SPA - FRANCORCHAMPS

Overview

The circuit was conceived in 1921. Its creators, using public roads twisting and turning through the Ardennes hills, produced a truly majestic 13 km road course which was both respected and feared by all who drove on it. The track was redeveloped in 1983 and although the new circuit in only half its original length, it retains much of its previous character and charm. Considered by many to be the best circuit on the F1 calendar, Spa has the longest lap length of all, and is certainly one of the most scenically situated, surrounded by wooded hillsides and small farms. It is also renowned for its changable weather.

Specifications:

• Starting time: 14:00 CET
• Local time: CET
• First GP: 1950
• Circuit length: 6.976 km
• Race Laps: 44 
• Total distance: 306,592 km
• Winner 2005: Kimi Raikkonen, Mclaren Mercedes 
• Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen  2004, McLaren-Mercedes 1:45.108

History:

Early in 1920, nothing, it seemed, was to disturb the usual quietness in the peaceful village of Francorchamps, perched on a hill very close to the Moors.

Nothing, except that, on a beautiful summer day, while settled at the Hotel des Bruyeres, two people well-know in the car racing world, the one being Jules de Thier, Manager of the newspaper " La Meuse ", and the other, Henri Langlois Van Ophem, Chairman of the Sports Commission at the RACB (Royal Automobile Club Belgium), had the idea of taking advantage of the triangle drawn by the roads connecting Malmedy, Stavelot and Francorchamps to make a racing track of it.

Eventually, the track was inaugurated by the motorcyclists, while the motorists started in 1922.  1924 saw the first organisation of the famous 24 Hours of Francorchamps, only one year after Le Mans, whereas the first real big international race for single-seaters, the European Grand Prix, was run in 1925. Seven cars took part in this event which saw the victory of the famous Alfa Romeo driver, Antonio Ascari.

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