Spa 24-hour vs Le Mans
Discussion
We're busy planning this years motoring trip. As usual, we've left it a bit late for Le Mans and I feel the atmosphere has been going downhill for the last few years. Plus I can't be bothered with the effort of obtaining a camping ticket, especially now that MB is allocated pitches and I always preferred GT1/2/3 over Prototypes anyway. Hence the idea of attending the Spa 24-hour race or even the Nurburgring 24-hour was suggested.
Has anyone been to the Spa 24? Spectator reviews on the web are mixed. What is the atmosphere like compared to Le Mans. Camping or hotel?
Watching the Nurburgring 24-hour sounds impossible due to the length of the track. Any contrary opinions?
Cheers,
Ian A.
Has anyone been to the Spa 24? Spectator reviews on the web are mixed. What is the atmosphere like compared to Le Mans. Camping or hotel?
Watching the Nurburgring 24-hour sounds impossible due to the length of the track. Any contrary opinions?
Cheers,
Ian A.
I've been to several GT races at Spa and can't imagine why anyone would complain about spectating there (other than lack of covered stands in conjunction with the notoriously changable weather), it's among the best I've been to. You're never going to see the whole track at once from one spot, it's too big, but there are great views from the Bus Stop round to top of Eau Rouge, and the top at Rivage is also splendid. It's nice to walk the circuit, you might even manage a few laps over 24 hours.
The 24 hour race itself when I went was shared with (what is now) WTCC, which dominated the crowd. So Saturday was pretty busy in the morning for WTCC and the start of the 24, then lost interest as it got dark and didn't come back. The atmosphere is fine, but not amazing like Le Mans. However the beer is good, the chips are excellent and the post-tunnel drive is easy (but not in any way inspiring). I slept in the car (which I somehow sneaked into VIP parking), on a two-day trip and did some circuit side impressions of dead people (think 4am Sunday around Arnage corner). There is camping around the outside of the circuit (and marshalls bring their caravans to the top of Rivage), but they seem to not mind you bringing in small shelters and BBQs, so unless you wanted Le Mans like camping luxuries, you can probably sneak it circuit side.
The race is pretty good with lots of close finishes, but the lack of English commentary does make it tricky to follow (unless you comprehend Flemish). I'm sure the Radio Le Mans crew could do it (if you're listening), but probably wouldn't get the kind of sponsorship they'd need to run it. The number of classes doesn't help (there's lots of guest classes) but the general GT1 / GT2 is followable. Generally the paddock is quite ammendable and officiousness of security wasn't much in evidence. So a good race, ok atmosphere with access but little information. Fun, but not a substitute for Le Mans, I'd definitely choose 'Ring 24 though.
The 24 hour race itself when I went was shared with (what is now) WTCC, which dominated the crowd. So Saturday was pretty busy in the morning for WTCC and the start of the 24, then lost interest as it got dark and didn't come back. The atmosphere is fine, but not amazing like Le Mans. However the beer is good, the chips are excellent and the post-tunnel drive is easy (but not in any way inspiring). I slept in the car (which I somehow sneaked into VIP parking), on a two-day trip and did some circuit side impressions of dead people (think 4am Sunday around Arnage corner). There is camping around the outside of the circuit (and marshalls bring their caravans to the top of Rivage), but they seem to not mind you bringing in small shelters and BBQs, so unless you wanted Le Mans like camping luxuries, you can probably sneak it circuit side.
The race is pretty good with lots of close finishes, but the lack of English commentary does make it tricky to follow (unless you comprehend Flemish). I'm sure the Radio Le Mans crew could do it (if you're listening), but probably wouldn't get the kind of sponsorship they'd need to run it. The number of classes doesn't help (there's lots of guest classes) but the general GT1 / GT2 is followable. Generally the paddock is quite ammendable and officiousness of security wasn't much in evidence. So a good race, ok atmosphere with access but little information. Fun, but not a substitute for Le Mans, I'd definitely choose 'Ring 24 though.
- atmosphere is nothing like Le Mans which I still prefer having done the last 10 years. Spectator viewing is much easier at Spa and you can get around all of the circuit compared with Le Mans. Sean Edwards said:
Spa is a much better track, but obviously Le Mans is the big one and the crowd atmosphere is something else. Nurburgring 24 is on another level with the crowd, they are all mad and turn out in massive parties all round the track!
Good luck this weekend Sean.I will be at Spa this weekend to watch the Corvettes and see if they can get another Spa 24 Hours win!
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