Baroque Ground has all the information on the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, home to the longest and most historic circuit on the Formula One calendar, the Spa-Francorchamps.
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium is one of the most historic on the Formula One calendar – it actually hosted its first Grand Prix (a non-championship race) in 1924. Over the years it has become one of the most popular venues for this prestigious race, which takes place in various locations all over the world.
The Belgian Grand Prix race is run on narrow public roads. Its original route was 14.9 kilometres long and is notoriously dangerous. Through the years, the lap distance has been reduced slightly and some corners have been eased. However, when the original circuit staged its final Grand Prix in 1970, it still measured just over 14 kilometres and remained extremely fast. That year, Chris Amon set the fastest lap at an average speed of just under 245 kilometers per hour.
The circuit was not used again until 1983 and then it was drastically revised, with lap distances cut to just below 7 kilometres. But somehow it managed to retain its magic. Around two thirds of the lap in the ‘new’ circuit used the original layout and the legendary Eau Rouge corner remained intact.
It’s been 35 years since then, and Belgian’s iconic circuit remains the longest circuit on the calendar. Its mix of long straights and challenging fast corners, combined with its picturesque setting, means that most Formula One drivers still rank it among their favourite tracks.
The weather at Spa-Francorchamps is notoriously changeable (it can often be simultaneously raining on one part of the track and dry on another) and Eau Rouge, with its high speed and sudden elevation change, maintains its reputation as one of Formula One racing’s most technically demanding corners.
Such is the challenge of the Spa circuit that only truly great drivers can claim to have mastered it. In its history, only six men have won the race more than twice – Juan Manuel Fangio (three times), Damon Hill (three times), Kimi Raikkonen (four times), Jim Clark (four times), Ayrton Senna (five times) and Michael Schumacher (six times).
From 24 to 26 August this year, the Formula One 2018 Johnnie Walker Belgian Grand Prix will be taking place. The race will cover the usual 44 laps on a circuit that is 7.004 km long, making the race distance 308.052 km. The lap record to beat is one set by Sebastian Vettel last year, of 1 hour 46.577 minutes.
The schedule for this auspicious race is as follows:
Fri 24 Aug
11am to 12.30pm Practice 1
3 to 4.30pm Practice 2
Sat 25 Aug
12 to 1pm Practice 3
3 to 4pm Qualifying
Sunday 26 Aug
3.10 to 5.10pm Race
If you would like to attend the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in style for the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, let Baroque Ground assist with a choice of Formula One experiences in Belgium. We will arrange the best access to the longest circuit on the year’s grand prix calendar. Mail us right away so that we can organize this for you, request@baroqueground.com. If you require assistance with travel arrangements of any kind to Belgium, our sister company, Baroque Travel can assist. You can get hold of them by mailing request@baroquetravel.com.