Round 13: 2008 Formula 1 ING Belgian Grand Prix

HISTORY
From http://www.f1db.com

Le Circuit national de Francorchamps, or as it's more commonly known, Spa-Francorchamps, is one of the worlds most famous, historical, and scenic race tracks ever built. In the early 1920's tourist developers in the Spa region were looking for a new way to promote their region, they decided to make a race track by linking the public roads between Spa, Stavelot, Francorchamps, and Malmedy to creat a 15 kilometer triangular shaped race track that wound it's way through the the foothills of the Ardenne mountains. The first race, scheduled for 1921 only drew one entrant. The organizers would not be disappointed so they pushed and a motorcycle race was organized and run the following year, to be followed by an automobile race later in the year.

By the end of the 1920's the circuit was gaining in fame as more and more international races were being held gaining in prestige. The track layout changed marginally throughout the 1930's, culminating in the development of the modern "Eau Rouge" corner for the 1939 belgian Grand Prix, a race that saw the tragic death of racer Dick Seaman, this was the last race held at Spa for eight years due to World War II before racing returned in 1947.

When the world drivers championship was inaugurated in 1950 Spa was a natural inclusion as the 14.5 Kilometer circuit graced the calendar in 1950, joining the Monaco, Bremgarten, Silverstone, Rheims, Indianapolis and Monza on the first Grand Prix calendar. The race was won by Fangio as Spa earned a right to be a permanent member of the World Championship.

The Circuit was impressive, starting on the downslope going into the high speed uphill Eau Rouge before winding it's way through the mountains to Les Combes, where it took a left hand sweep downhill towards the high speed Burneville and Malmedy right handers leading onto the long Masta straight, interrupted only by the masta kink chicane. After the long straight the Sweeping High Speed Stavelot curve that led onto a high speed section that swept it's way uphill through the lightning-quick Carriere and Blanchimont curves leading to "La Source" a hairpin at the top of the hill and end of the lap before plunging back downhill to start another 14 kilometer adventure through the pine forests. An ultimate drivers challenge, Spa and the Nurburgring tested early F1 stars mettle and their right to be called "World Champion"

By the late 60's F1 cars were reaching higher speeds and safety concerns arose. After Jim Clark's tragic death at Hockenheim in 1968 a new safety revolution began. One of the first on the chopping blocks was the high speed Spa-Francorchamps, which was excluded from the 1969 Calendar. It was reinstated for 1970 before the old circuit was finally axed for good. The Belgian GP moved to the uninspiring Nivelles and Zolder Circuits. It appeared that F1 at Spa was gone for good.

However a resurrection began. A new, modern circuit was built in the late 70's encompassing some of the most famous turns of the old circuit including "La Source", "Eau Rouge", and "Blanchimont". The weaving and winding circuit made it's way through the valley of the Ardennes, now being half the length of the old track. The old track was closed in 1978 and the first races at the new Spa were held in 1979. F1 started to take notice, and after Gilles Villeneuve's fatal crash at Zolder in 1982, it was announced that Spa would host the race in 1983, and Zolder again in 1984. The 1983 race was a success and after the race had moved back to Zolder in '84, the drivers realized that "once you go to Spa, you can never go back. The 1985 race was disastrous as it had to be postponed due to the pavement breaking up. ".

Despite the problems of the 1985 event, Spa-Francorchamps was given a permanent home on the Formula One calendar. The new track, although slightly slower than the old one, has become one of Formula One's classics. Very few changes to the layout have been made, except for a mickey-mouse temporary chicane at Eau-Rouge in 1994, Spa now has one of the most dramatic first corners with the very slow and tight "La Source" hairpin.

Despite the loss of the race in 2003 due to tobacco sponsorship issues, Spa has been returned, and if the drivers and fans have any say, it'll be on the calendar for as long as possible. Le Circuit National de Francorchamps, one of the World's great modern circuits, that replaced one of the world's great classic circuits.

2007 Kimi Räikkönen
2005 Kimi Räikkönen
2004 Kimi Räikkönen
2002 Michael Schumacher
2001 Michael Schumacher
2000 Mika Häkkinen