Mapped out in the stunning Ardennes forest of Stavelot, Belgium, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is an old-school circuit that inspires respect and awe from drivers and spectators alike. Hosting the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, first held here in 1925, Spa has become synonymous with the very essence of motorsport. In its current configuration instituted in 1983, it has remained a staple of the F1 calendar since 1985.
But Spa is more than a Formula One circuit. It's a temple of endurance racing, home to such classic events as the Spa 24 Hours, inspired by Le Mans, and the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, a World Endurance Championship fixture. Its reputation as a driver's circuit is well deserved, thanks to its thrilling configuration and brutal challenges.
Spa's 4.35-mile circuit twists through the trees, its high-speed straights coupling with demanding corners to create an adrenalin rollercoaster. The fearsome Eau Rouge / Raidillon combination is a hair-raising climb that tests car ability and driver resolve to the absolute limit, but the long-since-razed Masta Kink, once described by Jackie Stewart as "the most difficult corner in the world," remains a shivery reminder of motorsport's high-risk past.
For others to experience the magic of Spa for themselves, the circuit offers a variety of driving experiences and track days. One of these, the Public Driving Experience, is a one-off opportunity to get onto the track in your own car. It's an amateur-only event and is less about battling round the circuit quickly and more about having fun with friends, no stopwatches, just pure enjoyment of one of the world's finest circuits.
Spa's combination of uncooked speed, technical sophistication, and heritage importance makes it a bucket-list track for any motorsport enthusiast. It's not a circuit; it's a shrine to motor racing, where heroes are born, records are broken, and fans fall in love with the sport all over again. Whatever your reason for being there - to watch, to drive, or simply to stand in awe - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps offers an experience unlike any other.