Spa-Francorchamps: Saga of the Ardennes Beast

 

There's one circuit that looms large in the hearts of drivers and fans alike: Spa-Francorchamps. 

Deep in the heart of the Ardennes forest, the Belgian Grand Prix is synonymous with raw speed, dramatic elevation changes, notoriously unpredictable weather, and a track where legends are made and where only the truly exceptional drivers master its untamed challenges.

It’s a place in all our hearts as a race fans, and is steeped in history and raw emotion. Here at Senate Grand Prix, we believe its story is as compelling as any race it hosts.

From Public Roads to a Global Icon: The Early Days

The story of Spa-Francorchamps dates back almost a century. The original circuit, conceived in the early 1920s by Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois Van Ophem, was a formidable 14.9-kilometre (9.3-mile) triangular beast that primarily used public roads connecting the Belgian towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot.

The very first car race was scheduled for 1921 but was cancelled due to a lack of entries! However, motorcycling quickly found its home here, with the first motorcycle race in 1922.

In its early years, Spa quickly earned a reputation for being fearsomely fast – a characteristic that remains to this day. Drivers navigated long, flat-out sections like the Masta Kink and the original Blanchimont, often reaching terrifying speeds on barely prepared public roads. 

The track’s significant elevation changes, with climbs and descents through the dense forests, added to its unique, thrilling, and often perilous nature.

The Evolution of Eau Rouge: Birth of a Legend (1939)

Even in its original layout, the famous Eau Rouge ravine was present. However, the corner sequence we know today, with its iconic blind uphill sweep of Raidillon, was born in 1939.

Spa was part of the original Formula 1® World Championship calendar in 1950 and hosted the Belgian Grand Prix almost continuously until the late 1960s. However, its sheer speed and minimal safety measures meant that fatalities were, sadly, not uncommon. 

By the early 1970s, as driver safety concerns mounted (championed by figures like Jackie Stewart), the original 14-km circuit was deemed too dangerous for F1®. 

The Belgian Grand Prix was temporarily held at other tracks, such as Nivelles and Zolder.

A significant transformation came in 1979. The circuit was dramatically shortened to its current length of 7.004 km (4.352 miles). 

While losing some of its most notorious and dangerous sections like the Masta Kink, the redesign cleverly preserved the essence of Spa, retaining legendary corners like Eau Rouge, Blanchimont, and Pouhon. T

his shorter, safer, yet still incredibly challenging layout allowed F1® to make a welcome return in 1983, and it has remained a constant fixture on the calendar ever since (barring a couple of missed years in the 2000s).

The Modern Era: A Timeless Classic

Since its 1979 redesign, and with further safety enhancements and modernisations (such as the reprofiling of the Bus Stop chicane and extended run-off areas, notably in 2007 and 2022), Spa-Francorchamps has retained its reputation as a driver's favourite and a fan spectacle.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!