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SPA FRANCORCHAMPS
So, from the twisty turn thing that is the Hungaroring, we move on to Belgium and the totally opposite Spa Francorchamps.
Spa has been a more or less constant feature on the F1 circuit for many a year, although tobacco advertising quarrels saw it drop off the calendar in 2003 and again in 2006 when the owner went bust. But it returned the following year and remains a firm favourite.
Situated in the Ardennes region of Belgium, the Spa Francorchamps circuit dates back to 1920 when its original design used public roads and measured 14km in length. The circuit was built for speed, featuring long fast straights and sweeping curves however it was this very feature that saw it mirror the problem that dogged the other insanely long, fast circuit at the Nurburgring in the number of tragedies that occurred there. Another feature of long circuits is the variable weather that can exist between one part of a circuit and another and in the Ardennes forests where the weather is more changeable than almost anywhere else on the F1 tour, it can be honking down on one part of the track yet be perfectly dry at another.
Factor all these things together and, after a number of fatalities between 1970 and 1975, although not all necessarily in F1, the fate of the original circuit was sealed, and in 1979 the layout was shortened to a mere(!) 7Km or just over 4 miles in old money. In this google image we can see the old and new circuits outlined.
The weather at Spa has led to some memorable incidents, two of which involve none other than David Coulthard in the same year, 1998.
The first occurred at the start where an unsighted Coulthard manoeuvring for position in the spray proves to be the catalyst for utter mayhem. Sorry about the German commentary...
Later in the same race Coulthard, who has been holding Michael Schumacher up whilst the German is trying to lap him, tries to be helpful but moves across straight into the path of the blinded Ferrari driver who smashes into the McLaren ripping off the right/front wheel.
On returning to the pits a furious Schumi storms down to the McLaren garage to confront the Scot, who is still wearing his helmet, and during a bout of handbags accuses Coulthard of trying to kill him. Well Michael, if the cap fits and all that..ahem.
One feature of the land that Spa is built upon creates an awesome feature in the height variation between one part of the circuit and other – Eau Rouge. This graphic attempts to show the height variation in the terrain at spa...
The corner sweeps downhill in a left hand bend before the following right-hander that leads steeply uphill. The corner requires a large amount of skill from the driver to negotiate well; get it right and the long straight ahead often produces good overtaking opportunities for the best drivers at the Les Combes corner. Get it wrong and, well its going to be a big crash as Jacques Villneuve found out in 2005.....
Anyway, on to this years race. The Red Bulls have dominated the running at circuits where downforce is paramount, but here at Spa things may be different. The McLarens have a straight line speed advantage over their rivals and may be able to put that to good use here, they definately need a lift having been pegged back in both drivers and constructors championships. Or perhaps the long sweeping curves of Blanchimont and Stavelot will still favour Vettel and Webber and the Red Bulls 'blown diffuser', that is if they can both keep their heads and finish the race where they'll most likely start - at the front!
And finally, for those who can't turn off the F1 action just because the race weekend is finished, how about having a go yourself in Codemasters upcoming F1 2010. Checkout this clip featuring the Spa circuit. I can't wait me....
So, from the twisty turn thing that is the Hungaroring, we move on to Belgium and the totally opposite Spa Francorchamps.
Spa has been a more or less constant feature on the F1 circuit for many a year, although tobacco advertising quarrels saw it drop off the calendar in 2003 and again in 2006 when the owner went bust. But it returned the following year and remains a firm favourite.
Situated in the Ardennes region of Belgium, the Spa Francorchamps circuit dates back to 1920 when its original design used public roads and measured 14km in length. The circuit was built for speed, featuring long fast straights and sweeping curves however it was this very feature that saw it mirror the problem that dogged the other insanely long, fast circuit at the Nurburgring in the number of tragedies that occurred there. Another feature of long circuits is the variable weather that can exist between one part of a circuit and another and in the Ardennes forests where the weather is more changeable than almost anywhere else on the F1 tour, it can be honking down on one part of the track yet be perfectly dry at another.
Factor all these things together and, after a number of fatalities between 1970 and 1975, although not all necessarily in F1, the fate of the original circuit was sealed, and in 1979 the layout was shortened to a mere(!) 7Km or just over 4 miles in old money. In this google image we can see the old and new circuits outlined.
The weather at Spa has led to some memorable incidents, two of which involve none other than David Coulthard in the same year, 1998.
The first occurred at the start where an unsighted Coulthard manoeuvring for position in the spray proves to be the catalyst for utter mayhem. Sorry about the German commentary...
Later in the same race Coulthard, who has been holding Michael Schumacher up whilst the German is trying to lap him, tries to be helpful but moves across straight into the path of the blinded Ferrari driver who smashes into the McLaren ripping off the right/front wheel.
On returning to the pits a furious Schumi storms down to the McLaren garage to confront the Scot, who is still wearing his helmet, and during a bout of handbags accuses Coulthard of trying to kill him. Well Michael, if the cap fits and all that..ahem.
One feature of the land that Spa is built upon creates an awesome feature in the height variation between one part of the circuit and other – Eau Rouge. This graphic attempts to show the height variation in the terrain at spa...
The corner sweeps downhill in a left hand bend before the following right-hander that leads steeply uphill. The corner requires a large amount of skill from the driver to negotiate well; get it right and the long straight ahead often produces good overtaking opportunities for the best drivers at the Les Combes corner. Get it wrong and, well its going to be a big crash as Jacques Villneuve found out in 2005.....
Anyway, on to this years race. The Red Bulls have dominated the running at circuits where downforce is paramount, but here at Spa things may be different. The McLarens have a straight line speed advantage over their rivals and may be able to put that to good use here, they definately need a lift having been pegged back in both drivers and constructors championships. Or perhaps the long sweeping curves of Blanchimont and Stavelot will still favour Vettel and Webber and the Red Bulls 'blown diffuser', that is if they can both keep their heads and finish the race where they'll most likely start - at the front!
And finally, for those who can't turn off the F1 action just because the race weekend is finished, how about having a go yourself in Codemasters upcoming F1 2010. Checkout this clip featuring the Spa circuit. I can't wait me....
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