Lying deep in the depths of the Belgian Ardennes forest lies a ribbon of seven-kilometre tarmac which is coveted by almost every race driver on the planet, when the words ‘Spa-Francorchamps’ are uttered, excitement is felt by anyone who knows what it represents. So what makes the circuit so special?
From La Source to Blanchimont, there is not a corner on the circuit which doesn’t have the ability to challenge any driver to their ultimate limit, nor does it let up in its challenging nature through the hills of the forest allowing for fast-paced action to happen at any point on the track.
The local area also manages its own micro climate in which showers can spring up at any moment without warning, causing havoc for everyone on the track and pit wall.
Before the second world war the layout once ran at over double the length as it stands today, winding its way through the outlying villages with average speeds in excess of 150mph with little in the way of safety as there were no barriers to protect the marshals or drivers from crashing into houses, telephone poles or flying into fields should they make a mistake.
Sir Jackie Stewart’s nearly career ended after a massive crash at the synonymous ‘Masta Kink’, the Scotsman rolled his BRM into the cellar of a farmhouse and was trapped underneath the car with broken ribs and fuel leaking onto his body.
Eventually, the circuit was drastically changed and Formula 1 did not return to the circuit for 13 years after the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix which was won by Pedro Rodríguez.
In 1983, the circuit was drastically cut down in terms of distance, but the challenge remained demanding for the drivers, instead of veering left at Les Combes to head down the ‘Haut De La Cote’, the new layout instead took a right into a chicane and plunged its way down the hillside, meeting its former self at the bottom of the hill at Stavelot.
With speeds still high and the corners promoting close racing with wide tarmac and flowing corners, Spa was able to recapture the love it had once lost due to its former guise. Ever since the change, there have been so many phenomenal moments which have continued to make the circuit something truly special.
In 1991 the circuit saw the very first F1 appearance by eventual seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, the German was drafted in by Eddie Jordan following the arrest of Bertrand Gachot in London for assaulting a taxi driver.
On his debut, he qualified seventh on the grid beating his vastly more experienced team-mate Andrea De Ceseris by nearly eight-tenths of a second. Schumacher only lasted seven laps due to a broken clutch, the German shone brightly and was picked by Benetton. As fate would have it, Schumacher clinched the first of his 91 victories the following year.
As previously mentioned, the weather at Spa can throw up many surprises, in 1995 Schumacher and Damon Hill fought tooth and nail for the victory on a day where at one point it was Hill on wet tyres and Schumacher on slicks, all at a time where the track that was both wet at one end and dry at the other which made for some fantastic racing between the two title protagonists.
In 1998 the world was stunned in amazement at the largest pile-up in F1 history after David Coulthard lost control of his McLaren on the exit of La Source on the opening lap the rest of the field had no choice but to follow suit due to the sodden track surface. 12 drivers including the Scotsman were involved and four could not even restart. Eventually, Jordan won its first-ever race as Hill took his last in F1.
Spa has often punished drivers who attempt to take liberties as Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta found out in 1999. The ’97 world champion was confident he could take Eau Rouge flat out and dared his BAR team-mate to do the same. The results following this dare was two written off cars and an unhappy team boss in Craig Pollock.
The following year Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen were apart of what is regarded as the one of the best overtakes ever witnessed. With just a handful of laps to go, Hakkinen was finding it difficult to pass Schumacher’s Ferrari, so eventually the Finn decided to take Eau Rouge flat to try and carry extra speed up the Kemmel Straight, as they both caught up to Zonta’s BAR the pair go either side of the Brazilian as they battled for the lead. It has to be seen to be believed.
YouTube: Mika Hakkinen Puts A Move On Michael Schumacher | Belgian Grand Prix 2000
Schumacher clinched his seventh and final title at Spa in 2004 in what was a superb way to tie his achievements in with the affinity he seemed to have with the circuit, he also still holds the record for most victories around Spa with six to his name.
2008 saw an epic duel between Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton in the final laps, as Raikkonen squeezed the Briton at the Bus Stop chicane forcing him across the escape road. Hamilton subsequently passed the Finn but allowed him back in front. What followed was a double-dummy move by Hamilton into La Source and stunned Raikkonen. However, Hamilton was not allowed to keep his victory in a controversial decision over his trip across the escape road.
Spa-Francorchamps will always hold a special place in the hearts of motorsport lovers all over the world, its ability to throw up shocking results, punish drivers and thoroughly test any machine that takes to the Belgian tarmac always reminds us of why we admire those who go racing.
F1 will always have a home in the Ardennes and long may it stay there.
