Spa and Circuit Changes

[Peter Mallett]

Due to a minor misfortune (I broke my accelerator pedal ), I found myself talking to some marshals at the exit of Stavelot at Spa Francorchamps on Sunday afternoon.

Apart from sharing a few stories they were telling me that in two years the track would change. As we know the Bus Stop has been re profiled and there are buildings being erected at Les Fagnes in order to appease the F1 “powers that be”.

The interesting point was that Formula Bernie wants a 4 km circuit for F1 and a shorter circuit for (nobody could tell me) and the current circuit.

Apart from devastating the only true GP circuit remaining on the calendar the 4km issue prompted some questions.

Are all the “Tilke Rings” 4km or thereabouts? If so are we now attempting to fit the number of laps into the time slot?

Used to be that a GP was 200 miles or two hours so is this a move to make all circuits a “standard” configuration in terms of corner combinations?

Is it a good idea? :confused:

[Kempi]

The buildings rising at Les Fagnes are what is to become a race engineering school.
I stayed with MECauto, a racing team preparing historic sports cars, during the last weekend, they are based just 20km off the track. They said that the F1 paddocks will be moved to the other side of the F1 s/f straight. That means that the motox track has to go, along with quite a bit of the hill on that side. Other than that, they did not mention any further modifications.

Most Tilke tracks are between 5 and 6km, iirc.

[Adam43]

No. Why change perfection?

There were proposals in Autosport a few weeks back suggesting that it could be changed into three mini-circuits. My fear then was that us clubbies would be forced to use a short version. Perhaps missing Les Combes, Pouhon, or another of those corners that the very thought of makes me smile.

Now it is suggested that even the GP would use a sbortened version. Pathetic. I've watched the GP at Spa and you only see them 44 times, but I don't care, it is a sacrifice. I walkthe rest of the circuit in practice and even when there is no practice. Look at each corner and appreciate GP racing once more...

[Adam43]

As for all circuits being standardised. I hate that idea too. Each event would try and have some uniqueness. At the moment there is only really Monaco, Spa and Monza that achieve this (slight exaggeration). There would be more variety in circuits. Perhaps even in event length too. Make GP racing (even) more difficult.

[jj2728]

it would be IMHO a terrible thing to do to spa....i've been venting in another thread about the lacklustre and sterile character of the "tilke rings"....once again IMHO, i find these so-called circuits would be better suited to go-karting venues.....as an example, i cannot fathom how people enjoy the new look hockenheim as opposed to the old....people say, well it is conducive to more overtaking and a better spectacle...puhleezze....

[Rich R]

i've always defended mr ecclestone in the past when people have compared him to don king, just taking from the sport. i would point out how he failed to qualify for the monaco gp in 1958 (i think), how he managed jochen rindt, how he ran a world championship winning team at brabham. he should be a man with the best interests of the sport at heart, not just as a business man, but as a fan of formula 1. it does seem lately though that he's actions are getting harder to defend. does he really seriously think that shortening the greatest current race track in europe(the world?) will add anything to formula 1, let alone the inevitable scarring it would cause to the forest around the track. is he not bothered by the reactions of the fans to this vandalism, or is he only interested in the casual fan watching on tv, the tv companies wanting a standard length of race.
where does it end. bringing monza into line with the other tracks as well?
when i watch a grand prix from places such as monza or spa i get a feeling that i don't from other venues(i think it's there at indy as well even if the infield is a bit poor). it's the history of brave deeds and tragic loss, and i realise that a modern track just can't have that history immediatly, i just want mr e to realise that by changing the classic tracks he is going to lose at least one fan (me) and probably more than a few others.
rant over.

[ss_collins]

I'm gonna get slated for this but.... I think Bernie is genius - and has made F1 great - I suggest that the current batch of pants circuits is not his doing.

Who's idea was it to butcher Hockenhiem? as has already been stated Spa, Monaco and Monza are fine and should be left alone, Silverstone as a circuit is good too (though facilities are lacking still).

But come on lets lose Hungary and the other poor laps on the calendar. USGP at Road america or Laguna Seca anyone?

[Rich R]

don't get me wrong, i think bernie has done some great things, it's just of late any deal he makes only seems to really benefit him or close friends of his,ie being involved in h tilkes construction firm/tilkes construction firm building most of the new tracks.
(sorry if this is going a bit off topic)

[Jordi]

Spa should not be touched. But then again Hockenheim had character and it doesn't anymore.
Maybe the only safe tracks are Interlagos and Suzuka, since they are not in Europe?