Spa reprieve

[DaveKillens]

Well (happily) Spa is still alive. Berine is about to sign a contract that will keep it alive for at least three more years. I hope that is enough time for all parties to straighten out the issues and get this track off the "probable" list and into the permanent status it so richly deserves.
http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=106487

[terrorist22]

Bernie needs to drop the ridiculous fees to all the tracks.

[Tom]

Everyone loves it.
It was greatly missed a couple of years ago[/list][/quote][/code]

[db22f1]

of all the tracks, this one must stay. i'd rather see monaco go than spa.

[johny]

i haven't heard any complaint about spa, it's an almost perfect track that's why bernie is saving it

[manchild]

I'm only frightened about safety... Tomba, what is behind that fence Fisi hit last year? Can't they move it some 50 meters away and make the gravel trap?

[johny]

they'd need a huge gravel trap, cars go out there so quick and with no grip

[Sawtooth-spike]

Which corner are you talking about?

Ps. They need to put the bus stop back the way it was.

[Steven]

I'm only frightened about safety... Tomba, what is behind that fence Fisi hit last year? Can't they move it some 50 meters away and make the gravel trap?

Well behind that there are woods, but it goes down, so if you wanted a gravel trap they would have to raise some land after that fence first.

Spa is indeed a wonderful circuit, however there have been several complaints in recent years about that very organisation. People who go there and have experience going to other tracks know it's in some points not very well organised.

For instance on thursday this year, we went for the pitwalk and followed pitlane. However, having walked 10 minutes to get there (together with many others) we were told that was restricted to teams and that we had to make a detour (which took more than half an hour walking without even taking into account the 20 minutes we lost because of bad signalling). I don't mind walking a while (Spa is a large circuit after all), it's not F1 style to not place decent arrows for where to go to. (and there are more problems).

[johny]

sawtooth the corner is the exit of the radillon where fisi crashed

[DaveKillens]

One of the great things about Sps is that it is a driver's track, they have to get it right. And eau Rouge really does separate the men from boys. And last year, with a wet track, Fisi didn't get through it right. All it takes is to be off by the smallest of margins, maybe even just a centimeter or so. But it runs along the side of a hill, and even though part of the terrain has been cut away or filled in, it will always be a difficult risk to anyone who challenges this section.
I love it, a truly great track, a motor racing track.

[Spencifer_Murphy]

One of the great things about Sps is that it is a driver's track

Once again Davekillins I am in a position where have have to agree with you 110%. Spa is a great circuit because it is one where the drivers are really tested. These new circuits (the new Hockenhiem for example) really arent in the same league.

Eau Rouge for example...you can't just copy it in another circuit...its there because its part of tye natural landscape with some bright spark has picked up on and used in designing the circuit. I dont like many of the Tilke circuits, I dont dispute his work...its very good, the architecture is sublime...but the circuits seem a little...manufactured...souless even.

Even Sepang shows not punishment for the driver...only the climate of the country does that and the fact that the circuit is (by modern standards) quite long. The only Tilke track that come close is Turkey, which isn't all THAT great...but it is far better than many other circuits on the calender (Mangy-Cours, Hockenhiem for example).

Even the Hungaroring is a good(ish) curcuit...obviously not for racing, but its one of those circuits that's great in quali (if it werent for the lack of grip) because its a flowing circuit, challenging in a sence, and when you get it right you really are chuffed about it.

Hockenhiem is now a shadow of its former self....they even smoothed the track...I mean part of the challege was slowing an F1 car with minimal downforce from 220MPH to 60MPH over a bumpy track surface at the Ostcurve.

Pah! Gimme Spa-Francochamps, Silverstone, Monza & Suzuka any day! (oh and Brands Hatch too!)...and the old nurburgring...and....lol I think u get the picture!

[Tom]

I think that a gravel trap anywhere on Spa is a bad idea after seeing BAR do the double at Eau Rouge.
This involved both JV and Zonta loosing it at 160+. the wheels dug into the gravel and each flipped several times. Ow.

[http://home.swipnet.se/~w-10348/1999/be ... ctures.htm][/url]

[manchild]

When I said gravel trap I had more in mind wider excursion zone. It can be tarmac or concrete...