RE: Future Of Belgian GP In Doubt

[a11y_m]

Where the feck are the local residents? I visited Spa for the first time this summer and can't recall there being any residential areas anywhere near the circuit...

[Ahonen]

There are plenty of nearby residents: Francorchamps village, where you drive through to get to the circuit, Stavelot, where you can certainly hear the cars, plus all the little villages inside the old circuit and closer to the track than Stavelot.

As shown at Castle Combe, the only voice heard is that of the vocal, NIMBY minority.

It will be the end of their local economy though - race teams and spectators keep the village and surrounding areas alive. There is tourism from the mountain biking and walking fraternities, but they don't spend as much cash as we do.