Belgium: Spa Francorchamps Track Guide

By Phil Huff
September 7 2008

Nestling deep inside the Ardennes forest near Liege, Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most historic and evocative circuits in Formula One and makes a welcome return to the 2008 calendar, a year after an enforced absence for modernisation of the circuit and facilities.

Spa features a mixture of long straights combined with very high speed corners and low speed technical sections. Chassis set-up requires a compromise between reducing drag to aid straightline speed and generating downforce to aid cornering. Braking stability is also an important consideration, particularly when stopping the car after the flat-out Blanchimont corner for the new low speed chicane.

With a 7.004 km lap, Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar and its fantastic corners, wonderful scenery and adrenalin pumping elevation changes make it a place where driver bravery and skill become even more significant than usual. The weather is notoriously changeable which only adds to the excitement of the race weekend.

Last years race saw Honda Racing F1 suffering once more, with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello qualifying the RA107 in 12th and 17th places respectively. The race saw Button retire with hydraulic problems, while Barrichello capitalised on retirements to end the day in 13th position. Back in 2005, Button took a podium finish, ending the race behind just Kimi Raikkonen and eventual champion Fernando Alonso.