FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[EwanM]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080901094855.shtml



Spa Francorchamps, the much loved but longest layout on the F1 calendar, may have to be shortened for future editions of the historic Belgian Grand Prix.

It is being reported in Belgium, including by f1-club.be, that a portion of the 7km circuit is proposed to be cut out.

The famous Eau Rouge section is safe, but the proposal for the new shortened circuit in the Ardennes is to connect the current Pouhon left-hand sweepers with Blanchimont.

Left out of the new layout, therefore, is the high speed Fagnes chicane and Stavelot, and the existing Pouhon and Blanchimont are likely to be altered.

The report said the modifications could take place prior to next year's Belgian Grand Prix, or in time for the 2010 race.



Championship leader Lewis Hamilton said last week that the disappearance of many of the more challenging 'driver tracks' is a shame.

"You really feel the history of those places whenever you race there; they have real character," the McLaren driver said.

"Each time they are refurbished, they lose a little more of their individuality - but they are made safer, so we can continue to race on them - so that's a good compromise."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

REPOSTE - see page 1 of this thread!

lol, that's what happens when you stay away for so long.
Oh well...

[racechick]

I just wanted the yellow cars to win, because they were yellow. I didn't know that Hill was a world champion, that Mika was so great that year, that Schumacher was (arguably) the best guy around, or even that this was the pinnacle of motorsport. I just saw the yellow cars, with the cool nose design, and was hooked. And then they all smashed up. For a nine year-old boy, that's quite exciting.

Yellow is a great colour!! if I ever get a Ferrari or Lotus it will be yellow! Jordan were great (yellow....the stinger...Eddie....Damon!!!! And Damon beating Shumacher of course )That was a great race!! You were only NINE!!! That is amazing!!

[Denthúl]

I just wanted the yellow cars to win, because they were yellow. I didn't know that Hill was a world champion, that Mika was so great that year, that Schumacher was (arguably) the best guy around, or even that this was the pinnacle of motorsport. I just saw the yellow cars, with the cool nose design, and was hooked. And then they all smashed up. For a nine year-old boy, that's quite exciting.

Yellow is a great colour!! if I ever get a Ferrari or Lotus it will be yellow! Jordan were great (yellow....the stinger...Eddie....Damon!!!! And Damon beating Shumacher of course )That was a great race!! You were only NINE!!! That is amazing!!

Yep. Nine years old. It's amazing when I think about it, actually. That was ages ago!

But yeah. Ever since then, Belgium has been my favourite race of the year. And I think it always will be. I really started to get in to the sport the next year, paying attention to everything, building those Airfix-type model kits etc. Race wasn't as exciting as the one before, but I don't think I have seen many that live up to that, to be honest.

[darwin dali]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080901094855.shtml



Spa Francorchamps, the much loved but longest layout on the F1 calendar, may have to be shortened for future editions of the historic Belgian Grand Prix.

It is being reported in Belgium, including by f1-club.be, that a portion of the 7km circuit is proposed to be cut out.

The famous Eau Rouge section is safe, but the proposal for the new shortened circuit in the Ardennes is to connect the current Pouhon left-hand sweepers with Blanchimont.

Left out of the new layout, therefore, is the high speed Fagnes chicane and Stavelot, and the existing Pouhon and Blanchimont are likely to be altered.

The report said the modifications could take place prior to next year's Belgian Grand Prix, or in time for the 2010 race.



Championship leader Lewis Hamilton said last week that the disappearance of many of the more challenging 'driver tracks' is a shame.

"You really feel the history of those places whenever you race there; they have real character," the McLaren driver said.

"Each time they are refurbished, they lose a little more of their individuality - but they are made safer, so we can continue to race on them - so that's a good compromise."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

REPOSTE - see page 1 of this thread!

lol, that's what happens when you stay away for so long.
Oh well...

I know what you mean - I was gone for 2 weeks and it took me half a weekend to catch up...

[EwanM]

Yeah, the times are moving fast.
Queue I disappear solo.

[AKR]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080901094855.shtml



Spa Francorchamps, the much loved but longest layout on the F1 calendar, may have to be shortened for future editions of the historic Belgian Grand Prix.

It is being reported in Belgium, including by f1-club.be, that a portion of the 7km circuit is proposed to be cut out.

The famous Eau Rouge section is safe, but the proposal for the new shortened circuit in the Ardennes is to connect the current Pouhon left-hand sweepers with Blanchimont.

Left out of the new layout, therefore, is the high speed Fagnes chicane and Stavelot, and the existing Pouhon and Blanchimont are likely to be altered.

The report said the modifications could take place prior to next year's Belgian Grand Prix, or in time for the 2010 race.



Championship leader Lewis Hamilton said last week that the disappearance of many of the more challenging 'driver tracks' is a shame.

"You really feel the history of those places whenever you race there; they have real character," the McLaren driver said.

"Each time they are refurbished, they lose a little more of their individuality - but they are made safer, so we can continue to race on them - so that's a good compromise."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

Well that is just SICK SICK SICK SICK SICK!!!! Who authorised such a blasphemous action? Mad Max? Bernie? Hermann Tilke?

Shortening Spa anymore is like banning Keeley Hazell or Kylie Minogue from taking their clothes off ever.

Sick, need to be careful how you use that word as in some slang cultures it means that it is great. Of course from the rest of your sentence it was clear you meant that it was no good. I agree. They are ruining F1 tracks. If they don't get rid of the track like for example Imola, they will modify the track completely such as is the case with Hockenheim. I think it is time for Bernie to go. What will be next, an altered Monaco circuit?

[scotty]

I really hope Raikkonen wins, more than any other race this year. It's do or die for his F1 career!

Not sure he's bothered if its die, so he doesn't really deserve it. kubica wants it more. massa wants it more. Lewis wants it more. I hope its lewis but Kimi does not deserve to win.

Actually, i take it back about it being do or die for his career, i should've said season.

Just because Raikkonen has had 3 bad quali sessions (which have ruined his races generally speaking), a lot of people have written his F1 career off, which is totally ludicrous. No one was questioning him at Silverstone, or in Canada and France, and drivers don't suddenly lose all passion for F1 within a 3 race span. So in light of that, why does he not deserve to win? Because other drivers 'want it more'? Hmm... nah.

[racechick]

Ferrari's 1/2 in first practise. Lewis 3rd. Whats the weather going to do?? is anyone sandbagging?? Trying wierd things??

[EwanM]

Ferrari's 1/2 in first practise. Lewis 3rd. Whats the weather going to do?? is anyone sandbagging?? Trying wierd things??

Nope but the weather is gonna be a big decider this weekend, Webber had a big off in Practice 2 down at Les Combes I think...
Renault also look strong - but Toyota may be sandbagging...
Torro Rosso are stars again

[7UpJordan]

Williams look to be picking up again with their new front wing after picking up a heap of time in P2 with Nico setting his time whilst on a drying track. Hope his form continues into tomorrow.

[Denthúl]

It's interesting that Ferrari seem to have been quicker all day despite the cold (and, in the afternoon, rainy) conditions at Spa. The good news, for me at least, is that Kovalainen is matching Hamilton's pace, so maybe he'll be in with the chance of another podium finish today. It was also good to see how certain cars (most notably Sutil) moved up the field in the afternoon rain. If it's a rainy qualifying session and a rainy race, he could be in for points like he could have been in Monaco

[scotty]

Wet qualifying would be good, we haven't had one for a fair while have we?

[racechick]

Ferrari's 1/2 in first practise. Lewis 3rd. Whats the weather going to do?? is anyone sandbagging?? Trying wierd things??

Nope but the weather is gonna be a big decider this weekend, Webber had a big off in Practice 2 down at Les Combes I think...
Renault also look strong - but Toyota may be sandbagging...
Torro Rosso are stars again

Torro Rosso with the Ferrari engine. Ferrari have made their engines go very fast!

[7UpJordan]

Wet qualifying would be good, we haven't had one for a fair while have we?

Fuji last year was wet throughout, but there were no real shocks in the pack except Vettel and Button making the most of their wet weather skills to get into Q3.

If it rains tomorrow I would love to see Sutil get into Q3. He did well here last year when Spyker brought their B-spec car with improved aerodynamics and he got as high as 12th position at one point ahead of the likes of the Toyotas and almost passing Coulthard on a few occasions.

Wouldn't it be funny if he scraped through into Q3 at the expense of Kimi?

[scotty]

Wet qualifying would be good, we haven't had one for a fair while have we?

Fuji last year was wet throughout, but there were no real shocks in the pack except Vettel and Button making the most of their wet weather skills to get into Q3.

If it rains tomorrow I would love to see Sutil get into Q3. He did well here last year when Spyker brought their B-spec car with improved aerodynamics and he got as high as 12th position at one point ahead of the likes of the Toyotas and almost passing Coulthard on a few occasions.

Wouldn't it be funny if he scraped through into Q3 at the expense of Kimi?

Ah yeah, of course, i missed that qualifying session unfortunately. I am hoping for a repeat of something like the grid at Japan 2005!!!