History of The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Prepared for August 1921, that race for cars could unfortunately not take place, due to a lack of representation. Indeed, although everything was ready, only one competitor was registered on the entry form.

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.

World War II was going to interrupt the life of the track for seven long years during which that part of the Ardennes was little spared.

1947 saw the sports activities resume in the area around " L'Eau Rouge ". Once again, the prestigious races were in the spotlight : Motorcycles and Cars Grand Prix, to which were occasionally added the 24 Hours of the Racb, before they resumed annually from 1964.

Later on, other organisations completed that programme. So, in the late fifties, the RAC from Spa organized its Grand Prix of Spa, then, in the early seventies, the junior RAC, its 24 Hours motorcycles.

If everything seemed to develop properly, that situation would, however, only last until until 1970, when, for the last time, the Formula I Grand Prix took place along the fourteen-kilometre-long track.

Due to the claims formulated through the sixties, a certain amount of Grand Prix drivers did not want to run in Francorchamps any longer for security reasons, which were quite difficult to solve for the Intercommunale Managers. The tune was however given. Because, even if the other races usually scheduled still took place, it was getting obvious that along its fourteen kilometres, the track had become very dangerous considering the increased performance of the cars and the few possibilities left to adapt the surroundings as it was the case when new tracks were built.

The end of the big Francorchamps was close. They were bound to react if they wanted to preserve the track and create one which took better into account the safety measures claimed by the Grand Prix drivers. So, after different plans aimed at preserving the main characteristics of the track while eliminating some high risk areas (essentially the part included between Les Combes and Blanchimont), a track was eventually chosen and the works could start. The seven-kilometre-long track was inaugurated in 1979.

More technical, winding and equipped with clearance areas, the new track kept the major part of the element which made it famous while combining improved safety for the pilots and new appeal for the spectators.

Thanks to the new track, the Belgian Formula I Grand Prix would quickly come back to Francorchamps. That race was a major event which would pave the way for many others, with less media coverage, but which contributed to make Francorchamps more dynamics, to diversify its kind of activities and to put it at the forefront of the international stage. Extrait du communiqué de presse du 9ème Trophée des Ardennes.

 Full article - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Circuit type	Road
Capacity	90,000
Designer	Jules de Their
First Race Held	1925
Time zone	GMT +1
Circuit length	7.004 km (4.352 mi)
Race length	308.052 km (191.410 mi)
Number of laps	44
Circuit Turns	20
Circuit Direction	Clockwise
Number of races held	44
Lap record	1:45.108 - (Kimi Raikkonen, 2004)