Belgian court suspends exploitation license for Francorchamps

On 21 September, a special Belgian court, decided to suspend the license to exploit the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps which was valid until 2026. The decision comes two years after residents complained about the noise of the circuit.

The permit for the exploitation of Spa-Francorchamps was issued on 12 April 2007 and allowed the operation of the circuit and the realisation of the works on the track and pit building, which have been completed at the end of May of the same year.

The only condition to issue the license was that there would come a noise study. But on Monday the court decided that this study was "inadequate and showed major gaps". Because it can't be guaranteed that the exploitation of the circuit won't cause "unrepairable damage", the court decided to immediately suspend the permit.

This could endanger the 2010 Belgian Grand Prix which is scheduled for 29 August.