The Spa circuit launches major works

In 2022 the general appearance of the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit will have evolved significantly. If the route will remain the same, the contours of the track and the infrastructure will undergo significant changes.

The owners of the circuit announced on Friday the start of major works, planned since mid-May 2019. They aim in particular to meet the regulations of the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) to host the world championship ofEndurance in 2022, as part of the “motorcycle project”. After the establishment of a track of rallycross, the circuit wants to continue to diversify its activities.

It wants to kill two birds with one stone by modernizing its infrastructure, some of which are outdated. The investment will amount to 80 million euros.

Concretely, what will this change? To host the motorcycle endurance championship, Spa needs FIM grade C approval. The Circuit was committed not to modify the layout of the track, and it stuck to it. The work will therefore mainly relate to the widening of clearances and the installation of gravel traps in five bends: La Source, le Raidillon, Blanchimont, Les Combes and finally Stavelot.

To make the most of these changes, the option was taken to combine the work carried out on the track with much-needed infrastructure work to accommodate spectators.

In particular, a grandstand will emerge from the ground at Raidillon. It will include nearly 4600 seats with a panoramic view from all points of the stand over the Source, the Endurance zone and the Raidillon. Five lodges will be located there.

Another grandstand became obsolete, that of the 24 Hours, and the widening of the track clearance prompted a more global reflection aimed at rethinking its surroundings at the exit of the Source bend, in the Endurance descent where a 4144-seat grandstand seats will be erected. The stands will have 3000 seats. Finally, two stacked boxes will overlook the stands.

This will therefore represent more than 13000 new seats in addition to the 4000 existing in the stand. F1 and the 9000 Rallycross stands.