Oh man, where to start with Spa-Francorchamps? It’s one of those legendary tracks. No kidding, they’ve been racing there for over a century. Picture a newspaper guy in 1921 deciding, “Hey, let’s turn these roads into a racing circuit.” Why? Who knows! But here we are, loving it.
Sébastien Buemi from the Toyota Gazoo team, he’s a big fan. That guy’s got five wins at the 6 Hours of Spa — and it’s happening Saturday, FYI. That race kicked off in 1953 and has been popping up ever since, along with the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix and other races. That track, by the way, has changed its length a bunch, finally sticking with a bit over four miles since ‘82. Yep, the 80s.
Then there was this tragic thing in ’85 — Stefan Bellof lost his life at Eau Rouge. They stopped racing there for a bit after ’90. But, like all good things, it came back in ’99, and now it’s part of the FIA World Endurance Championship since 2012. Will Stevens from the Cadillac Hertz team won in 2024 and has been zooming around Spa in all sorts of cars. He says it’s got a vibe you can’t shake.
The W.E.C. is like a sprint in disguise. I mean, even though it’s called endurance, it’s mad fast. Three drivers, two hours each — no time to chill. Stevens says qualifying is key and keeping the car intact for the last hour is crucial. Seems straightforward, but I bet it’s wild.
Now, Spa is nestled in the Ardennes, where the weather has its own mind. Like, one minute it’s sunny, then bam — rain, or even snow, like in 2019! Can you believe snow in May? Buemi recently mentioned how the place turns magical with good weather. Everything turns this vibrant green, just stunning. But always expect a curveball with the weather.
Managing this monster track is all about strategy. It’s long and the weather can be different on each side — makes decision-making a headache, but also, strangely, part of the charm.
And, not to forget, Spa is basically the dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Stevens and the rest are eyeing that big prize, using Spa as a warm-up for Le Mans. But of course, who doesn’t want to win both?
Ah, the chaos and magic of Spa-Francorchamps — unpredictable, iconic, and absolutely thrilling.
