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SPA PREVIEW |
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Tuesday, 24 August 2010 |
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Belgian GP - Preview
Round 13 of the 2010 FIA Formula One World
Championship takes teams and drivers to the classic Spa-Francorchamps
circuit in Belgium’s Ardennes region. Famed as a track that tests
drivers and machinery to the limit, thanks to high-speed corners such
as Eau Rouge and Pouhon, Spa has developed a reputation as a firm
favourite with competitors.
The circuit, located less than 10km from the hydrotherapy resort town
of Spa, is a greatly shortened version of the 14km-long original,
which was comprised almost entirely of public roads and used in
largely unchanged form from 1950 to 1970. Safety concerns led to the
track being cut to barely half its original length and in this revised
format Spa returned to the Formula One calendar in 1983. A number of
detailed revisions have been made since then, and it is in this
configuration that the circuit will this weekend host the 55th Belgian
Grand Prix. One factor likely to feature at some stage of the race
weekend is rain: the Belgian Grand Prix is noted for the fickle nature
of its weather and wet conditions have contributed greatly to a number
of memorable victories in adverse conditions and major track
incidents.
As the championship moves towards its decisive latter stages, five
drivers remain in contention for the title, with just 20 points
separating Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber, leading the chase and
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, in fifth.
Read
the complete release and Printable Viewers Guide[click here]
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CIRCUIT DATA: SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
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CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2009
• The artificial grass on
the exit of turn 1 has been widened and extended to the end of the run-off
area.
• A large section of the grass behind the apex kerb at turn 6 has
been laid with asphalt and three bumps (similar to those in Barcelona,
Valencia and Monza) have been placed across the run-off area.
• A two metre wide strip of artificial grass has been laid behind
the apex kerb at turn 6.
• The kerb on the exit of turn 6 has been replaced by a 50mm
negative kerb and artificial grass has been laid behind it.
• The gravel behind the kerb on the exit of turn 6 has been
replaced by asphalt.
FAST FACTS: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
• Some of
motorsport’s greatest names have been multiple winners of the Belgian
Grand Prix. Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher has won the race
six times; triple champion Ayrton Senna won it five times; double champion
Jim Clark was unbeaten from 1962-1965, while 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen
is also a four-time Spa winner.
• The Belgian Grand Prix has been part of the Formula One World
Championship since 1950, and has failed to appear on the calendar only six
times: 1957, 1959, 1969, 1971, 2003 and 2006. Along with the Monaco,
British and Italian Grands Prix, the Belgian Grand Prix is one of only
four events surviving from the original 1950 World Championship.
• No Belgian has ever won the Belgian Grand Prix. Of the 22
Belgians to have raced in Formula One, only two have won grands prix:
Jacky Ickx (8) and Thierry Boutsen (3).
• Three venues have hosted the Belgian Grand Prix since 1950: Spa-Francorchamps
(42 times); Zolder (10: 1973, 1975-1982, 1984) and Nivelles (twice: 1972
and 1974).
• One of the most memorable Belgian Grands Prix was in 1998, when
a huge 14-car accident occurred on the first lap of the race. Seven cars
were unable to take the restart and there was a further incident on lap 25
when race leader Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari hit David Coulthard’s
McLaren, losing a wheel and forcing Schumacher to retire after completing
most of a lap on three wheels. Through the chaos the Jordans of Damon Hill
and Ralf Schumacher emerged to take the team’s first victory, as a 1-2
finish.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS DRIVERS
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CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS CONSTRUCTORS
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1. Mark Webber
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Sebastian Vettel
4. Jenson Button
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa
7. Nico Rosberg
8. Robert Kubica
9. Michael Schumacher
10. Adrian Sutil
11. Rubens Barrichello
12. Vitaly Petrov
13. Kamui Kobayashi
14. Vitantonio Liuzzi
15. Nico Hülkenberg
16. Sébastien Buemi
17. Pedro de la Rosa
18. Jaime Alguersuari
19. Heikki Kovalainen
20. Karun Chandhok
21. Lucas Di Grassi
22. Jarno Trulli
23. Bruno Senna
24. Timo Glock
25. Sakon Yamamoto |
161
157
151
147
141
97
94
89
38
35
30
17
17
12
10
7
6
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 |
Red Bull Racing
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team
Renault F1 Team
Force India F1 Team
AT&T Williams
BMW Sauber F1 Team
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Lotus Racing
HRT F1 Team
Virgin Racing |
312
304
238
132
106
47
40
23
10
0
0
0 |
CIRCUIT DATA
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Length of lap:
Lap record:
Start line/finish line offset:
Total number of race laps:
Total race distance:
Pitlane speed limits:
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7.004km
1:45.108
(Kimi Räikkönen, 2004, McLaren-Mercedes)
0.124km
44
308.052km
60km/h during practice sessions;
100km/h during qualifying and race
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FORMULA ONE
TIME TABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA
Thursday
Press Conference
Friday
Practice Session 1
Practice Session 2
Press Conference
Saturday
Practice Session 3
Qualifying
Followed by unilateral and press conference
Sunday
Drivers' Parade
Race
Followed by unilateral and press conference |
15.00 hrs
10.00 – 11.30 hrs
14.00 – 15.30 hrs
16.00 hrs
11.00 – 12.00 hrs
14.00 – 15.00 hrs
12.30 – 12.45 hrs
14.00 hrs |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 August 2010 )
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