I Look Like Kevin Costner
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Well its that time when the racing enthusiasts lick their lips in anticipation of racing on non Mickey Mouse circuits with the 65th edition of the Belgian GP at the magnificent Spa Francochamps track in the forests of the Ardennes. Designed by Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem, the original 15 Km triangle-shaped course used public roads between the Belgian towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot. The first Grand Prix was held in 1924 and the original circuit was regulary used in this form until the outbreak of the second world war. Post war the layout was shortened by the intrioduction of the fabulous Eau Rouge / Raidillon complex in 1946. This reduced the circuit length to the old layout of 14.1 Km. Spa was an extremely fast race track but also dangerous due to the various weather conditions that can occur due to the circuits mountainous location and length. This you tube clip from the 1966 film “Grand Prix” illustrates better the course that any comtempary moive reel clip of actual races. !8 World Championship F1 races were held on the old circuit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-MPf4GUU0
In the late 60’s the deaths of several drivers meant that the GP was held a other locations (mainly Zolder), but Spa was shortend by a linking track between Les coombes and the straight before the Blancimont complex to a total length of 7 km (4.35 miles) in 1979. The start finish was moved over to the straight before the La Source hairpin and it was originally on the downhill straight before Eau Rouge. The track has been the holder of the Belgian GP since 1983 and has only not held events in 2003 and 2006 due to finanical arguments with the organisers and a certain Mr B. Ecclestone. The track layout is illustrated below and suits cars that work with good high speed aero packages.
View attachment 8584
Changes were made in run off to Eau rouge post the death of Senna. This didn’t stop Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta having spectacular accidents there in 2000. A lot of incidents are shown on last year’s thread, so I’ve put in a link.
Last years thread
The greatest drivers have always excelled at Spa. Schucey holds the record of 6 wins (although he took the chequered flag 7 times, being disqualfied in 1994). He also holds the lap record of 1 minute, 43. 726 seconds, set in 2002. a picture of the then Benetton driver at Spa prior to him taking his first win in 92.
View attachment 8578
Senna won 5 times and was a massive favourite of the Belgain crowd (although Spa does have a large British contigent of fans crossing the channel for it)
View attachment 8579
Jim Clark won 4 concsecutive races between 1962 and 65 in the Lotus 25 series of cars. It was also one of Damon Hills more sucessful track, winning in 93, 94(sic) and 98. The most sucessful current driver is Kimi (who has also won it 3 times) although in 2008 kimi (and the race stewards IMHO) didn’t cover themselves in glory!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSj5IwJgrw
Spa was also the sence of one of the biggest crashes when in 1998, 17 cars were involved in a multiple shunt on the run down to Eau Rouge. Before 2000, The track was a temporary road circuit with exceedingly good access in some places for taking piccies!
View attachment 8580
The old Bustop subway, a great viewing place, sadly no longer there! The person to the right of me is the the can artist on the Mansell snap!!
Senna driving by to the gird.
View attachment 8582
Mansell during the morning warmup and a very graffited Opel billboard (nice one Tony!) The marshals were straight out afterwards with the white wash!
View attachment 8586
Eurosport used to cover GPs before RTL got Bernie to stop it because they weren’t paying Bernie a fortune. The Eurosport commentator Allard Kalff used to do the “Martin Brundle” pit walkabout. He is smiling about something, so are the camera crew, reason will be explained later….
View attachment 8587
Senna, Mansell and Patrese lead coming out of the Bustop, 1st lap of the 1992 race. The sound is amazing there as the trees throw the sounds of the cars forward up from Blancimont.
View attachment 8585
Bertrand Gachot gets it all wrong (like he did with the taxi driver in London the year before. Schuey’s career might have taken a slighty different path if he hadn’t!)
However since then, the course has been transformed into a permanent race track and such areas are no longer available to view from.
Now for the next edition of the Belgian GP and the World Championship is going to reach an interesting phase! Conditions and the circuit charectoristics should be completely the opposite to Valencia, with the Red Bulls expected to excel in regards to the Brawns. Track temperatures will be no higher of what was seen at the German and British races with the long term weather forecast expecting typical Ardennes weather! Brawn could really struggle here and watch their advances from the European GP retarded serverly, if they haven’t sorted their tyre temperature issues. Mclaren, Ferrari, Williams and Renault could have a bearing on the Buttons lead in the championships are if the Brawns aren’t sorted. A wet race could see Hamilton come to the fore, however it will be interesting to see if the upgrades have drastically improved the Mclarens high speed cornering. Vettel will also be in with a very good chance regardless of the weather, however he is running out of engines having destroyed two in the last race! Will Luca survive to race in Spa or will Ferrari decide other drivers are more fitting to fill in for Massa? Will Kimi show his Spa form and pull Ferraris first win of the season? We will all find out on Saturday/Sunday!
Timings for the event are are as follows. (All times BST)
Friday 28th August 2009
09.00 10.30 First Practice
13.00 14.30 Second Practice
Saturday 29th August 2009
10.00 11.00 Third Practice
13.00 14.00 Qualifying
Sunday 30th August 2009
13.00 Race (44 Laps)
I will not be missing it!
DT_Xtremez_30:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-MPf4GUU0
In the late 60’s the deaths of several drivers meant that the GP was held a other locations (mainly Zolder), but Spa was shortend by a linking track between Les coombes and the straight before the Blancimont complex to a total length of 7 km (4.35 miles) in 1979. The start finish was moved over to the straight before the La Source hairpin and it was originally on the downhill straight before Eau Rouge. The track has been the holder of the Belgian GP since 1983 and has only not held events in 2003 and 2006 due to finanical arguments with the organisers and a certain Mr B. Ecclestone. The track layout is illustrated below and suits cars that work with good high speed aero packages.
View attachment 8584
Changes were made in run off to Eau rouge post the death of Senna. This didn’t stop Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta having spectacular accidents there in 2000. A lot of incidents are shown on last year’s thread, so I’ve put in a link.
Last years thread
The greatest drivers have always excelled at Spa. Schucey holds the record of 6 wins (although he took the chequered flag 7 times, being disqualfied in 1994). He also holds the lap record of 1 minute, 43. 726 seconds, set in 2002. a picture of the then Benetton driver at Spa prior to him taking his first win in 92.
View attachment 8578
Senna won 5 times and was a massive favourite of the Belgain crowd (although Spa does have a large British contigent of fans crossing the channel for it)
View attachment 8579
Jim Clark won 4 concsecutive races between 1962 and 65 in the Lotus 25 series of cars. It was also one of Damon Hills more sucessful track, winning in 93, 94(sic) and 98. The most sucessful current driver is Kimi (who has also won it 3 times) although in 2008 kimi (and the race stewards IMHO) didn’t cover themselves in glory!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSj5IwJgrw
Spa was also the sence of one of the biggest crashes when in 1998, 17 cars were involved in a multiple shunt on the run down to Eau Rouge. Before 2000, The track was a temporary road circuit with exceedingly good access in some places for taking piccies!
View attachment 8580
The old Bustop subway, a great viewing place, sadly no longer there! The person to the right of me is the the can artist on the Mansell snap!!
Senna driving by to the gird.
View attachment 8582
Mansell during the morning warmup and a very graffited Opel billboard (nice one Tony!) The marshals were straight out afterwards with the white wash!
View attachment 8586
Eurosport used to cover GPs before RTL got Bernie to stop it because they weren’t paying Bernie a fortune. The Eurosport commentator Allard Kalff used to do the “Martin Brundle” pit walkabout. He is smiling about something, so are the camera crew, reason will be explained later….
View attachment 8587
Senna, Mansell and Patrese lead coming out of the Bustop, 1st lap of the 1992 race. The sound is amazing there as the trees throw the sounds of the cars forward up from Blancimont.
View attachment 8585
Bertrand Gachot gets it all wrong (like he did with the taxi driver in London the year before. Schuey’s career might have taken a slighty different path if he hadn’t!)
However since then, the course has been transformed into a permanent race track and such areas are no longer available to view from.
Now for the next edition of the Belgian GP and the World Championship is going to reach an interesting phase! Conditions and the circuit charectoristics should be completely the opposite to Valencia, with the Red Bulls expected to excel in regards to the Brawns. Track temperatures will be no higher of what was seen at the German and British races with the long term weather forecast expecting typical Ardennes weather! Brawn could really struggle here and watch their advances from the European GP retarded serverly, if they haven’t sorted their tyre temperature issues. Mclaren, Ferrari, Williams and Renault could have a bearing on the Buttons lead in the championships are if the Brawns aren’t sorted. A wet race could see Hamilton come to the fore, however it will be interesting to see if the upgrades have drastically improved the Mclarens high speed cornering. Vettel will also be in with a very good chance regardless of the weather, however he is running out of engines having destroyed two in the last race! Will Luca survive to race in Spa or will Ferrari decide other drivers are more fitting to fill in for Massa? Will Kimi show his Spa form and pull Ferraris first win of the season? We will all find out on Saturday/Sunday!
Timings for the event are are as follows. (All times BST)
Friday 28th August 2009
09.00 10.30 First Practice
13.00 14.30 Second Practice
Saturday 29th August 2009
10.00 11.00 Third Practice
13.00 14.00 Qualifying
Sunday 30th August 2009
13.00 Race (44 Laps)
I will not be missing it!
DT_Xtremez_30:
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