Next week the F1 circus will finally be back at Francorchamps!!!! The belgian (and the dutch and the german,..) race fans are very happy that the belgian GP is back on the calender. The belgian parliament voted a special law to allow tobacco advertising during the F1 GP weekend on the track. There were many pro's and cons and there was almost even a government crisis about this topic. Now they found a belgian compromise and untill the 2006 european tobacco ban, tobacco advertising is allowed only during the 4 days of the F1 GP weekend. But not only the race fans here are happy, also the F1 drivers are happy to come back to Belgium. Spa-Francorchamps is considered by many drivers the best track in the world. So prepare for one of the most exciting races of the season and offcourse MS can get his 7th drivers title here. And don't forget, Spa-Francorchamps is rarely a dry race !!!!!!! http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=165024&FS=F1 http://www.f1i.com/articles/ARTICLE_572835.html
Hello Bert, we in Colorado are counting on your report and pics.. have fun, having the GP back at Spa is a miracle...To bad that I have a race the same week end.... have a great time, hello to our Belgian fans Roland F40LM
Hi Roland Actually i'm hoping for a wet race (that would be the first this season). We'll keep you posted ! Greetings Bert
One lap of the Belgian track Spa-Francorchamps seen by McLarens third driver Alexander Wurz : On the power along the short start-finish straight at Spa Francorchamps, you reach 180mph / 280km/h in sixth gear as you approach the La Source Hairpin. The tight right-hander is taken at 35mph / 56km/h. You accelerate downhill out of La Source, reaching some 181mph / 290km/h in seventh gear before arriving at the renowned Eau Rouge. Taken flat out, the track drops before climbing steeply left, right then left again at speeds of up to 180mph / 290km/h still in seventh gear. It is vital to maintain your speed through Eau Rouge as it leads onto the fastest section of the track, the Kemmell straight, which sees you reach 206mph / 330km/h. You then brake hard for the right-hander of Les Combes, which is taken at 87mph / 140km/h in third. The left-right flick of the third gear Malmedy chicane follows immediately and sees your speed increase slightly to some 110mph / 177km/h through the corner. A quick burst of acceleration, reaching 165mph / 265km/h, takes you to the Rivage hairpin. Braking hard you negotiate Rivage at 69mph / 112km/h in second gear. The downhill right-hander is off-camber and you can experience understeer. Accelerating out of Rivage, you then dab the brakes for a 100mph / 160km/h left hander, before once again getting on the power along the short straight that takes you to Pouhon. Entering the fast double apex left-hander at 133mph / 215km/h in fourth, your speed increases to 170mph / 272km/h through the corner. A short burst on the throttle takes you to the right-left chicane of ***nes, entered at 87mph / 140km/h in third gear, your speed increases slightly for the second section to 106mph / 170km/h. Along another short straight, you reach 156mph / 250km/h before braking slightly for the double apex right-hander of Stavelot. You enter the bumpy downhill bend at 95mph / 152km/h in third before accelerating to 150mph / 240km/h in fourth on the exit. This takes you onto the long sweeping left-hander of Blanchiment. Flicking up through the gears you reach 190mph / 305km/h in seventh gear before braking hard for the revised bus stop chicane, which has been made less acute. The pit lane entry has also been relocated to mid-way through the chicane away from the racing line. The chicane is now a right-left flick and is negotiated at 56mph / 90km/h and takes you back onto the pit straight to start another lap.
Hi Bert, Wet, that brings memories at that track!!!! I did many 24 hours in the rain and they never "neutralized" the race for that, not like in the US...Different times.!!!! have fun , rain or not Roland F40LM
BAR Honda Belgian GP preview: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=22042 BMW Williams Belgian GP preview : http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=22041
Micheal Schumacher talking about Spa-Francorchamps source:www.gp2004.com After a years absence from the Formula 1 calendar, the Belgian Grand Prix returns as the fourteenth race, much to the delight of Ferrari champion Michael Schumacher, who holds a very prestigious record around the Belgian circuit.. Spa has always been special for me, began the six-time world champion. I am very happy to see the Belgian GP back on the calendar. This race seems to be linked to my career in some way. I have enjoyed some fantastic moments here and so I can only express my delight that I can race on the track again. Spa preserves the features of the old style circuits, ones that are very different from modern tracks. Even if todays single-seaters have made the circuit a little easier, it is still a challenge. Driving the perfect line here, especially in some stretches, is just thrilling. It is not coincidental that generations of drivers have raved about Eau Rouge! And if, for an unlikely series of coincidences, the Ardennes circuit seems linked to Michaels career, this years race could continue the trend. By winning his thirteenth race of the season or earning two more points than his only challenger in the Drivers championship, team mate Rubens Barrichello, Michael could notch his seventh world title. I know that this will be one of the topics of conversation this weekend, smiled Michael. However, I wont be approaching this race any differently than the others. The important thing is to race well and whatever happens, happens. It is great being in a position to win the title at this stage, but this is the fruit of an unexpected and superb season. The world champion would not be drawn on where he thought the title would be won, whether it be Spa or Monza, the Scuderias favourite. Both have their attractions but the most important thing for me is to win the title; where I do it is secondary. Rubens still has a mathematical chance of winning and I take his challenge seriously: until victory is secure, all the other factors are meaningless and so I dont even take them into consideration. Before the weekend gets under way, Michael will take part in a charity football match on Wednesday. The German champ will line up with a Drivers XI against a Belgian All Stars team. The match will be held at 20:30 at the Bielmont di Verviers stadium.
The weather : http://www.f1central.net/news/1093418464.html I told you, the first wet race of the season !
Unsurprisingly, Ferrari took the 2004 constructors' title in Hungary and Michael Schumacher could claim the drivers' championship at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Only teammate Rubens Barrichello can fight Schumacher for the crown, but one would have to say that the Brazilian triumphing this season would be a considerable, and unlikely, feat. It's a shame that with five races to go only second place in either championship is left to be fought over. With a 38 point lead over Barrichello, Schumacher's victory is pretty much guaranteed but second in the constructors' is still wide open. Either Renault or BAR would probably be happy enough to be second to Ferrari, but nobody really wants to be the best of the losers. Renault has been hanging on to its second place for much of the season but BAR is nibbling away at the gap between them. Hungary was a lost opportunity for the Brackley squad -- with both cars ahead of Renault on the grid, it should have closed the gap much more than by the one point it actually did. Renault was let off quite lightly, especially as only one of its cars finished. As for the drivers' standings, in theory Barrichello's second place is still attainable by the next four on the list. However, in practice it's a tall order. BAR's Jenson Button, third, is not guaranteed to hold the place but has a 19 point advantage over Jarno Trulli in fourth. Trulli's teammate Fernando Alonso is just one point behind -- but squabbling over fourth and fifth is not much to get excited about. There was not really much to say about Hungary. Ferrari had it in the bag after the first corner and the rest trailed home in orderly formation. Alonso's catapult off the line for third was notable but there was no way that the Renault was going to catch the Ferraris. Juan Pablo Montoya also had a great start to fourth but the Williams was similarly not going to challenge Alonso. Many people are pleased to Spa-Fracorchamps back on the calendar, drivers and fans alike. The Belgian Grand Prix fell foul of anti-tobacco laws in 2003 and was dropped from the schedule, but was given a welcome reprieve for 2004. Spa is a real driver's circuit and one of the renowned tracks of the motor racing world. "The Belgian Grand Prix is one of those races that I really enjoy," said Schumacher, who won the last race at Spa in 2002. "The circuit has its own special magic, firstly because it is where I have had some of the most memorable racing moments, like my first GP or my first Formula One win." "I also like Spa because it is close to my birthplace, Kerpen. I always joke about it but I consider Spa to be a 'home' circuit. The track is a real sporting test. Driving here, splendidly situated in the middle of the countryside, is fantastic. To be truthful, Spa is my favourite circuit." One of the challenges of Spa is the infamous Eau Rouge corner. "You come into the corner downhill, have a sudden change at the bottom and then go very steep uphill," said Renault's Fernando Alonso. "From the cockpit, you cannot see the exit and as you come over the crest, you don't know where you will land. It is a crucial corner for the timed lap, and also in the race, because you have a long uphill straight afterwards where you can lose a lot of time if you make a mistake." Safety issues have plagued Spa's history and the circuit has been modernised over the years, including slight changes to the Bus Stop chicane for this weekend's race. The pit lane entry has also been altered and parts of the track resurfaced. "Therefore not all of our data from Spa in 2002 is relevant for our preparation for the race this year," said BAR chief race engineer Craig Wilson. Spa is a high-speed circuit and has a variety of corners; speeds vary from 60 kmph at the La Source hairpin, up to over 300 kmph through Blanchimont. Downforce will be medium to find a compromise for stability in the fast corners and traction for the slower parts of the track. Tyres are also important for the fast sections and the track is quite abrasive, so compounds will be in the mid to hard area of the compound range. The weather can be temperamental and as it's a long track, it can often rain on one part of the circuit and not on another. The length of the circuit combined with the variety of corners and gradients places high demands on engines. "Spa is one of the toughest circuits in terms of duty cycle, and indeed is a reference circuit for engine validations on the dyno: this means we actually do more simulations of Spa than any other circuit during the year," said Renault engine technical director Rob White. "The lap is very long, placing high mechanical and thermal loads on the engine's internal parts." After the tedium of Hungary, F1 needs a really good race to wake everyone up again and if anywhere can provide it, Spa is a likely contender. Let's hope the circuit lives up to its reputation. "You don't run too much downforce so the car feels like it is dancing," said Sauber's Felipe Massa. "You really know you are a racing driver when you are there." source : www.motorsport.com
Hope Michael clinches it here on the same circuit where he began his F1 career and showed a lot of promise in his first race.
The Belgian Ardennes appear to be living up to their reputation this weekend, with rain falling on Thursday, and expected again today, Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures should remain rather low, at around 16°C. Michelin and Bridgestone have not gone head to head on wet tyres for more than 18 months now the last wet race was Brazil 2003. Since then, the balance of power between the two manufacturers has certainly evolved, but nobody can know exactly what the situation will be.
It will be lucky 7 for MS and Ferrari. A win on Sunday would be Schumacher's seventh in the Belgian Grand Prix, as well as his seventh championship title in what will be the Scuderia's 700th Grand Prix.
The results of the first free practice session 1 Anthony Davidson (GBR) BAR 1:45.104 2 Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari 1:45.408 +0:00.304 3 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari 1:45.605 +0:00.501 4 Bjorn Wirdheim (SWE) Jaguar 1:46.658 +0:01.554 5 Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) McLaren 1:46.674 +0:01.570 6 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault 1:46.679 +0:01.575 7 Mark Webber (AUS) Jaguar 1:46.782 +0:01.678 8 Christian Klien (AUT) Jaguar 1:46.809 +0:01.705 9 Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Williams 1:47.083 +0:01.979 10 Ryan Briscoe (AUS) Toyota 1:47.506 +0:02.402 11 Jenson Button (GBR) BAR 1:47.511 +0:02.407 12 Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) Williams 1:47.560 +0:02.456 13 Takuma Sato (JPN) BAR 1:47.618 +0:02.514 14 Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Sauber 1:47.648 +0:02.544 15 David Coulthard (GBR) McLaren 1:47.650 +0:02.546 16 Felipe Massa (BRA) Sauber 1:47.765 +0:02.661 17 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Renault 1:47.829 +0:02.725 18 Ricardo Zonta (BRA) Toyota 1:48.642 +0:03.538 19 Olivier Panis (FRA) Toyota 1:48.834 +0:03.730 20 Giorgio Pantano (ITA) Jordan 1:50.165 +0:05.061 21 Bas Leinders (BEL) Minardi 1:50.311 +0:05.207 22 Timo Glock (GER) Jordan 1:50.317 +0:05.213 23 Gianmaria Bruni (ITA) Minardi 1:50.531 +0:05.427 24 Nick Heidfeld (GER) Jordan 1:50.805 +0:05.701 25 Zsolt Baumgartner (HUN) Minardi 1:50.950 +0:05.846
The results of the second free practice session 1 Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) McLaren 1:44.701 2 Jenson Button (GBR) BAR 1:45.015 +0:00.314 3 Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari 1:45.137 +0:00.436 4 Anthony Davidson (GBR) BAR 1:45.437 +0:00.736 5 Takuma Sato (JPN) BAR 1:45.451 +0:00.750 6 David Coulthard (GBR) McLaren 1:45.507 +0:00.806 7 Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Williams 1:45.559 +0:00.858 8 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari 1:45.625 +0:00.924 9 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault 1:45.658 +0:00.957 10 Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) Williams 1:45.842 +0:01.141 11 Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Sauber 1:45.978 +0:01.277 12 Felipe Massa (BRA) Sauber 1:46.169 +0:01.468 13 Mark Webber (AUS) Jaguar 1:46.471 +0:01.770 14 Olivier Panis (FRA) Toyota 1:46.528 +0:01.827 15 Ricardo Zonta (BRA) Toyota 1:46.902 +0:02.201 16 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Renault 1:46.912 +0:02.211 17 Christian Klien (AUT) Jaguar 1:47.370 +0:02.669 18 Ryan Briscoe (AUS) Toyota 1:47.634 +0:02.933 19 Bjorn Wirdheim (SWE) Jaguar 1:48.345 +0:03.644 20 Zsolt Baumgartner (HUN) Minardi 1:48.687 +0:03.986 21 Timo Glock (GER) Jordan 1:48.817 +0:04.116 22 Giorgio Pantano (ITA) Jordan 1:48.962 +0:04.261 23 Nick Heidfeld (GER) Jordan 1:49.297 +0:04.596 24 Bas Leinders (BEL) Minardi 1:49.480 +0:04.779 25 Gianmaria Bruni (ITA) Minardi 1:49.742 +0:05.041
Yep, and he was just telling on rtbf (La Une) that there were some mistakes with the tyre pressure, so he could have gone faster. In the first session he was even faster than 2 Jordans!
Nasty crash for Aussie Toyota test driver Ryan Briscoe at Eau Rouge. Walked away largely unhurt though.
I'm here at Francorchamps, just in front of the Ferrari pitbox, and the qualification session is about to start. MS was the quickest in the first session, and now the track is drying some the times will be faster. Pics will follow later !! FORZA FERRARI !!!!!
Standing by for those pics. It will be interesting to see the Renault going 1-2 into the hairpin. Where will Schumi catch them? On the straight uphill? Looking forward to finally see a race, if only for a little while. Keeping my fingers crossed for the blue Ferraris.
I watched the qualifying half sleep here in the west coast and was wondering what happened to MS he had faster 1st and 2nd splits and then finished behind Truely??? I also noticed some who were fater through the 2nd intermediate blew their lead in the third sector... What was going on I had the volume way down and could not hear it.
Several factors: The rain picked up a bit and so around bus stop chicane there was so much water that Rubens almost lost it and MS took it easy. MS too had his hands full keeping the car on the track. Also it is quite possible, that Ferrari knowing their dominance willingly gambled with the setup and changed it from a all wet to an intermediate setup with less downforce etc. That would explain MS' fast 1st sector and slower second and especially third sector. Forecast is "only" a 10% chance of rain, so it might be better to have an intermediate setup.
Just for the record the starting grid for tomorrow 1. Jarno Trulli I Renault 1:56.232 2. Michael Schumacher D Ferrari 1:56.304 3. Fernando Alonso E Renault 1:56.686 4. David Coulthard GB McLaren-Mercedes 1:57.990 5. Giancarlo Fisichella I Sauber-Petronas 1:58.040 6. Rubens Barrichello BR Ferrari 1:58.175 7. Mark Webber AUS Jaguar 1:58.729 8. Felipe Massa BR Sauber-Petronas 1:59.008 9. Olivier Panis F Toyota 1:59.552 10. Kimi Raikkonen FIN McLaren-Mercedes 1:59.635 11. Juan Pablo Montoya COL Williams-BMW 1:59.681 12. Jenson Button GB BAR-Honda 2:00.237 13. Christian Klien A Jaguar 2:01.246 14. Antonio Pizzonia BR Williams-BMW 2:01.447 15. Takuma Sato J BAR-Honda 2:01.813 16. Nick Heidfeld D Jordan-Ford 2:02.645 17. Gianmaria Bruni I Minardi-Cosworth 2:02.651 18. Zsolt Baumgartner H Minardi-Cosworth 2:03.303 19. Giorgio Pantano I Jordan-Ford 2:03.833 20. Ricardo Zonta BR Toyota 2:03.895
