Spa 2010 Travel and Camping

[Shimmy]

Hi there, I've just booked my first pair of F1 tickets to go to Spa this summer, the Bronze general admission specifically.

At the moment we are looking to drive and take a ferry across.

I've found a couple of nearby campsites that have seem to be popular, so far the forerunner is http://en.eaurouge.nl/

Are there any recommendations or tips on the above and in general for the F1 weekend at Spa? What time we should be getting to the track, which places are best to view from etc?

Any bits of advice would be appreciated and needed asap, as we're looking to book the camping and ferry very soon!

Cheers

 

[[TW]Taggart]

Last year I did camping F1 and it was great. It is pricey, but its 1 price for the whole weekend and that includes food and transport too and from the circuit. They had a bar with Hoegarden and juliper (larger) on tap. They also had bands on during the evenings.

As your driving I would still get parking at the track and go when you want to as the coach gets packed quickly and doesnt get to the track early enough to get a good spot. I was lucky to have Skeeter Nabbing me and my GF a spot at poohon(sp) at 5 am(yes it does get rammed quickly)

http://www.campingf1.com/

A few pics of the site
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/3874491429_da83158ef4_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3875222950_cca43fb323_b.jpg
and make sure you walk the track its got some stunning views.... do this after the race

 

[Skeeter]

Ive been to Spa twice, one last year, once the year before.

The first year we went in a Camper Van and paid to camp at the track. We were in the Green Campsite (I think) which is at the top of the circuit, behind the Le Combes chicane. About 30 second to walk from our Camper Van into the circuit. The campsite wasnt too expensive, but I wouldnt want to be there in a tent. Full of noisy Germans and Finish playing Thrash Metal all night. Atleast in the Camper Van it was a bit quieter.

Last year we went and we stayed in the Fomule 1 hotel at Leige. Its about 30 miles away but all motorway so a simple 30 min drive. The hotel is basic (a room with some beds and a TV, and a shower at the end of the hall), but it was quiet, warm, dry, and had proper beds. We drove down and paid for Red Zone parking (very far end of the circuit) and parked there. We got there just before gates opened on Sunday and were sat on the bank waiting for Taggart by 6am

So thats 3 options me and Taggart have covered, Camping at site, Camping F1 and staying in a Formule 1 hotel.

If I was to do it again, I would do the Formule 1 hotel, as long as someone else drove so I could have some beers at the track.

As for the track, its EPIC. It really is the best track Ive ever been to. My advice, go Friday and walk all the way around it, twice . With general admission you cannot get to the bits of track down the pit straight or the support pit straight. You have to go though a tunnel under the Bus Stop chicane, behind the padock, and then back under a tunnel under Eau Rouge. Other than that you can go all the way around. There is also a tarmaces footpath through the forest to save you time.

Places to watch, ive been at Pouhon for the last 2 years, but up the top of the hill at Le Combes is good, and also looking back down from there towards Pouhon. If you can get there early enough there is also some good spots on some rocks that overlook the Bus Stop. But as I say, spend Friday walking around to get your bearings and see the track, then make sure you pick a spot and setup your chairs Sat and Sun as it can get busy. We were on the bank by 7am on Sat and 6am on Sunday.

You will enjoy it! Oh, and as Tagg says, stick around after the race and walk parts of the track. If your feeling ambitious, walk the whole thing .