This August, Formula One roars into the historic town of Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix. Here, we take a look at what fans can expect from the race, and how to get there.
Action-packed History
The Belgian Grand Prix is held at Spa-Francorchamps circuit, one of F1’s most historic tracks. The venue hosted its first Grand Prix way back in 1924, and has remained a popular destination with both drivers and fans ever since.
This vintage photograph, taken more than 85 years ago, shows the drivers line up at the starting grid for the 1931 Belgian Grand Prix.
The original layout consisted of almost 15 kilometers of narrow public roads, and was notoriously dangerous. Today, the lap length has been reduced to just under seven kilometers. Even so, it remains the season’s longest circuit. Spa-Francorchamps’ combination of long straights and fast corners always makes for an exciting contest, with plenty of opportunities for overtaking.
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Spa-Francorchamps: One of F1’s Most Challenging Circuits
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit follows the contours of the surrounding hills, and winds its way through the Ardennes forests. This charming natural setting makes it arguably the most beautiful venue on the Formula One calendar.
Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Ardennes forests, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is a favorite with drivers and fans alike.
Drivers have come to expect highly changeable weather conditions in Belgium. Due to the length of the circuit, it can even be dry on one part of the track whilst raining on another.
One corner, Eau Rouge, is well-known for its sharp elevation change, and is among the most technically demanding in all of Formula One.
Only a select few drivers can claim to have mastered a circuit of this difficulty level. These include Britain’s Damon Hill (three times winner) and Brazil’s Ayrton Senna (five times winner). However it is Germany’s legendary Michael Schumacher who holds the record for the most victories, having triumphed in Spa on six occasions.
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2017: Who Will Race to Victory?
In 2016, Nico Rosberg won the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes. The German went on to retire at the peak of his success, winning the 2016 drivers’ championship and finishing first in nine of the season’s 21 Grand Prix events. His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished in third place last season, and is riding high on this year’s leaderboard in second place. Hamilton has already recorded two victories in Spa, as has the current championship front-runner, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettle.
The 2016 Belgian Grand Prix saw Nico Rosberg take first place, followed by Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton.
Whoever comes out on top, motorsports fans are guaranteed an enthralling race at one of the world’s most scenic venues.
The Belgian Grand Prix takes place at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on the 27th August, 2017. For more information and all the latest news on the build-up to the big race, please click here to visit the official website.
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Flying to the Belgian Grand Prix
There are two main airport options for those attending the Belgian Grand Prix. These are Liège Airport (IATA: LGG, ICAO: EBLG) and Brussels Airport (IATA: BRU, ICAO: EBBR).
Liège Airport is located around 70km northwest of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. It functions as an Airport of Entry (AoE) and is operational 24/7. Prior Permission Required (PPR) and airport slots are not necessary. Parking, fuel uplifts and in-flight catering are all available at EBLG.
Brussels Airport is approximately 150km northwest from the race venue. It also serves as an AoE, however operations are subject to noise restrictions. No take-offs are permitted from 00:01 – 05:59 local time from Sunday to Monday, and 02:00 – 05:59 on Saturday. PPR is not required for General Aviation movements, however airport slots may be required during peak periods. The deviation time for slots is +/- 15 minutes. The Belgian airport authorities will require a copy of the aircraft’s noise certificate for flights landing at EBBR. Parking, fuel uplifts and in-flight catering are available.
Note that visas may be required for passengers and crew entering Belgium, depending on the nationalities of those on board. For aircraft coming from/going to Schengen agreement countries, customs and immigration clearance is not necessary.
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