Spa Francorchamps revamp

[Adam43]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/sp...hotos/6978718/

I missed they planned to do this.

More suitable for bikes, more gravel and some bigger runoffs.

Biggest thing I noticed is that all the grandstands from La Source down to Eau Rouge have been don’t down.

[Mike E]

Lots more gravel, lots less tarmac runoff. Good to see.

And a bike-specific Speakers Corner.

https://youtu.be/KpKu0Ai5Fws

[Anyopenroad]

I was at Spa for WEC this weekend and experienced the new Eau Rouge stand and other changes. Here's some observations (with an emphasis on photography, which is my thing!):

The whole of the area opposite the endurance pits remains a building site, though you can walk over it and there is some nice viewing high up on the bank, although you're sitting/standing on a huge pile of rubble!

The Eau Rouge stand is awesome. It offers possibly the best view in motorsport, over the whole circuit and with unimpeded view of the straight, Radillon and Eau Rouge. Access was free all weekend.

The stand is VERY steep and it is all bench seats so you need a head for heights. I lack that so I didn't go up. However, at the front/bottom of the stand there is a railing with the first row of seats set back and a little up. That railing was end-to-end photographers. I got my spot 2 hours before the start and spent much of that protecting my space with sharp elbows!

From the end of the stand nearest Eau Rouge there is a clear view of the straight and the curve. However, while it is awesome viewing it's actually less interesting photography-wise than the old fence cut-outs because it is harder to capture the elevation changes or get interesting angles.

The other end of the stand provides long and possibly more interesting shots of the cars cresting Eau Rouge. Less dramatic viewing, more compelling pictures.

There are more fences and higher barriers around Les Combes and Malmedy, meaning the loss of a few shots. It's no longer possible to get the head-on of the cars rounding Malmedy shooting through the fence next to the old caravans.

Around Bruxelles little has changed viewing-wise. You can still shoot through the big gap that the TV cameras use. The area on the outside of the track on the run down to Double Gauche is clearly going to be a viewing area but it's still a building site now. There is also a lot of work being done around Campus.

Was there always two tunnels under Eau Rouge to the paddocks? I don't recall. Anyway there's two now, one of which looks new! Nothing was different in the Paddock area at all.

I don't know if it's currently possible to walk all the way round La Source. I suspect the bank where you could get cheeky high shots of the corner is now blocked off. But by this point I was tired and wet and had 3000 photos so I bailed out .

[Adam43]

Thanks

It did look like the new grandstand was a good one.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

I was at Spa for WEC this weekend and experienced the new Eau Rouge stand and other changes. Here's some observations (with an emphasis on photography, which is my thing!):

The whole of the area opposite the endurance pits remains a building site, though you can walk over it and there is some nice viewing high up on the bank, although you're sitting/standing on a huge pile of rubble!

The Eau Rouge stand is awesome. It offers possibly the best view in motorsport, over the whole circuit and with unimpeded view of the straight, Radillon and Eau Rouge. Access was free all weekend.

The stand is VERY steep and it is all bench seats so you need a head for heights. I lack that so I didn't go up. However, at the front/bottom of the stand there is a railing with the first row of seats set back and a little up. That railing was end-to-end photographers. I got my spot 2 hours before the start and spent much of that protecting my space with sharp elbows!

From the end of the stand nearest Eau Rouge there is a clear view of the straight and the curve. However, while it is awesome viewing it's actually less interesting photography-wise than the old fence cut-outs because it is harder to capture the elevation changes or get interesting angles.

The other end of the stand provides long and possibly more interesting shots of the cars cresting Eau Rouge. Less dramatic viewing, more compelling pictures.

There are more fences and higher barriers around Les Combes and Malmedy, meaning the loss of a few shots. It's no longer possible to get the head-on of the cars rounding Malmedy shooting through the fence next to the old caravans.

Around Bruxelles little has changed viewing-wise. You can still shoot through the big gap that the TV cameras use. The area on the outside of the track on the run down to Double Gauche is clearly going to be a viewing area but it's still a building site now. There is also a lot of work being done around Campus.

Was there always two tunnels under Eau Rouge to the paddocks? I don't recall. Anyway there's two now, one of which looks new! Nothing was different in the Paddock area at all.

I don't know if it's currently possible to walk all the way round La Source. I suspect the bank where you could get cheeky high shots of the corner is now blocked off. But by this point I was tired and wet and had 3000 photos so I bailed out .

Thanks for the updates. Q: can one still walk/stand in front of the grandstand or is the only way around it on the backside?

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Thanks for the updates. Q: can one still walk/stand in front of the grandstand or is the only way around it on the backside?

Round the back only.

[dwh43scale]

A little more info from Spa, having been at the Spring Classic this weekend.

The new grandstand above Raidillon is indeed impressive providing superb views across the the Bus Stop, exit of La Source, down through Eau Rouge and under your feet. However, for me it becomes almost like a cinema - lacking the involvement of the old endurance pits grandstand where your toes were literally just above the track if in row 1 ! PA is in place but was not switched on; toilets open and temporary bar, but no food. East Belgium Kart Club (iirc) hut there providing food has long gone ! A big screen truck was parked opposite but not seen working when we were there.

One obvious factor. Sitting in row one, the view of the track is behind the railings and that's before the snappers grab their standing spots on the rail. Think carefully before booking a seat in the first two or three rows. As a snapper, a lot of your shots will be from above.

One new grandstand (not open) has appeared opposite the endurance pits with obvious locations for more - reference to Belgian Grand Prix ticket website suggests what is to come. It's a long way back from the track. Perhaps even further than the stand at Hollywood at Donington !

There are now grandstands at Speakers Corner although the view can't be especially brilliant. You could walk round the outside of La Source last weekend but this may vary for the GP, of course.

We'd not been to the Spa Classic before, so I hadn't appreciated the car clubs involvement or the track lapping sessions that could be purchased between races on Saturday. At €43 for a three day entrance ticket and €8 per day to park, I'd regard it favourably against the Silverstone Classic if racing is your main reason for going.

Finally, having finally found some coffee late on Saturday in the Paddock cafe (took our own Sunday), we were above the grand prix pits for the Endurance Legends race into the dark. Oh, my ! 2 Panoz, 1 333SP, 1 550 Maranello, etc, etc. While field was a glorious sight and sound !

Quick advert; we will be updating the spectator photographers guide for Spa on pistonclick.com shortly, to include the new development.

[broadrun96]

Damn, 2 Panoz?? we can't even get 1 beyond an old racing school car that trundles around slowly and off song at their home track

[dwh43scale]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Damn, 2 Panoz?? we can't even get 1 beyond an old racing school car that trundles around slowly and off song at their home track

A few photos of the action - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQWtd

And some moving pictures of the Endurance Legends - recommend sound on -
https://flic.kr/p/2nnmPBK