Friday 25 January 2013

Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps. Why you should pay it a visit this year


Spa, a track that needs no introduction. Eau Rouge, La Source, Hakkinen vs. Schumacher...they all spring to mind when we think of this great track. Well they do for me, a life long Formula 1 fan who favours the 'original' tracks of the F1 circus. Amongst these modern, 'car park' layouts (Mark Webber's words, not mine), there remain a few classic, tree lined circuits that enable Formula 1 to cling onto its roots - excuse the pun.

The F1 calendar has changed drastically in recent years, shifting a large percentage of its calendar East to new modern tracks, designed to encourage overtaking and induce mistakes. Few tracks remain where tarmac was simply laid where it was practical to do so, creating winding corners, natural dips and undulations. As a result, an increasing amount of Formula 1 circuits are arguably becoming rather indistinguishable. The racing is fantastic there is no doubt about it, but many of these tracks lack the character and individuality of Monte Carlo, the old Hockenhiem and Spa, to name a few.

Car park like run offs
With Hockenhiem's layout being trimmed of its frighteningly fast straights, it has lost a large part of what made it special. Monte Carlo remains largely true to its origins but if you don't fancy clinging to a tree, ticket prices can only be described as astronomical. So Spa, one of the last remaining classic gems of the F1 calendar, is also one of few that offers a far more affordable chance to experience Formula 1 in it's natural environment. For this reason, I think that F1 fans of new and old should all experience this great circuit in the flesh.

And there's another reason too. Because 2013 is the last year F1 will use the naturally aspirated V8s that have been raced since 2006. These engines, smaller descendants of the monstrous V10s of the late 90s and early noughties, sound especially epic through the forests of Spa. Last year I visited Spa for the GP, and was absolutely blown away by the presence of the world's most advanced motorsport on one of the world's most beautiful classic circuits. Its not the volume, or even the speed of these high powered machines that affected me most, although both were equally astounding. Instead it was hearing those V8s sing into the distance, through the dense forest that inhabits the track. This experience, is something I think all car fans should get a chance to experience. One that no other sport can match.

A BTCC fan might tell you that one lap of a race has more action than an entire GP. A Moto GP fan may tell you their motorcycles reach a higher top speed. But neither of them can come close to F1 when it comes to that hair raising feeling an F1 engine creates as it echoes through the trees.

A Force India spits a blue flame
Of course, modern Formula 1 cars create much more than just an engine noise. There's the gearbox, banging through the gears at inconceivable speeds. It's something you not only hear, but see with blue flames popping out of exhausts and most strikingly, something that you feel like a sharp bass line in your stomach. There's the sound of 8 cylinders switching to 4 as drivers come off the throttle, creating a harsh and aggressive note distinctive to Formula 1. On top of that there's the smell of burning rubber and cooked carbon brakes. The orchestra of a Formula 1 car is not done any justice on TV - try telling a conductor his band sounds best through your stereo lounge set up. Witnessing an F1 car up close is something very special, and witnessing it in the theatre of Spa is just fantastic. And this could be the final chance to hear the naturally aspirated orchestra we have now, before forced induction engines are released onto track in 2014.

Vettel & Schumacher pushing at Spa
Now I'm not saying the 2014 engines won't sound amazing, I have no doubt in my mind that they will. But forced induction has a habit of quietening things down. So I say experience the fantastic orchestra we have now. Stand at the end of Kemmel Straight and listen to those V8s scream towards you at 18,000 revs, before feeling the gearbox shove down the gears. Walk through the forest in the middle of the track during a busy practice session. You'll be amazed how you're surrounded by nature but can hear nothing but high revving technology.

Anyway, that's enough of me trying to describe the sound in plain old English. From here on I'll let the videos do the talking. Turn up your speakers...

Screaming V8s up Eau Rouge:


Along Kemmel Straight:



Banging down the gears into Les Combes:


And one to show off the speed and phenomenal downforce an F1 car generates through Eau Rouge:


But remember...videos do F1 cars no justice!

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