Belgian Grand Prix - Facts & Figures

• In 1920, the idea of taking advantage of the triangle formed by the roads
connecting Malmedy, Stavelot and Francorchamps to make a racing track was born. By August 1921, track preparations had been completed. However, the circuit’s inaugural event was not a car race but a motorcycle event due to lack of interest. Cars eventually made their debut at Spa in 1922.

• The first 24 hour race made its debut at Spa in 1924, while the first major single seater event, the European Grand Prix, followed in 1925. Seven cars entered, and victory was taken by Antonio Ascari in an Alfa Romeo.

• Racing at Spa was interrupted for a seven year period due to the Second World War, with cars only returning to the track in 1947. Racing continued on the 14 kilometre circuit up until 1970 but, by that time, cars had become too fast for the track and drivers refused to race. Consequently, necessary changes were made and the present race track was opened in 1979.

• Formula One bypassed Spa in 2003, and has undergone certain modifications since. The area around the old Bus Stop Chicane has been altered and the track now measures 6.973 kilometres following a 10 metre extension. As a result, Spa-Francorchamps is the longest track on the Formula One calendar.

• Eau Rouge, a left-right sweep through a dip, is arguably the track’s most celebrated feature. A car’s set-up has to be perfect to allow the corner to be taken flat.

• Other well known corners include the fast Blanchimont section and La Source, the hairpin following the start line, and the location of the biggest pile-up in Formula One history in 1998.

• To date, WilliamsF1 has claimed four victories at Spa (1981, 1986, 1993 and 1994) and nine pole positions. The team’s last pole was secured by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2001. Ralf Schumacher completed a perfect qualifying line up for the team that year by taking second place. Neither driver was as fortunate in the race, however. Several starts were required, during one of which Montoya’s engine stalled and Ralf Schumacher was forced to drop to the back of the field after repair work to his car was not completed in time. Since the start of the Anglo-German partnership in 2000, the team’s best race results have been third places (Ralf Schumacher 2000, Montoya 2002).

• Michael Schumacher won the last Belgian Grand Prix in 2002. He also secured pole position with a time of 1:43.726m and set the race, and current, lap record of 1:47.176m.

• The 2004 Belgian Grand Prix will start at 14:00, local time, on Sunday 29th August.