You cannot fail to enjoy Spa. For anyone with a heart for motor-racing, the mere words Spa, Francorchamps and Malmedy stir the very soul. Images of La Source, Eau Rouge and Stavelot in grainy black and white were ingrained upon my consciousness from an early age. Aerial shots from the film Grand Prix remain unforgettable. When I first came here, in September 1986 for the 1,000kms – a round of the World Sports-Prototype Championship – it was something of an ambition realised; especially so as I was taken around the old ‘full’ Grand Prix track in a road-going BMW being driven by Howden Ganley. Howden had driven a Mirage M6 to second place in 1973 around the full circuit, in a 1,000km race that lasted a little over four hours – that’s an average speed of over 240km/h! So when he described the experience as being a little bit hairy, he knew whereof he was speaking.
But there is something very special about the Ardennes. People spend their holidays here – when there is no noisy motor-racing going on, they come here to experience the amazing views, the smell of the air fresh with pine, to go for splendid walks, energetic hikes or more leisurely nature trails. You only have to spend a few hours here and you can understand why. I was here in 1993 for the Belgian Grand Prix, commentating on the F3000 and BRDC sportscar support races on the local PA system, and experienced the influx of German fans coming across the border to support Michael Schumacher in his Benetton. Someone rather politically incorrectly observed that “there hadn’t been so many Germans in the Ardennes since 1945”…
More recently, I’ve seen rounds of the World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, and enjoyed the sights of 21st century prototypes coming through Eau Rouge with ne’er so much as a lift, such is the downforce of the current generation.
And yet I’ve never been here for the 24 hours: so this evening, I took a walk out to watch the GT3 Audis, Bentleys, BMWs, McLarens, Mercedes and Porsches doing their stuff around the echoing hills that make this such a special ribbon of tarmac. Sparks flying as cars bottom out going through Eau Rouge, disco lights shining around the backs of the grandstands, headlamps flashing as drivers attempt to alert those ahead that they’re on a quick lap (or would like to be). Night practice is always special, and the atmosphere in the spectator enclosures convivial as the sober rub shoulders with those who are less so.
Then there is the barrage on the other senses – smells of hot turbos, sugary waffles and oily chips; the noise of 60-odd cars charging round: everywhere you look into the distance headlamps can be seen threading their way through the night. Definitely should have come here before.
Looking forward to prospects for the race, opinions differ. Some say BMW will win: after all Team Marc VDS can claim this as a home race, and were leading comfortably last year, and come with more factory support this. Others suggest that Audi – also with lots of backing from the factory and another team that will claim to be locally based – what a dream result could be in store for Fässler, Lotterer and Tréluyer, sharing the no. 2 R8 LMS.
Then of course there’s Bernd Schneider and HTP Motorsport with their Mercedes, last year’s winners, fastest in the first free practice session. Bentley’s efforts have been low-key, but the point of today’s sessions are all about set up… the top 20 qualifying is not till tomorrow. And as Andrew Kirkaldy told me: “you shouldn’t write off the McLarens, we’ve certainly got the pace and ART Grand Prix are very efficient, they’re very careful, there’s no reason they won’t finish.”
What is clear is that it is pretty open. And with Blancpain Championship points on offer after six and twelve hours, there will be those playing strategy games and attempting to maximise their scoring opportunities. Me? I can’t wait! I’ll stay up all night and I’m quite sure I’ll be on the edge of my metaphorical seat.
Oh yes, and I was delighted to see that my favourite tree in all of Belgium has been commemorated. That’s another story though, which I’m not quite ready to tell yet…
Paul Truswell
