Discussion
Well doing my first ever spa trackday next week (friday) and just looking for any pointers from the more experienced of you for getting round safely.
Any particular areas to be super-cautious. Not really aiming for the ultimate lap-time tbh, just looking forward to experience driving around the place. One of those "to do" items that i've had on my list for many years!!
Are the facilities at the circuit any good, i.e. food, feul, etc.
Many thanks. Oh, and if you're going too - hopefully see you there.
Any particular areas to be super-cautious. Not really aiming for the ultimate lap-time tbh, just looking forward to experience driving around the place. One of those "to do" items that i've had on my list for many years!!
Are the facilities at the circuit any good, i.e. food, feul, etc.
Many thanks. Oh, and if you're going too - hopefully see you there.
Hi, I'm no spa veteran so i'll leave that to other's but can tell you after only 3 visits that its just epic, it took me a morning just to get used to the sheer scale of the place, from the surroundings to the super smooth surface and changes in altitude!
There are some real balls out fast corners on the downhill section & its easy to find yourself running wide, important thing is there is loads of run off compared to what i had been used to in the UK so feels safer.
I would make sure your car is properly prepped as Spa is notoriously hard on car's but to date it's my No1 circuit!
Hope you have a wicked trip, oh and there are some great local roads to boot!
There are some real balls out fast corners on the downhill section & its easy to find yourself running wide, important thing is there is loads of run off compared to what i had been used to in the UK so feels safer.
I would make sure your car is properly prepped as Spa is notoriously hard on car's but to date it's my No1 circuit!
Hope you have a wicked trip, oh and there are some great local roads to boot!
Some info below for a Rookie,
Fantastic TD, the best in fact.
Like most GP circuits, its very safe nowadays. Neutralised by FIA. Not as much fun as it was!
But, Hi grip run off areas, good marshalling facilities etc
Three places to watch IMHO
1 Kemmel corner - to fast in a Eua Rouge, panic lift and you're in the wall.Not much run off.
2 Rivage exit - people often get on the gas too quick and end up in the inside armco. Not much run off.
3 Blanchimont - too fast in for the tighening exit. Not much run off.
All worse in the wet off course!
It's the trip of a life time and will ruin every other TD you do. Coz they wont be as good!
Have fun.
Some more here... http://www.tvrmonster.com/spacg.html
Fantastic TD, the best in fact.
Like most GP circuits, its very safe nowadays. Neutralised by FIA. Not as much fun as it was!
But, Hi grip run off areas, good marshalling facilities etc
Three places to watch IMHO
1 Kemmel corner - to fast in a Eua Rouge, panic lift and you're in the wall.Not much run off.
2 Rivage exit - people often get on the gas too quick and end up in the inside armco. Not much run off.
3 Blanchimont - too fast in for the tighening exit. Not much run off.
All worse in the wet off course!
It's the trip of a life time and will ruin every other TD you do. Coz they wont be as good!
Have fun.
Some more here... http://www.tvrmonster.com/spacg.html
Fuel on site is via a pay at the pump station. Prices weren't too bad IMO. A bit more than service stations but worth it for the convenience. Make sure you have more than one credit card with you because if you try to top up a second time with the same card it gets rejected. I think it's their way of trying stop fraud. One chap I met at the pumps had to use three different cards one day because he was going through it at such a rate! 
Guillotine said:
Some info below for a Rookie,
Fantastic TD, the best in fact.
Like most GP circuits, its very safe nowadays. Neutralised by FIA. Not as much fun as it was!
But, Hi grip run off areas, good marshalling facilities etc
Three places to watch IMHO
1 Kemmel corner - to fast in a Eua Rouge, panic lift and you're in the wall.Not much run off.
2 Rivage exit - people often get on the gas too quick and end up in the inside armco. Not much run off.
3 Blanchimont - too fast in for the tighening exit. Not much run off.
All worse in the wet off course!
It's the trip of a life time and will ruin every other TD you do. Coz they wont be as good!
Have fun.
Some more here... http://www.tvrmonster.com/spacg.html
Did i ever tell you your my HERO, the wind beneath my wings :}Fantastic TD, the best in fact.
Like most GP circuits, its very safe nowadays. Neutralised by FIA. Not as much fun as it was!
But, Hi grip run off areas, good marshalling facilities etc
Three places to watch IMHO
1 Kemmel corner - to fast in a Eua Rouge, panic lift and you're in the wall.Not much run off.
2 Rivage exit - people often get on the gas too quick and end up in the inside armco. Not much run off.
3 Blanchimont - too fast in for the tighening exit. Not much run off.
All worse in the wet off course!
It's the trip of a life time and will ruin every other TD you do. Coz they wont be as good!
Have fun.
Some more here... http://www.tvrmonster.com/spacg.html
Driven and raced at spa many times brilliant circuit, short enough to learn but long enough to be a real challenge.
My tip would be don't take too much kerb at the top of eau rouge unsettles the car and results in a big off.
It will rain and be very slippy take it easy different parts of the circuit have differing grip levels due to different weather around the circuit.
Start slowly explore the circuit don't push too hard to soon build speed slowly! They used to charge for armco like the ring too.
The run down the hill from les coombe is very exciting! Enjoy it
My tip would be don't take too much kerb at the top of eau rouge unsettles the car and results in a big off.
It will rain and be very slippy take it easy different parts of the circuit have differing grip levels due to different weather around the circuit.
Start slowly explore the circuit don't push too hard to soon build speed slowly! They used to charge for armco like the ring too.
The run down the hill from les coombe is very exciting! Enjoy it
boxsey said:
Make sure you have more than one credit card with you because if you try to top up a second time with the same card it gets rejected.
Didn't have that problem early this month (same card more than once). The problem was I did two and a half tanks! 4mile circuit and 7mpg equals half a tank per session!!Great circuit - every corner feels special.
Many thanks folks - some great info there.
This time next week - woohoo!!
Have also booked a 30 minute drive in a clio cup race car - its a renaultsport TD - so that should be "interesting". Comes with an instructor, so hoping my slot is early and he can gve me some good advice.
Take it easy in my car, go a bit faster in theirs is the plan!!
This time next week - woohoo!!
Have also booked a 30 minute drive in a clio cup race car - its a renaultsport TD - so that should be "interesting". Comes with an instructor, so hoping my slot is early and he can gve me some good advice.
Take it easy in my car, go a bit faster in theirs is the plan!!
clarki said:
Many thanks folks - some great info there.
This time next week - woohoo!!
Have also booked a 30 minute drive in a clio cup race car - its a renaultsport TD - so that should be "interesting". Comes with an instructor, so hoping my slot is early and he can gve me some good advice.
Take it easy in my car, go a bit faster in theirs is the plan!!
I had my first race in a Clio Cup last weekend at the Nurburgring. An easy car to drive and the sequential gearbox is amazingThis time next week - woohoo!!
Have also booked a 30 minute drive in a clio cup race car - its a renaultsport TD - so that should be "interesting". Comes with an instructor, so hoping my slot is early and he can gve me some good advice.
Take it easy in my car, go a bit faster in theirs is the plan!!
It would be great to drive at Spa
Enjoy mate. Check out the many videos on YouTube from Spa, will help you to learn the lines
I think fuel is a standard price all over Belgium. Everywhere seemed to be €1.78.90, including at the circuit.
Food and drink is rubbish. There's one overpriced cafe right at the top of the pit complex. Having said that, the €15 buffet is tasty. Why are there hardly ever any vending machines at circuits?
Food and drink is rubbish. There's one overpriced cafe right at the top of the pit complex. Having said that, the €15 buffet is tasty. Why are there hardly ever any vending machines at circuits?
Edited by nsa on Monday 23 April 09:23
clarki said:
Well despite all this rain and me thinking an outboard and a keel would be the best thing to get round safely, the forecast for spa on friday is almost perfect - fingers crossed.
Set off tomorrow morning - getting quite excited, a kinda nervous excitement, now.
Unless you've recently won the lotto ie feeling very lucky the weather forecast is meaningless, it has its own weather which can be monsoon at the bus stop and bright sun at les coombe, enjoy your trip spa is a special circuitSet off tomorrow morning - getting quite excited, a kinda nervous excitement, now.
Wow, what a trip!! Home in the early hours and total shattered, but totally worth it.
Fortunately the forecast was spot on and we had a completely dry day - phew, it was scary enough in the dry.
Car didnt miss a beat and flattered me a little tbh - even if it was a bit short of bhp along the straight bits!!
Favourite corner was deffo Pouhon - think I had a different braking point, line, gear, etc every time!!
Anyway, thoroughly recommend it to anyone, no matter your experience level or car type its fantastic. Roll on next year.
Fortunately the forecast was spot on and we had a completely dry day - phew, it was scary enough in the dry.
Car didnt miss a beat and flattered me a little tbh - even if it was a bit short of bhp along the straight bits!!
Favourite corner was deffo Pouhon - think I had a different braking point, line, gear, etc every time!!
Anyway, thoroughly recommend it to anyone, no matter your experience level or car type its fantastic. Roll on next year.
clarki said:
Wow, what a trip!! Home in the early hours and total shattered, but totally worth it.
Fortunately the forecast was spot on and we had a completely dry day - phew, it was scary enough in the dry.
Car didnt miss a beat and flattered me a little tbh - even if it was a bit short of bhp along the straight bits!!
Favourite corner was deffo Pouhon - think I had a different braking point, line, gear, etc every time!!
Anyway, thoroughly recommend it to anyone, no matter your experience level or car type its fantastic. Roll on next year.
Knew you would love it and glad it stayed dry!Fortunately the forecast was spot on and we had a completely dry day - phew, it was scary enough in the dry.
Car didnt miss a beat and flattered me a little tbh - even if it was a bit short of bhp along the straight bits!!
Favourite corner was deffo Pouhon - think I had a different braking point, line, gear, etc every time!!
Anyway, thoroughly recommend it to anyone, no matter your experience level or car type its fantastic. Roll on next year.
You don't have to wait till next year if you can make it there are two fantastic double days in October with Circuit Days & Gold track!!
You know you want to
clarki said:
Wow, what a trip!! Home in the early hours and total shattered, but totally worth it.
Fortunately the forecast was spot on and we had a completely dry day - phew, it was scary enough in the dry.
Car didnt miss a beat and flattered me a little tbh - even if it was a bit short of bhp along the straight bits!!
Favourite corner was deffo Pouhon - think I had a different braking point, line, gear, etc every time!!
Anyway, thoroughly recommend it to anyone, no matter your experience level or car type its fantastic. Roll on next year.
Glad you enjoyed it. I arrived at Spa last friday midday and was on track Saturday and Sunday at the Spa Italia weekend.Fortunately the forecast was spot on and we had a completely dry day - phew, it was scary enough in the dry.
Car didnt miss a beat and flattered me a little tbh - even if it was a bit short of bhp along the straight bits!!
Favourite corner was deffo Pouhon - think I had a different braking point, line, gear, etc every time!!
Anyway, thoroughly recommend it to anyone, no matter your experience level or car type its fantastic. Roll on next year.
Its my forth year there now and it just gets better every time. The weather held up for us also.
I was with The Fiat coupe club uk and the french coupe club and we had about 45 coupes on track at the same time. Epic it was. We lost one uk coupe that was wrecked but the driver and passenger walked away unscathed.
Your right about more horses though,my coupe is only running about 240 hp another 100 or more is needed for sure.
Roll on next year at Spa.
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