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Spa-Francorchamps

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Formula One Layout
Logo Circuit de Spa Francorchamps.svg
Spa-Francorchamps of Belgium.svg
Location Stavelot, near to Francorchamps, Belgium
Time zone GMT +1 (DST: GMT +2)
Coordinates 50°26′14″N 5°58′17″E / 50.43722°N 5.97139°E / 50.43722; 5.97139Coordinates: 50°26′14″N 5°58′17″E / 50.43722°N 5.97139°E / 50.43722; 5.97139
Capacity 70,000
Major events FIA Formula One
Belgian Grand Prix
Blancpain Endurance Series
Spa 24 Hours
World Endurance Championship
6 Hours of Spa
Spa-Classic
Modern Circuit With New Pit Lane And Bus Stop Chicane (2007–present)
Length 7.004 km (4.352 mi)
Turns 20
Lap record 1:47.263 (Germany Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2009)
Modern Circuit With Modified Bus Stop Chicane (2004–2006)
Length 6.976 km (4.335 mi)
Turns 19
Lap record 1:45.108 (Finland Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren, 2004)
Modern Circuit With Chicane at Eau Rouge (1994)
Length 7.001 km (4.350 mi)
Turns 19
Lap record 1:57.117 (United Kingdom Damon Hill, Williams, 1994)
Modern Circuit With Original Bus Stop Chicane (1981–1993, 1995–2003)
Length 6.968 km (4.330 mi)
Turns 19
Lap record 1:47.176 (Germany Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2002)
Old Circuit (1947–1978)
Length 14.1 km (8.761 mi)
Turns 21
Lap record 3:13.4 (France Henri Pescarolo, Matra, 1973 WSC)
Original pre-War Circuit (1921–1939)
Length 14.9 km (9.31 mi)
Turns 25
Lap record 5:04.1 (Germany Hermann Lang, Daimler Benz, 1937)
Website www.spa-francorchamps.be

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps motor-racing circuit is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, and of the Spa 24 Hours and 1000 km Spa endurance races.

It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its fast, hilly and twisty nature. Spa is a favourite circuit of many racing drivers and fans.

Despite its name, the circuit is not in Spa but lies in the vicinity of the town of Francorchamps within the boundaries of the municipality of Stavelot, with a part in the boundaries of Malmedy.

Designed in 1920 by Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois Van Ophem, the original triangle-shaped course used public roads between the Belgian towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. The track was intended to have hosted its inaugural race in August 1921, however this event had to be cancelled as there was only one entrant. The first car race was held at the circuit in 1922, and two years later saw the first running of the now famous 24 Hours of Francorchamps race. The circuit was first used for Grand Prix racing in 1925.

The old Spa circuit was essentially a speed course with drivers managing higher average speeds than on other race tracks. Back then, the Belgians took pride in having a very fast circuit, and to improve average speeds, in 1939 the former slow uphill U-turn at the bottom of the Eau Rouge creek valley, called the Ancienne Douane (until 1920, there was a German Empire customs office here), was cut short with a faster sweep straight up the hill, called the Raidillon. Until 2000, it was possible to travel over the race track when it was still a public road. At Eau Rouge, southbound traffic was allowed to use the famous uphill corner, while the opposite downhill traffic had to use the old road and U-turn behind the grand stands, rejoining the race track at the bottom of Eau Rouge.


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Wikipedia

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