Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Grand Prix Circuit (2007–present)
Location	Stavelot, Belgium
Time zone	CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST)
Coordinates	50°26′14″N 5°58′17″E / 50.43722°N 5.97139°E / 50.43722; 5.97139
Capacity	70,000
FIA Grade	1 (GP) 2 (Motorcycle)
Opened	August 1921; 104 years ago (1921-08)
Architect	Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois van Ophem
Major events	Current: Formula One Belgian Grand Prix (intermittently 1925–1970, 1983–present) Intercontinental GT Challenge Spa 24 Hours (1924–1934, 1936, 1938, 1948–1949, 1953, 1964–present) FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Spa (1953, 1963–1975, 1981–1990, 1999–present) FIM Endurance World Championship 8 Hours of Spa Motos (1973–2001, 2022–present) European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Spa (2004–2011, 2016–present) Ferrari Challenge Europe (1997–2007, 2011–2012, 2018, 2020–2021, 2023, 2025) FFSA GT (1998, 2008, 2013–2015, 2019, 2021–2022, 2024–present) Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix (1949–1979, 1981–1986, 1988–1990) FIA World Rallycross Championship World RX of Benelux (2019, 2021–2022) TCR World Tour (2023) WTCC Race of Belgium (2005, 2014) World SBK (1992) DTM (2005, 2020, 2022)
Grand Prix Circuit (2007–present)
Length	7.004 km (4.352 mi)
Turns	19
Race lap record	1:44.701 ( Sergio Pérez, Red Bull RB20, 2024, F1)
Motorcycle Circuit (2022–present)
Length	6.985 km (4.341 mi)
Turns	20
Race lap record	2:19.140 ( Sylvain Guintoli, BMW M1000RR, 2025, SBK)
Grand Prix Circuit (2004–2006)
Length	6.976 km (4.335 mi)
Turns	19
Race lap record	1:45.108 ( Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren MP4-19B, 2004, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (1995–2003)
Length	6.968 km (4.330 mi)
Turns	19
Race lap record	1:47.176 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2002, 2002, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit with chicane at Eau Rouge (1994)
Length	7.001 km (4.350 mi)
Turns	19
Race lap record	1:57.117 ( Damon Hill, Williams FW16B, 1994, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (1981–1993)
Length	6.940 km (4.312 mi)
Turns	19
Race lap record	1:51.095 ( Alain Prost, Williams FW15C, 1993, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (1979–1980)
Length	6.947 km (4.317 mi)
Turns	17
Race lap record	2:48.800 ( Gordon Spice, Ford Capri III 3.0S, 1979, Group 1)
Old Circuit (1957–1978)
Length	14.100 km (8.761 mi)
Turns	21
Race lap record	3:13.400 ( Henri Pescarolo, Matra-Simca MS670B, 1973, Group 5)
Old Circuit (1939–1956)
Length	14.120 km (8.774 mi)
Turns	21
Race lap record	4:14.700 ( Stirling Moss, Maserati, 1956, F1)

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, often called Spa, is a famous motor-racing track in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium. It's about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) long. This track is known for hosting the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. The first Grand Prix here was in 1925. Since 1985, it has hosted a Grand Prix almost every year.

Spa also holds other big international races. These include the 24 Hours of Spa and the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. It even hosts the Uniroyal Fun Cup 25 Hours of Spa, one of the world's longest car races!

The circuit has changed a lot over the years. The biggest change happened in 1979. The track was shortened from a long 14.120 km (8.774 mi) public road circuit to a 6.947 km (4.317 mi) permanent track. This was done to make it much safer for drivers.

Exploring the Track Layouts

The Original Track: A Fast and Dangerous Ride

The original 14.982 km (9.310 mi) track layout

In 1918, after World War I, the region around Spa became part of Belgium. In 1920, a newspaper owner named Jules de Thier looked for a place to hold a car race. He met with local officials and a race car driver. They decided that the roads between Spa-Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot would make a perfect triangle-shaped track. It had few tight turns and many long, fast sections.

The first car race at Spa was in 1922. In 1924, the famous Spa 24 Hours race began. The track hosted its first Grand Prix race in 1925.

The original Spa-Francorchamps was built for speed. Drivers could go much faster here than on other tracks. In 1939, a part of the track was changed to make it even faster. This created the famous uphill corner called the Raidillon.

The quicker 14.100 km (8.761 mi) track layout used from 1958–1978

The old track went through the countryside of the Ardennes forest. It was also a public road, so houses, trees, and fields were right next to it. Before 1970, there were almost no safety features. One driver, Jackie Oliver, said, "if you went off the road, you didn't know what you were going to hit."

The old Spa track was known for being very fast and dangerous. It was a huge challenge for drivers. Most corners were taken at over 180 mph (290 km/h). Even a small mistake could have serious results.

Spa also had a reputation for bad accidents. At the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix, two drivers died within 15 minutes. Stirling Moss was also badly hurt in practice. In 1970, safety barriers were added. But the track was still dangerous because of the weather. It could be raining on one part of the track and sunny on another. This made it one of the most dangerous tracks in the world.

Because of the dangers, Formula 1 drivers boycotted the Belgian Grand Prix in 1969. They demanded safety changes. After some improvements, F1 raced there one last time in 1970. But it still wasn't safe enough. Formula 1 did not return to Spa until 1983, on the new, safer track.

The Masta Kink: A Challenging Turn

Map of the old and new (2004–2006) Spa circuits, overlaid

The Masta Kink was a very difficult corner on the old track. It was a fast left-right chicane in the middle of two long straights. Drivers could reach speeds of 185 mph (298 km/h) here.

Jackie Stewart, a famous F1 driver, crashed badly at Masta in 1966. This crash made him push for better safety in racing. He later called Masta "the most difficult corner in the world."

The old track's lap record was 3 minutes and 13.4 seconds. This was set by Henri Pescarolo in 1973.

The Modern Track: Still Fast, But Safer

Satellite photo of Spa-Francorchamps in 2018

The Spa track has been changed many times. After World War II, some corners were made faster. In 1939, the "Virage de l'Ancienne Douane" was removed. This created the famous uphill Raidillon de l’Eau Rouge corner.

The biggest change happened in 1979. The track was shortened from 14.100 km (8.761 mi) to 6.947 km (4.317 mi). The start/finish line was also moved in 1981. The new track is still very fast and hilly. Cars can reach speeds over 330 km/h (205 mph). The weather is still unpredictable, with rain often falling on different parts of the track.

Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge: The Iconic Corner

The "Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge" in the Eau Rouge valley

Red water ("Eau rouge" in French) on the banks of the river close to the circuit

The most famous part of the track is the Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge. After a tight hairpin turn called La Source, drivers go down a straight. They then cross the Eau Rouge stream and go steeply uphill through a series of left-right-left corners. Drivers can't see the top of the hill, making it a "blind summit."

This combination of corners needs great skill. Getting it right helps drivers gain speed on the long Kemmel straight that follows. Formula 1 cars can take this section at over 300 km/h (186 mph).

Many famous drivers have crashed here. These include Stefan Bellof, Alex Zanardi, and Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve famously called his 1999 crash here "My best-ever crash."

After some serious accidents at other tracks in 1994, a temporary chicane was added to Eau Rouge for safety. It was removed the next year.

Blanchimont: A High-Speed Challenge

Blanchimont is a fast left-hand turn. It's the last sweeping corner before the chicane that leads to the pit straight. This turn has also seen serious accidents. In 2001, Luciano Burti crashed here at 185 mph (298 km/h).

The run-off area here is quite narrow. Behind the barriers, there's a steep drop. In 1992, Ayrton Senna famously stopped his car and ran to help Érik Comas after a bad crash at Blanchimont.

Jacky Ickx Corner: A Tribute to a Legend

Since 2018, turn 11 has been named the Jacky Ickx corner. This honors the famous Belgian racing driver. Before this, it was sometimes called "Speakers corner." This was because the track announcer could see the cars here after they disappeared into the forest. There are now two versions of this corner, one for cars and a shorter one for motorcycles.

Track Upgrades and Safety Changes

Why Spa Left and Came Back to Formula 1

In the early 2000s, rules against tobacco advertising in Europe caused problems for Formula 1. Spa was left off the F1 calendar in 2003 and 2006. This was also because the track needed updates and the organizer went bankrupt. The local government stepped in to provide money, and F1 returned in 2007.

Modernizing the Track for 2007

A big renovation happened from 2006 to 2007. It cost about €19 million. The Bus Stop chicane was moved, and the La Source hairpin was changed. This made more room for a new pit lane and a longer start/finish straight.

Ongoing Safety Improvements

Over the years, more changes have been made. These include adding asphalt run-off areas at Les Combes in 2010. Drainage grooves were also added to the start-finish straight in 2013.

Making Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge Safer

The Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge has seen many accidents. People debated if it was safe enough. Critics said the tire barriers often bounced cars back onto the track.

In 2020, the circuit announced major upgrades. Gravel traps were added at several corners, including Raidillon. The run-off areas were also made larger. These changes cost €80 million and allow the track to host motorcycle races. A new grandstand was also built at the top of Raidillon. These upgrades were finished in March 2022.

Tragic Accidents at Raidillon

• 2019 Formula 2 Crash: In August 2019, a serious accident happened during a Formula 2 race. Driver Anthoine Hubert crashed into the barrier at Raidillon. His car bounced back onto the track and was hit by another car. Sadly, Anthoine Hubert died from his injuries.
• 2021 W Series and Formula 1 Incidents: In 2021, during a W Series qualifying session, six cars crashed at Raidillon in the rain. All drivers were okay, but some needed hospital checks. The next day, in Formula 1 qualifying, Lando Norris also crashed there in heavy rain. He was cleared to race, but these crashes led many drivers to call for more safety changes at Raidillon.
• Other Incidents: Other drivers like Kevin Magnussen (2016), Pietro Fittipaldi (2018), and Jack Aitken (2021) have also had serious crashes at Raidillon. Sadly, Dilano van 't Hoff also died in a crash there in 2023.

Upgrades for the 2022 Season

Before the 2022 racing season, the circuit had major safety upgrades. More run-off space was added at Raidillon. Gravel traps were also put in at many corners. The track was resurfaced, changing how cars grip the road. These changes were designed with help from former Formula 1 drivers.

Spa-Francorchamps is still a key part of the 2023 Formula One World Championship calendar. Its contract was extended until 2025.

Other Exciting Races at Spa

Besides Formula 1, Spa-Francorchamps hosts many other types of motorsport. These include:

• FIA World Endurance Championship
• FIM Endurance World Championship
• European Le Mans Series
• Intercontinental GT Challenge
• FIA Formula 2 Championship
• FIA Formula 3 Championship

The most famous long-distance races are the Spa 24 Hours and the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The circuit even hosts 24-hour and 25-hour races for Citroën 2CV cars!

Images for kids

• 

  Eau Rouge and Raidillon in 1997, showing the steep uphill climb.

• 

  A Porsche 904 GTS turning into La Source in 1965.

Lap Records

The fastest unofficial lap ever recorded during a race weekend was 1:40.510. This was set by Oscar Piastri in a McLaren MCL39 during sprint qualifying for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix.

The official lap record for the current track layout is 1:44.701. This was set by Sergio Pérez in a Red Bull Racing RB20 during the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.

Spa and the Tour de France

The circuit has also been used in the Tour de France cycling race. In 1980, it was part of a time trial stage. In 1989, cyclists completed several laps of the circuit. In 2017, the circuit was part of the third stage of the race.

Weather at Spa-Francorchamps

The area around Spa-Francorchamps often has rainy or cool weather. This has led to some dramatic races. For example, the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix saw a 14-car pileup on a wet track. The 2008 race also had rain fall during the final laps.

The weather can be very unpredictable. It might be sunny on one part of the track and raining on another. This makes racing at Spa even more challenging!

See also

In Spanish: Circuito de Spa-Francorchamps para niños