Belgian GP 2010 - Spa Francorchamps

[FW17]

Finally the Bus Stop, if you need downforce for this corner then I have some beach property on mars to sell you.

The more downforce you have the later a driver can brake. So it does make a little difference.

[andrew]

Don't know if this has been covered, but there are some changes to the circuit from last year.

La Source has been widened, the grass behind the kerb at Les Combes has been replaced with Tarmac and 3 bumps have been placed on the run off area and some of the grass at Les Combes has been replaced with artificial grass.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDYTeCffiRQ[/youtube]

[aral]

Don't know if this has been covered, but there are some changes to the circuit from last year.

La Source has been widened, the grass behind the kerb at Les Combes has been replaced with Tarmac and 3 bumps have been placed on the run off area and some of the grass at Les Combes has been replaced with artificial grass.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDYTeCffiRQ[/youtube]

The video shows a car with grooved tyres! You say that three bumps have been placed in run-off area. That sounds weird, as it would encourage cars to become airborne. Are you sure of your info?

[Richard]

Looks like a 2008 car. Grooved tyres, low wide rear wing, narrow front wing, old style diffuser.

I think the "bumps" in the run off are those bolt down plastic kerbs we've seen at several circuits recently.

I wonder if they will prevent a repeat of Kimi's 2009 trick of gaining 4 places on the first lap when he "accidentally" used the run off?

[andrew]

Pitpass was the source so draw your own conclusion(s) as to the validity of their information.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Pitpass was the source so draw your own conclusion(s) as to the validity of their information.

I have many sources to quote from, but Pitpass isnt one of them.
Their news stories are fair enough, I would agree. But their feature articles appear to have a huge axe to grind and invariably end up with a "Rule Brittania" mentality.
In other words biased.

Good stories...not enough substance for me

[andrew]

Planet F1 has a report on tyhe track changes as well.

http://www.planet-f1.com/news/3213/6334 ... -Spa-track

Planet F1 is a goood bit better than Pitpass.

[raymondu999]

Has anyone noticed that in the simulator videos that Red Bull have released, their video for Spa states the top speed as 310, when they even had 315 for Hungaroring? What's going on here? :s Could it be that they're gearing up their cars for extreme acceleration in the hope that they can out-accelerate the McLarens and Ferraris on that first lap, when otherwise they'll be sitting ducks on that long full throttle blast in Sector 1?

[godlameroso]

I hadn't thought of that, the start of the race will be very interesting as La source makes filing in line a bit tricky

[raymondu999]

If the Red Bulls have a top-end deficit they'd be easily picked off up the run through Eau Rouge to Raidillon. I think the only way they'd be able to avoid that would be to make a quick getaway with a blast of acceleration off La Soruce, maybe sacrificing a bit of laptime while they're at it

[dave34m]

I managed to walk the track on Tuesday and noticed that the run off area on La source now has artifical grass all the way back to the track so if you run wide now you will have to cross the grass at some point to get back on track, that should stop the cars from going flat out thru that area. There are speed bumps at Les Combes but you can drive around them, its a longer way around of course so ewill be an extra penalty. Hope that helps, those two changes seem very good to my untrained eye.

[imightbewrong]

Speedbumps on run-off area at Les Combes:

[marcush.]

that hill is quite steep up to les Combes it is not flat at all.. So some of the power will have to be invested to go up the hill....

[ESPImperium]

That makes sence at Les Coumbs, makes it safer to a point, but removes the narrow marjin of error at that point.

Personally, there is only one change id like to see at Spa, and that is the wall/armco at the exit of La Source where Kimi gained his advantage at the start last year be brought in by a few metres and drivers forced to flow in quicker. That may raise a saftey issue, but drivers would have to adjust acciordingly in Turn 1 on Lap 1 as the rest of the race would be unnaffected. Altho a simple drive thru pelalty for those who done such a thing on lap 1 would also be suffice.

[Scotracer]

Has anyone noticed that in the simulator videos that Red Bull have released, their video for Spa states the top speed as 310, when they even had 315 for Hungaroring? What's going on here? :s Could it be that they're gearing up their cars for extreme acceleration in the hope that they can out-accelerate the McLarens and Ferraris on that first lap, when otherwise they'll be sitting ducks on that long full throttle blast in Sector 1?

They didn't get anywhere near 315 at Hungary - the highest speed recorded in a non-drafting car was barely 300km/h.