It's been nearly a month since the last appearance of the F1 Circus here on this site, but finally... finally... we can get on with it.  And where better to come back to than arguably the best track on the calendar, Spa-Francorchamps.  Let's take a look at the track map:

Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar at just over 4.3 miles and a lap time of around 1m49sec or so.  It's also one of the fastest, it has the largest amount of changes of altitude, the least predictable weather, and practically no slow spots.  It's a video-game sort of track, to be honest, but damn is it fun! 

It also used to be the most dangerous course in F1, back in the old nine mile long "triangle track" days.  Trees, ditches, and houses lined the public roads the cars used to race on, but it's been nearly 40 years since a F1 race ran on that circuit.  Just because Spa-Francopants is safer now doesn't mean it's less exciting.  Eau Rouge-Raidillon may be the best turn complex in the sport with its steep flat-out climb to a whip-cracking style of right-left corner.  There's been some startling accidents here, including last year's incident that took both McLarens out at the same time on the first lap.  From Rivage to around Blanchimont is all downhill.  In good weather it's all fast sweeping curves on the very edge of adhesion.  In poor weather?  Heh heh heh heh heh... and early predictions are for rain all weekend. 

The past couple of years have seen Spa give us the most interesting races of the season.  In 2009 we had Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India on pole and finishing second.  In 2008, there was the Hamilton-Raikkonen Incident at the Chicane.  What will the big track in the Ardennes Forest bring us in 2010?

We'll find out beginning on Friday morning from 7am to 840am with LIVE coverage of the 2nd Practice session on SPEED.  It'll be good to hear the Legendary Announce Team again.  Saturday we'll get plausibly live coverage of Quals from 7am to 830am.

Sunday, of course, we'll see the live broadcast of the 2010 Belgian Grand Prix on SPEED from 630am to 9am, with a replay from 1130am to 2pm.  All times, of course, are are Pond Central.  Add one hour for the East Coast, subtract two for the West, and add around 4.3 years for Alpha Centauri.

And if there's any doubt that F1U! will be all over the broadcasts, we must ask "what are you smoking?"  See ya then!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 08:41 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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