Hello

I'm going to Spa this year , best option since I live in Belgium. Anyway I'm only 18 years, so it's my first GrandPrix I'm going to, so what can I expect from it?
I mean, what is there besides F1? Other races? I

s there a chance of getting a signature of any of the drivers?
How expencive is everything there?
Are you still allowed in the Pitlane?

I would appreciate any information

I'm sitting at Pouhon btw

I was there 2002 and it was great!! They had Formula 3000 races, porsche races and some other races as well. Use the friday and Saturday to walk around the track to find your favourite spots.



I don't think you can get a signature from the drivers? I didn't try though. You are normally not allowed to go into the pitlane. It takes a special pass to get there. It is rather expensive in there. I brought a backpack with things I bought in the grocery stores a bit outside the track. The prices inside is not totally outrageus though

Pouhon is awesome The busstop, Pouhon and the end of the kemmel straight are my favourite spots. I remember being particularly impressed with Kimi and Schumi through Pouhon, you could really see that they were absolutely on the very limit through there.

Thanks raceday! That's the info I wanted

I just recently visited the track to have a look around. Eau Rouge is a wonderful place to sit, the steepness of the hill is incredible in real life.

Also had a look down at Stavelot which was also impressive.

Beautiful track, lovely scenary.

There is a very small chance that I may be making it also that weekend. Staying at Brussels. Anyone know if the traffic is too bad to make it from Brussels to Spa and back by car that day? Is it possible to make it by train?

It's possible but you need to get away really fast from the track after the race otherwise you risk getting stuck in a traffic jam. Can't recall how long time it took me to get back to brussels? I think it took about 3.5-4 hours, but I'm not sure? And get a good map because I don't think it was very easy to find my way to the airport (which I usually think is easy in basically any city)

I have a question for some of the folks who've been to Spa or even if you have an opinion on where to sit.

My first instinct is to sit at Eau Rouge. But I wouldn't expect much racing action there so I'm thinking of checking it out on Friday and Saturday just to see the cars climb that hill.

Next I'm thinking that sitting in Silver 5 at Les Combes or Silver 4 at Malmedy is the next best option. I think this is where most of the passing occurs following the long haul down the Kemmel straight. But I don't often hear people who've been to the race rave about these two spots. Is the viewing really limited or some other problem with these stands? I'm pretty sure most of the passing I remember from the last few years was here or at La Source.

And finally I've heard good things about sitting at Pouhon (Silver 6) or even Silver 3 at Rivage.

So my question; Les Combes? Malmedy? Pouhon? or Rivage?

I have an opportunity to go this year and I'm sure I can get tickets from one of the many tour companies but I'm absolutely mortified that I'll waste this once in a lifetime chance by not sitting in the right spot. Having said that, is there really a bad spot once I'm there.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Farzad the only way you will see eau rouge on friday or any day come to that is if you have already bought a Grandstand ticket.

The closest you can get track side is after the exit of Radillon (the left kink right after Eau Rouge). However, if you come in the main entrance by the permanent grandstands, you'll find yourself in the F1 "village" with all the sellers and team stalls etc. There's a bar there, and if you look ahead of you the exit of Eau Rouge in between the Grandstands ! Absolutely awesome! I noticed by complete accident when we went there in 2000. this year I have seat on the outside of Eau Rouge

As for sitting Friday try to do Fagnes-Stavelot-Bus Stop, and Radillon-Kemmel-Les Combes on Saturday If you want a GS I believe there's only silver 8 and 9 left which is the Pouhon area

OBTW the Brussels corner between Malmedy and Pouhon has you on the cliff right above the track, and that's pretty damned cool too

Thanks for the good tips. I was hoping to buy some other grandstand and just watch Eau Rouge from general admission on Friday or Saturday but I guess you're saying that would be nearly impossible except for this little view you happened to find.

If that's the case I better try to find myself some seats at Gold 2! I assume that's where you're sitting.

If I can't find any at Gold 2 then in your opinion do you think sitting at Brussels (I think it's called Rivage now) would be better than sitting at Les Combes or Malmedy?

Here is a track map for reference:

Farzad all the gold tickets are gone! they sell out so early each year

according to the official site this is all that's left!

http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/fr/ticket/form/form_f1.htm

General admitance will gain you access to most parts of the circuit axcept the gold area it's completely closed off to non Gold GS ticket holders

Seats at EU ROUGE !! .... Ok thats the first good laugh ive had for a long time....I have Members Club seats there which is permanant. But I rarely get to use them due to work and often let friends use them.........as they were a gift to me, I feel that others should enjoy them two..I have three still left for this year if anyones still interested....free food and good beer in plenty.

"Help I cant find my sanity.It told me it was going for lunch and I havent seen it in 5 yrs." Al Unser Jr.

I'm interrested. Me and my brother are going to Spa. We're planning to buy general admission tickets and stand on Kemmel, but we would have loved to sit at Eau Rouge. We were walking around the track on friday in 2000, but we could not see anything at Eau Rouge.

The drive from Zaventem (Brussels airport) is under 1.5 hours normally, but of course GP traffic will slow that down (getting in being worse than getting out).
It is not difficult to find the airport - follow the signs to Brussels (take 1 motorway then join 1 other), join the Brussels ring road, and follow the signs with a picture of an aeroplane on them, and the airport is 1 minute from the ring road.
No need to go into Brussels, just go round the ring for a couple of exits and you are there.

Unless you are talking about Ryanair's Brussels airport which is probably closer to Spa than Brussels - they call it Brussels South, locals call it Paris North.




Last time I was there for a GP (long time ago) they opened up the paddock after the race so it was possible to get in and try to find a driver (more likely you might get close to a car).
But now they have the automatic gates I think it will be impossible to get anywhere near a car or driver (unless you are invited by a sponsor, when you will probably be totally un-interested in such things).

So it could be worth hanging around after the race, and waiting for the traffic to die down - you might get to meet or see someone interesting (some of the drivers will stay on circuit in their motorhomes). But these days it is really hard to get anywhere near.

Don't get your hopes up too high - F1 is not about spectators, they pay a fortune for some very poor treatment, the sponsors get some great treatment, but it is all geared up for TV.

It is worth seeing and hearing the cars, since you have no impression on TV of what it is really like, but the spectator package is a total rip off (and to add insult to injury, beer drinkers are forced to drink Fosters at the Belgian GP - a country that makes most of the very best beer and someone let the midget force people to drink that muck).

When you are there make sure you see the cars going through Eau Rouge somehow, it is an amazing sight and probably the most spectacular sight in F1 all year.

While Spa is great for drivers, it is not the best event for spectators - you can only ever see a tiny bit of the circuit and the race is not very many laps so you don't see the cars as much as you would at a short circuit.

I have an oppurtinity to buy some Silver 1 tickets. It looks like Silver 1 is right at the base of Eau Rouge and I was wondering if it's possible to see the cars climbs Eau Rouge by looking left from Silver 1?

I saw a picture of Silver 1 once and I'll have to see if I can dig it up.

Yes, you should be able to see all of Eau Rouge from the Silver One stands. You will also get a reasonable view of the cars exiting the pit lane and coming down the old pit straight and maybe, depending on where exactly you are sitting, maybe, get to see them coming round La Source.

The only problem might be that being a rather steep uphill part of the circuit, the cars might "disappear" from your view once they have got to the top of the chicane.

Have been to Spa 3 times (2000-2002) and it was great every time!!

Niraj

Silver 1 it is. Thanks for the reply. The chicane is the best part isn't it? I understand there is no TV at this stand but if I get to see F1 cars make their way up Eau Rouge I can do without a TV and I'll die a happy man.

Here are some good pictures of this sextion of track:

Sitting in Silver 2, Gold 1 on the left, Silver 1 nearly hidden further on the left
http://membres.lycos.fr/liomoulin/slides/DSCF0405.JPG

Looking at Silver 2 and Gold 1
http://membres.lycos.fr/lionelmoulin/spa_0...t/eaurouge2.jpg

Looking at Silver 2, Gold 1 and Silver 1 (this is a great picture of Silver 1)
http://membres.lycos.fr/liomoulin/slides/DSCF0421.JPG

all right, spa is coming closer now!

I will attend the pitwalk on thursday but I have a few questions about it.
1. Since I can't drive a car (yet) I have to go by train (the rest of the weekend I have a person driving me) I have to go by train. I know Spa has a railway station, but once I get there, how do I get to the circuit?
2. What can I expect from the pitwalk? Any chance of seeing a driver? Will they show the cars? etc.
3. Does anyone know what times the pitlane will be open?
4. what part of the track can you actually acces on foot? I have a silver 6 ticket for the whole weekend, but I would like to see as much as possible of course!

cheers