Spa F1 GP 2011

The_Abyss

The_Abyss

The_Abyss

Soldato
Joined
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I realise I'm getting quite a long way ahead of myself here, but I'm assuming that Spa will host another F1 race next year. The reason? It is the g/f's 30th birthday and I'd like to take her to an F1 race which is reasonably accessible and which doesn't involve drudging halfway around the world, nor sitting in 45 deg C heat.

What I'm looking for are recommendations on places to stay (high end, but not stupid - camping suggestions can stay well away :) ) and having never been to Spa, an idea of where the best tickets are.

Thanks,
 
Tickets - General Admission, unless you have the money for an Eau Rouge grandstand.

90% of Spa has no Grandstands and is just steep banks. Its great to spend Friday and Saturday walking around the track checking out all the viewpoints and the simple sheer awesomeness of the place. Then pick a spot for Sunday. Make sure you stick around after the race is over, they open the track up so you can walk round it. Go walk up Eau Rouge, its bloody steep!

Ive been twice. Once in a motorhome camped at the track (noisey, dirty, but fun) and once staying at a Formule 1 hotel about 30km away (far from luxury, but cheap, warm, with showers and a proper bed). Mate of mine did Camping F1 last year which is on a site a few miles form the track in pre erected tents. Apparently very good in all but the food. But there should be pleanty of decent hotels around where you can stay and then drive to the track.

Its a fantastic place Spa, a mecca for any motorsports fan.
 
Thanks Skeeter. Spa does sound great, albeit a little rough and ready. Montreal is my fallback, as we can have more of a holiday over there at the same time. I'll have to wait to until the schedule is released for 2011 I guess.
 
I went to Spa for the 2008 race, neither me or my girlfriend wanted to camp, so we ended up staying in a hotel about an hour away in Hasselt (as we booked quite late) but I'm sure you can find a place a lot closer.

Parking wasn't too bad, we found the circuit parking better on the far side of the circut best (the top end, other side of the track to pits).

You do a lot of walking around, it's such a big place compared to places like Silverstone.
 
Small chance I may go to Spa this year. As you said Skeeter, there are few grandstands and they are really expensive! So I'm guessing its best to just watch from the banks? How crowded is it?

I would want to stay at a hotel as well, as I hate camping (especially after just doing it at Silverstone :p).


Looking at the site (http://www.spagrandprix.com) I can't see a non-grandstand seat price? i.e. just roaming on foot. How much are hotels near by?
 
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Thanks Frakker. I'm just looking up various ways of getting there. Flights direct from Bristol to Brussels are really expensive as the cheap companies don't cover that route. The other way is via Eurostar / trains which look okish. Or part train then rent a car or the package ones like you suggested.

Will take a look.
 
I've been to Spa twice (08 and 09). First year we drove in a Motorhome and camped at the track. Didnt get much sleep as the Germans played thrash metal untill they got bored and decided to go into the track for that mornings racing! lol.

Second year we drove again, but in cars, and stayed in a Formule 1 hotel near Leige. Was cheap as chips, and even though its simple it did mean a warm bed and hot shower. Booked circuit parking and were at the bottom end of the track, but close enough.

Like Frakker, we sat on Pouhon both years. Got there early (before 7) and setup the fold up chairs, then went off in groups for a wander. Takes a while though, Spa is a big place.

Taggart did Camping F1 which I think was ok.

Ticket wise, General Admission is what your after, but they call it Bronze. They were 169 Euros last time we went.
 
Also looking at going to Spa next year.

What is the best way to travel there? Car/Ferry, Eurostar (which station?), Fly?

TIA
 
Really depends where your travelling from north or south, if your early a cheap return flight is the way, most times I drive over with the family but that time of year the channel is not for the weak land loving types lol
 
when i went to the race this year we drove from devon to stay at my dads in southend, then southend to spa in a day using norfolkline dover to dunquirke crossing, on the way back i drove all the way from spa back to my house in devon in the day, via southend then bristol dropping people off along the way. Would do the same again, we had time to stop off in bruge aswell for a spot of sightseeing which broke the journey nicely.
 
have you thought about Turkey? Tickets are reasonably cheap compared to most other Euro races and easyjet fly not too far from the circuit. I know it's no Spa though! www.f1fanatic.co.uk has a forum for people planning to go to each race and has plenty of info from others that have been.
 
Hey guys can anyone give me a break down of costs, where you stayed and the like.
Also when are tickets like to be on sale and when are they likely to be sold out by?
 
Tickets are on sale now at 20% off I think. You are looking at 170 Euros for a weekend ticket, so the same as tickets for the British GP.

Then its just how you wanna do it.

Driving there is 500 miles Calais-Spa-Calais plus however much you need to get to Dover.
Ferrys can be had from £30 each way per car, as can trains. More likely to be £60 each way though.
I did Camping F1 which was £280 for a massive tent for 4 nights
Or you can do Formule1 hotels at 30 Euros a night
Then spending and food money

You can also stick other things on either end to make more of a trip. We spent the Monday after the GP in Brussels this year. Broke the journey home up nicely and was a good night out.

Oh, one more thing, Spa never sells out, it has a pretty much infinite capacity being massive and mainly grass banks.
 
Can't afford it yet and my mates wife needs convincing, to turn him loose for the weekend.
Would need to borrow and rent a car as well.
That's a lot for a tent, or was it like a set up tent you rented?

What's the best ticket? Stand or just general admission.

Fuel about £200? Google maps says 440miles each way.
 
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Fully set up tent with a massive marquee for food and bar in the evenings. We even had Jake in on the Saturday night. We had 2 people per tent so only £140 each which is only £35 a night. www.campingf1.com

Depends what time you want to get up and where you want to see. The start straight, La Source, all the way down through Eau Rouge are all grandstand only, but the rest of the track is general admission. There are plenty of spaces to sit. However, if you want a good spot you will have to get there early. I have been in the queue at 6am and sat on the banks by 7 before. The benefit of a grandstand is a reserved seat and you can stroll up when you feel like it.

We went as a group of 4 and paid for it in bits over about 10 months. Tickets first, then train, then tents, etc etc.

It is possible without a car using Eurostar and other trains/busses, but personally I would borrow/hire one as it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere and your not dependant on other people.
 
Sweet tent sounds awesome and general admission sounds fine to me. Take some chairs and spend all day there.

Can work out cost so we can start bullying his wife.
 
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