Spa-Francorchamps
Spa
Belgium
Home of the F1 Belgian Grand Prix and of the Spa 24 Hours and 1000 km Spa endurance races, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is considered as one of the most challenging race tracks in history.
Spa is a favourite circuit of many racing drivers and fans with its fast, hilly and twisty nature. However, the circuit is very dangerous and since it opened, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has claimed the lives of 23 drivers.
In 1969, the Belgian Grand Prix was boycotted by F1 because of the extreme danger of Spa. There had been 10 racing fatalities in total at the track in the 1960s, including 5 in the 2 years previous.
LAP RECORD
1:47.263 - Sebastian Vettel (2009)
track characteristics
Hairpin bends, steep uphill sections, sweeping left-right-left turns and a blind summit
RACE TYPE
Circuit
Death toll
23
THE DANGER FILES
The Masta Kink was one of the most fearsome sections on any race track in the world.
In 1972, Driver Hans-Joachim Stuck shouted to his co-driver, Jochen Mass "Look out for body parts at the Masta Kink". Mass arrived expecting to see bits of car in the road but was horrified to discover it was actually the remains of a deceased race marshal.
Track length
4.352 miles
established
1922
circuit
