It's magic, it really is. I haven't even got within a day of setting off for my first visit and I'm already excited. What do you expect? Since I was about 11 I've wanted to go to Spa to witness the Belgian GP. It's amazing that a small country in the north of Europe can have produced such an evocative race track. Those who have only witnessed motor racing on TV have never quite experienced the full reality of what makes it wonderful. Spa is one of those places where that wonder is magnified. Firstly at any race there's the sight, a TV camera does not do anything justice. The direction changes and speeds have to be seen in real life when it comes to the higher end of the spectrum. For example a Le Mans Prototype looks like it's trundling along like you or I down the A605 when on TV. Stand next to the Hanger straight and it's nothing like it, 170mph looks amazing, it just does. That speed isn't there on it's own remember, each car is hurtling past you on its way round but a silent race would not be the same. The sound and feeling of a car going past is something else. The sound of an F1 car as it screams past is diluted on TV, it's not a painfully loud sound (In fact the M25 is harder to listen to), but it is an awesome sound. It fills the air around you channeled by whatever fencing may be around the track, echoing of surrounding buildings. The rumble of the sound waves is felt as well. In the pit of your stomach the sound builds into a vibration that digs into you, ensuring that that sound is not just all around you. That sound is entering you. You become a part of what is going past in a way that nothing else can produce. All the while your eyes are being assaulted by the cars going past and your nose is picking up the scent of motorsports. The smell of a race meeting can't be found by a normal road. It's something far more wonderful. A heady mix of race fuel, oil, tyre smoke and whatever is around you. If you don't like it then don't bother with motorsports. It may only be a smell, but that smell is as big a part of your experience as what you are seeing. This is all an almost indescribable effect, each of your senses is being stimulated. No other spectator sport does that for you, you certainly don't get it sat in front of the TV. All of this happens at every race track, but some are more special than others. Spa-Francorchamps is as much a part of F1 as Ferrari, McLaren and Williams. It's been there since the 20's in it's various forms. The modern day circuit, though undoubtedly one of the best in the world, is still but a shadow of it's former self. Neutered for safety it still has corners that strike fear and excitement into the heart of any racing drivers.
The modern Spa Circuit
Originally set between the Belgian villages of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot the circuit was a fearsome 15km monster snaking it's way through the Belgian forests. Before it was reduced for safety reasons it contained the fearsome Mastah kink, an incredible high speed left right kink that was crucial to the lap. It was this section that lead to the old circtuits downfall. One particularly gruesome story from the 1972 24hrs race gives an idea of why the circuit had to be changed: During a pit stop during the night HJ Stuck shouted to his co-driver Jochen Mass to tell him to 'watch out for body parts at the Mastah kink'. Mass arrived upon the schene expecting to find bits of car, but instead discovered it was in fact bits of a Marshall. The new circuit hasn't lost much of it's ancestors qualities though, barely 2 years after F1 returned to the track it claimed the life of Stephan Bellof in a sportscar crash. Eau Rouge, Blanchiment and La Source are the only parts remaining of the old circuit. Eau Rouge is perhaps the most famous corner in the world. A high speed left-right-left up a steep incline over a blind crest it is one of the most challenging corners for any driver to master. Until 2000 it was still possible to drive a large portion of the track as public roads. If you really need more proof that this is one of the best circuits around then perhaps Micheal Schumacher can persuade you:
"It is without doubt the best circuit in the world," Schumacher says. "The kind of atmosphere you get at Spa is something akin to the old Nurburgring. It is the only place which still has this quality and atmosphere. Eau Rouge is really the most tremendous corner. It is like flying downhill and seeing a big mountain in front of you. You get the feeling that you are driving into the road and then you go up and it is a sensation which is probably the best you can experience and the most satisfaction you can have as a racing driver."
Spa is motorsports at it's best, I hope that I can convey at least some of what makes it so fantastic over the next week.
