2008 Belgian GP - Race 13/18

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rpstewart

rpstewart

rpstewart

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Spa, is there anything better? The plunge down to Eau Rouge, the charge into the Ardennes forest to Les Combes and the new circuit, the challenge of Stabelot and Blanchemont. All too soon it's hard on the brakes for La Source and time to start all over again.

44 laps of perfection.

Friday practice : 0900 - 1030 & 1300 - 1430
Saturday practice : 1000 - 1100
Saturday Qualifying : 1300 - 1400, ITV 1215 - 1435
Sunday Race : 1300 - 1500, ITV from 1200. Highlights, 2215 (ITV) & Monday 1800 (ITV4)



Drivers
Code: 
Pos Driver           Nationality   Team              Points 
1  Lewis Hamilton       British    McLaren-Mercedes   70
2  Felipe Massa		Brazilian  Ferrari	      64
3  Kimi Raikkonen       Finnish    Ferrari            57
4  Robert Kubica	Polish     BMW                55      
5  Heikki Kovelainen    Finnish    McLaren-Mercedes   43
6  Nick Heidfeld        German     BMW                41
7  Jarno Trulli         Italian    Toyota             26
8  Fernando Alonso      Spanish    Renault            18
9  Mark Webber          Australian RBR-Renault        18
10 Timo Glock           German     Toyota             15	
11 Nelsinho Piquet	Brazilian  Renault	      13
12 Rubens Barrichello   Brazilian  Honda              11
13 Nico Rosberg         German     Williams-Toyota    9
14 Sebastian Vettel	German	   STR-Ferrari	      9
15 Kazuki Nakajima   	Japanese   Williams-Toyota    8
16 David Coulthard	British	   RBR-Renault        6
17 Jenson Button	British	   Honda              3
18 Sebastien Bourdais   Italian    STR-Ferrari        2

Constructors
Code: 
Pos Team              Points    
1  Ferrari            121        
2  McLaren-Mercedes   113       
3  BMW                96       
4  Toyota             41
6  Renault            31
5  RBR-Renault        24        
7  Williams-Toyota    17        
8  Honda	      14
9  STR-Ferrari        11

Calendar
Code: 
01 2008 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) 		14 - 16 Mar 
02 2008 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) 		21 - 23 Mar 
03 2008 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Bahrain) 		04 - 06 Apr 
04 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA TELEFONICA 2008 (Catalunya) 		25 - 27 Apr 
05 2008 FORMULA 1 PETROL OFISI TURKISH GRAND PRIX (Istanbul) 		09 - 11 May 
06 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2008 (Monte Carlo) 			22 - 25 May 
07 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2008 (Montreal) 			06 - 08 Jun 
08 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE 2008 (Magny-Cours) 			20 - 22 Jun 
09 2008 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) 		04 - 06 Jul 
10 FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2008 (Hockenheim) 	18 - 20 Jul 
11 FORMULA 1 ING MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2008 (Budapest) 			01 - 03 Aug 
12 2008 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia) 			22 - 24 Aug 
13 2008 FORMULA 1 ING BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) 		05 - 07 Sep 
14 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2008 (Monza) 		12 - 14 Sep 
15 2008 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) 		26 - 28 Sep 
16 2008 FORMULA 1 FUJI TELEVISION JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Fuji Speedway) 	10 - 12 Oct 
17 2008 FORMULA 1 SINOPEC CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) 		17 - 19 Oct 
18 FORMULA 1 GRANDE PREMIO DO BRASIL 2008 (Sao Paulo) 			31 Oct - 02 Nov





If you're interested in seeing what the tracks look like I've updated my Google Earth links and flyovers. Unfortunately it's still not perfect, although Fuji is now high res thanks to the April update but the imagery for Valencia is a fair age so the purpose built bridge isn't visible. To play the flyovers select the flyover folder and press the play button at the bottom of the Places pane.

Some links for Spa-Francorchamps

Official GP Site
Wikipedia
Circuit details on the official F1 page
 
Nearly went into spasms when I read this:
http://www.f1technical.net/news/10313

Reports from Belgium suggest that the historic circuit of Spa-Francorchamps will undergo some drastic changes. The track is the longest on the Formula One calendar, but this might change for future editions of the Belgian Grand Prix.

At the moment, the circuit is 7.004 km and the drivers only do 44 laps. To make the circuit more attractive for Formula One fans, it would be shortened drastically. The plans are to connect the current Pouhon left-hand sweepers with Blanchimont. This would mean that the circuit will run through the forest where at the moment the paddock is situated for the lower racing classes. This would also mean that the Fagnes chicane and Stavelot will be left out of the new circuit.

The new track lay-out should be ready in 2010 at the latest.
Click to expand...

Though there is one report of denial:
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080901153613.shtml

An official for the Spa Francorchamps circuit on Monday played down reports that the much loved Formula One layout may be shortened from its current 7km.

Local reports in Belgium say historic Spa, the longest layout on the current F1 calendar, had - with Bernie Ecclestone's approval - proposed to connect the Pouhon corners with Blanchimont, thereby cutting out famous sections including the Fagnes chicane and Stavelot.

But circuit spokesman Luc Willems told the Dutch language f1today.nl: "Spa has always been an unique circuit and that is not going to change.
"

He said there is a difference between proposals and reality.

"Our circuit is as it is and is not going to change," Willems insisted.
Click to expand...
 
Looking forward to this track, should be a lot better than the Valencia circuit. Maybe even better than the Ferraris pits! :p
 
Neo4 said:
This has got to be more interesting than Valencia!
Click to expand...

Only if it rains, otherwise it's a pretty dull race now with the grip levels. Spa sadly offers little over taking unless it's wet. Hopefully they can get the grip levels back down so corners like the once great Eau Rouge are no longer easy flat.

Fingers crossed for rain and lots of it!
 
Neo4 said:
This has got to be more interesting than Valencia!
Click to expand...

But modern F1 isn't interesting....:)

In all seriousness - I'm expecting Lewis to romp away with this one. I know Kimi won last year, but if Hamilton has any hope of getting the title this year he needs to win here. He can't just sit back if a Ferrari gets ahead of him and content himself with a couple less points. Massa (by Hamilton's own admission) was much, much quicker than him last time out. If the same thing happens again here (Massa winning, Hamilton second) then the gap is cut to four points with five races left - and look at those races:

1) Italy. Ferrari home territory.
2) Singapore. Brand new track, could be a lottery but Ferrari have won at the other new track this year.
3) Japan. Lewis won this one last year, so ought to do well this year.
4) China. Four races held here, three won by Ferrari.
5) Brazil. Won by Ferrari on the last two occasions.

So, one race where he has serious form. He did alright at Monza last year, but didn't win. He had a disaster in China and Brazil was pretty poor for him as well. He may well need those extra points for winning at Spa, rather than going into "cruise-and-collect" mode.
 
I don't think it's much to do with Bernie TBH. Spa have been losing money for a few years and shortening the track will probably make the place cheaper to run logistically in the future.

That said, if they do make the change noted - joining Pouhon to Blanchimont - I hope they do keep the rest of the track intact. It makes for great racing in every other series that goes there.
 
Hopefully there will be rain, regardless who wins it makes an interesting race, and sometimes someone unexpected will win which is nice.
 
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