteristics of the old (La Source and Eau Rouge being two key features) but became a more technical circuit featuring more gradients and of course featured significantly improved run-off areas, better access for marshals and better viewing for spectators. Spa is famous for close, dramatic racing and is capable of separating the men from the boys. It is also more prone to changeable weather than any other circuit on the calendar. Rain can usually be counted on at least once over the race weekend, and the lenght of the track is such that it can be dry on one part of the circuit while being wet on another. Despite this the circuit is a firm favourite of most if not all the drivers. A lap of the circuit with Alexander Wurz: On the power along the short start-finish straight at Spa Francorchamps, you reach 180mph in sixth gear as you approach the La Source Hairpin. The tight right-hander is taken at 35mph / 56km/h. You accelerate downhill out of La Source, reaching some 181mph in seventh gear before arriving at the renowned Eau Rouge. Taken flat out, the track drops before climbing steeply left, right then left again at speeds of up to 180mph still in seventh gear. It is vital to maintain your speed through Eau Rouge as it leads onto the fastest section of the track, the Kemmell straight, which sees you reach 206mph. You then brake hard for the right-hander of Les Combes, which is taken at 87mph / 140km/h in third. The left-right flick of the third gear Malmedy chicane follows immediately and sees your speed increase slightly to some 110mph through the corner. A quick burst of acceleration, reaching 165mph, takes you to the Rivage hairpin. Braking hard you negotiate Rivage at 69mph in second gear. The downhill right-hander is off-camber and you can experience understeer. Accelerating out of Rivage, you then dab the brakes for a 100mph left hander, before once again getting on the power along the short straight that takes you to Pouhon. Entering the fast double apex left-hander at 133mph in fourth, your speed increases to 170mph through the corner. A short burst on the throttle takes you to the right-left chicane of Fagnes, entered at 87mph in third gear, your speed increases slightly for the second section to 106mph. Along another short straight, you reach 156mph before braking slightly for the double apex right-hander of Stavelot. You enter the bumpy downhill bend at 95mph in third before accelerating to 150mph in fourth on the exit. This takes you onto the long sweeping left-hander of Blanchimont. Flicking up through the gears you reach 190mph in seventh gear before braking hard for the bus stop chicane, which has again been modified prior to the Grand Prix, it flicks you right then left before taking you back onto the pit straight to start another lap.̢̮?? Lap information courtesy of West McLaren Mercedes.
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