It will be a great weekend, but let's look at the circuit itself and its history.
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The return of Spa—Francorchamps was one of the most eagerly awaited aspects of the 2007 calendar.
The original track was a challenging, but hugely dangerous, eight-mile blast through forests and villages, and was never going to last long in the safety-conscious modern era.
Sure enough, it was removed from the schedule in 1971 and the Belgian Grand Prix moved to the safer, but comparatively insipid, locations of Nivelles and Zolder.
But in 1983, Spa was back. Although the new circuit was shorter and safer, it remained faithful to the spirit of its previous incarnation.
Legendary sections, such as the spine—tingling plunge through Eau Rouge and the Blanchimont sweep—were retained, and even the new link segment contained plenty to test the drivers—above all the fast double left-hander of Pouhon.
Unsurprisingly, both versions of Spa have been dominated by the truly great racers, with Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Jim Clark taking multiple wins on the old track, and Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher doing likewise in the modern era.
Spa was the scene of many of Schumacher’s most memorable moments, including his Formula One debut in 1991, his first win a year later, a famous charge from 16th to victory in 1995, a crushing, wet-weather win in 1997, and his last title clincher in 2004 (even though he finished second in that race to Kimi Raikkonen).
Political issues saw the race temporarily dropped in 2003, while the need to comprehensively revamp the tired paddock led to Spa being scratched from the calendar again three years later.
Its return was universally welcomed, for although the current generation of cars make Spa less of a challenge (flat-out runs through Eau Rouge now being disappointingly routine), it remains a sublime location for grand prix racing.
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Now lets move onto my article.
After the awful race at Valenica last week, we now move onto the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, a circuit which was recently voted the greatest ever in a poll on B/R.
Felipe Massa secured a very dominant victory on the wide-open streets of Valencia and will be confident to make it two in a row. His teammate Kimi Raikkonen suffered an engine failure and will be desperate to get back to winning ways on the track that he adores.
Lewis Hamilton took the sensible option last time out and settled for second place, realizing that eight points was better than nothing. His teammate Heikki Kovalainen showed great pace yet again, and he is now starting to show why McLaren have so much faith in him.
BMW Sauber are back, that is for sure, but Nick Heidfeld must improve on his terrible day in Valencia, which he described as "my worst performance ever."
A bit harsh really, but Robert Kubica was on the podium yet again, and whilst many are writing him off in the title race, it only takes one crazy race and he is back in the fight.
The mid-table battle is reaching its climax, and it is now certain that the fight is down to Toyota and Renault.
17 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Saraswathi Siriginia 10 months ago
good job MG, one more prediction putting Kimi at top at Spa, let's see how that works out
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
Thanks Sara, I think there is almost universal agreement that the ice-man will cometh to haunt everyone. To be honest, I still have him down for the title.
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Jamie Arnold 10 months ago
Good writing although I have to disagree with many people on Mr Raikkonen, I think that he is bored at Ferrari as they have stopped him doing anything he considers fun ie. getting plastered and doing other high risk sports in his spare time, also I believe that with the development that Felipe Massa has made over the last few seasons he is the top driver at the moment, although I do still think that McLaren are the top team, My prediction for Spa is:
1.Massa
2.Hamilton
3.Glock
4.Kovalainen
5.Raikkonen
6.Truli
7.Vettel
8.Alonso
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
Nice thoughts there, but as I said, Spa is like a second home for Kimi, plus the Ferrari's are about 2-3 mph faster on super long straights than the Macca's, so that is why I put a Fezza one-two.
I still see Kimi saying sod you lot and going to the WRC, he would fit in well there, and get plastered in between the events.
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Jamie Arnold 10 months ago
Maybe Spa might send Torro Rosso thier 1st podium then?? do you think Ferrari have been clever and given them slightly more powerful engines to push them up the grid and 'help' them with the title? I agree with you on Kimi being more suited to WRC, did you know that in finland they actually drive on ice, all the time, because they shovel the excess snow out of the way which leaves about 2-4 inches of snow and then just compress that so its ice, all the cars have studded tyres...
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
Oh hell yeah, Toro Rosso have this seasons engine, no doubt. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them on the podium quite frankly, although it should be their second after fuji last year, oh how sorry i felt for Vettel that day.
They drive on ice all the time? Good lord, no wonder their drivers are always so good. That's why the finnish drivers always dominate the swedish WRC event then, thanks for telling me that mate
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Jamie Arnold 10 months ago
Yeah me too, I felt more sorry for Adrian Sutil at Monaco though! well pretty much all the time, depending on where abouts in finland you live, in the more northern areas i think that its a matter of a couple of weeks a year that they're not on ice, crazy they are all of 'em, most of the time its in the minus temperature over there, when me n me dad went to helsinki it was -23 if i recall rightly and aparently it had "warmed up" a bit which was a bit scary!
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Gail Mrs Gray 10 months ago
Poor Kimi he was desperately hoping to get world champion in 2008. i am not saying i hate Lewis Hamilton but i am not keen on him, has for his boss Ron Dennis to me he is very rude and i am not keen on his attitude. i wish Kimi and Felipe good luck. i have heard rumors that Ferrari dont want Kimi next year and replace him with Fernando Alonso if this is true, also another says if Fernando goes there Michael will leave as he is not keen on him after he told the media and ran down Michael old chateau after Fernando bought it. and his manners thats Alonsos is disgusting with the bad gestures Fernando done on the poduim with Michael in 2006.
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
What has ANY of your comment got to do with this article?
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Point number 1 , Michael agreed this is Kimi's weekend , Like you said Spa is his track and im betting on him making it 3 from 3 here , he is too dominant , i do think he has lost some desire , but not lost any ability or skill , he comes alive in the Ardennes .
No 2 , Ive never seen Ron Dennis being rude , he is a guy who doesnt want to be on camera , he wants to be in the heart of Mclaren doing his job , not mythered , he still talks to reporters when he is asked to tho .
No 3 , Ferrari will still definatly want Kimi , he is their best driver on paper , at the moment Felipe is leading the way but Kimi is definatly a driver you dont want to get rid of .
And finally Michael Schumacher wont really leave the Ferrari set up just coz Alonso goes there , they will either settle their differences or just avoid each other outside the professional atmosphere , they arent rivals any more .
Nice preview Mike , I guess you knew you had to get in there first with me around , good job for you ive been with my missus all weekend so ive only had time to make Lurve :-) , Dagni , your too late lol
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
Cheers mate, liked the end piece, comedy man u are mate haha!
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mark andrew 10 months ago
No worries , oh i picked it and 5 starred obviously , although is there really any benefit in the new POTD system ? I can give 10 out in a day now ( maybe more i ant tried ) , before it was a real dilemma to use it , i had to read every article and decide who deserved it most , Now i dont even have to promise people to Pick their work wen my Pick becomes available , i just give it out .
Ha ha you like that one ? Im only messing with her ( not saying i wouldnt tho :-) )
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
The new POTD system is a bit odd, you can chuck em around like sweets, it's silly. You seen Paul's new article? Gettin A LOT of comments. Firing up a debate, again.
Peter Haydon has left us, disappointingly. A lot of people seem to be doing that ever since all the sections were merged.
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mark andrew 10 months ago
Yeah i noticed Peter had gone , Although he has come back I think i saw a post On Pauls article from today . aAlso seen the raging argument , im not down for that because id rather save my finger usage for a new article .
( Peter Stay Mate , your safety articles were quality as was the back off Lewis H article , your work is respected and liked ).
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Ted Voulgaris 10 months ago
Nice article. I agree with your picks for Spa. Kimi has a fresh engine and Ferrari has deep-sixed the particular batch of connecting rods that apparently were the problem, so I suspect Massa's engine will be OK. If it rains, I'd still stay with Kimi. This is really a make or break race for him and I'm sure he knows it. Don't sell him short. The Ferrari loves fast corners and, like all great drivers, so does Kimi. There's no challenge quite like Eu Rouge.
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Michael Griffin 10 months ago
Thanks Ted for the comment, this is Kimi's big chance to shut everybody up and batter everyone into submission, and for the good of the title race, I hope he does.
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Anthony 10 months ago
I will take a Massa for Spa Hamilton 2nd Heiki 3rd and Kimi a distant 4th or worse. I really think that Ferrari have designed the 2008 around Massa and his driving style. Schumachers influence and openly taking Massa under his wing makes me think that Kimi has been told to look elsewhere or be happy in a supporting role. Taking the alcohol and wild parties away from him as not made him a happy camper. I honestly cannot see Kimi being the least bit helpful to Massa or Ferrari for the remainder of the year. In fact I can see a retiremnet announcement in Brazil or perhaps Monza.
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