100 years of Spa-Francorchamps: 5 anecdotes from the Ardennes slide

There are circuits which mark the drivers, fascinate the spectators… Spa Francorchamps is one of those. The Ardennes slide has left its mark on the world of motorsport since its creation 100 years ago. A century of memorable moments, of fierce struggles but also of sometimes tragic accidents. AUTOhebdo invites you to rediscover 5 sometimes forgotten anecdotes from the most beautiful circuit in the world.

1921: The creation of a myth

The idea of ​​creating a car circuit in Spa came from Jules de Thiers, director of the Journal “La Meuse” but also from Henri Langlois van Ophen, president of the sports commission of the RACB (Royal Automobile Club of Belgium). They wanted a triangular circuit connecting the towns of Francorchamps, Malmédy and Stavelot. A year later, Spa-Francorchamps hosted its first race. History would have it that it was a car competition which inaugurated the Belgian route. Unfortunately, only one driver entered and the event was therefore canceled. It will be replaced by a motorcycle race bringing together 23 pilots. The race will be won by Hubert Hassall riding a Norton 500cc with an average speed of 90 km/h. The Raidillon was not created until the 1930s.

1950: The arrival of the Formula 1 in Spa

Created in 1950, the Formula 1 world championship will go directly to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Belgium then hosted the 5th round of the 1950 season. So far Giuseppe Farina had won the Grand Prix at Silverstone, Juan Manuel Fangio in Monaco, Johnnie Parsons at the Indianapolis 500 and Farina again in Switzerland. At the end of the 35 laps of 14,120 km of the Belgian Grand Prix, it was Juan Manuel Fangio who won the race ahead of Fagioli and Rosier, overtaking on the last lap Farina suffering gearbox problems. This 1950 Grand Prix is ​​the first in a long history which has linked Formula 1 and Spa Francorchamps for many years.

1979: The inauguration of the new route

Lovers of motorsport history know the old Spa Francorchamps track like the back of their hand. 14,120 km of circuit between the trees of the region. This configuration will remain the same until 1978. The following year, the circuit must meet the requirements of modern motor sports and finds itself reduced to 6.947 km then to 6,940 until 1990. But for the first use of the new route in 1979 , a coating defect will cause a boycott of the drivers of the Continental Circus, the ancestor of the MotoGP. Only a few second-rate drivers will agree to ride on a very slippery track.
F1 will go to the new track for the first time in 1983 where Alain Prost will achieve his second victory of the season.

1994: A chicane very quickly abandoned

© PHOTO: DPPI

1994, a dark year in the history of Formula 1. On August 28, several months after the tragic weekend at Imola, the organizers of the Belgian Grand Prix decided to create a chicane just before the climb of Raidillon. Drivers who passed at 280 km/h must now take it at 80 km/h. The circuit is disfigured according to the drivers and the chicane will be removed from the following edition in 1995. Instead, the organizers decide to destroy a grandstand and raze a piece of the hill in order to increase the clearance at this location and thus strengthen security.

2004: The last title of Michael Schumacher

© PHOTO: GILLES LEVENT / DPPI

In a Grand Prix which will mark the 700th in the history of Ferrari, Michael Schumacher would win his 7th world drivers' championship title.
Arriving at Spa, the Red Baron is the ultra favorite. The Ferrari is fast and reliable, quite the opposite of the McLaren. And yet, it was Kimi Raïkkönen who won the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of a completely crazy race, which saw only 9 drivers finish. The Finn finished ahead of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. A result sufficient to secure the title for the German driver. It was the last of his career.

There would be hundreds of other anecdotes to tell. Don’t hesitate to share yours with us! We just hope one thing: that the legend of Spa Francorchamps continues for at least 100 years.