Spa – the longest, scariest F1 circuit

At 7 004 kilometres in length Spa is by some distance the longest circuit on the trail with the result that cars complete just 44 laps during the race’s 90 minutes duration. This despite an average winning speed of around 210 km/h posted by Jenson Button (McLaren) in last year’s dry conditions.

The Briton’s pole average of 235km/h is even more impressive, and amply illustrates the effect of a four-lap safety car phase after a multiple crash as cars funnelled into La Source at the start. However, the overall race lap record stands at almost 240 km/h set by Kimi Raikkonen in 2004.

The circuit sweeps and swoops up hill and down dale through the country’s brooding Ardennes Forests, and invariably falls foul of tempestuous weather at some stage during Grand Prix weekend. So unpredictable is the climate in the region and so expansive the circuit that teeming rain can fall at one end while the opposite side is basked in bright sunshine.

However, long term forecasts are for dry conditionsith cloudy skies and 23 degree temperatures predicted during all competitive sessions – much like last year. That said, light rain is again on the cards for Sunday morning and the clairvoyants have been known to be out by a few hours.

Spa’s layout of nine right and 10 left handers appears bland on paper. But included in that mix is every possible challenge including tricky La Source with its two lines, the infamous foot-flat left-right-left Eau Rouge/Radillion complex, the slippery downhill Pouhon left-hander, taken at a sliver over 250km/h, and the daunting 300 km/h Blanchimont sweep characterised by its short run-off areas beyond which lie eight metre drops.

Mention of any of these factors to drivers causes their to eyes dilate instantly, with their nape hairs bristling in recollection of some ‘moment’ or other. In common with all 2013 circuits Spa has two designated DRS overtaking zones running almost consecutively.

The first DRS detection is immediately after La Source on the run down to Eau Rouge with the zone itself stretching all the way uphill to Kemmel (Turn 5). The second DRS detection is shortly before the Bus Stop at the end of the lap with the zone operating down the start/finish straight to the hairpin.

For proof of the circuit’s challenge look no further than its victory roll. The last 10 Grands Prix were all won by world champions, save 2008’s edition, which was won by Felipe Massa for Ferrari during a season which saw the Brazilian challenge for the title to the bitter end.

NO WIN: Ferrari’s double world champion Fernando Alonso has yet to win a Formula One race at Spa. Picture: AFP.

Spa champion Raikkonen has an incredible four wins split two each for McLaren and Ferrari. Incredibly the 2005 and 2006 champion, Fernando Alonso, has yet to win in Belgium despite having mastered the circuit in 2000 when victory in atrocious conditions in the F3000 curtain raiser set the Spaniard firmly on the road to F1 stardom.

Apart from Button other champions to have won the race once each during that period are Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Mika Hakkinen with Michael Schumacher a multiple winner along with 1995 champion Damon Hill who won three times at Spa.

Red Bull’s reigning champion Vettel has 172 points from four wins to date with Raikkonen, on a roll after five second places in the last eight rounds, and very much the dangerman given his Spa record, on 134 after a single victory.