Before the Redesign: Spa-Francorchamps Like You’ve Never Seen It

Let’s go back and remember the old circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, the track was entirely different to the new one we have now in the calendar.

Spa-Francorchamps was not just long, it was also incredibly fast, built on public roads, twisting through forest and farmland, it stood as one of motorsport’s greatest challenges for decades.

When it was born and its length?

The original layout was born back in the ’20s, using the roads of the town of Francorchamps, malmedy and Stavelot, at first it was 15 kilometers long, but it was soon refined to a slightly shorter layout of 14.1 kilometers, which became the backbone of racing in the region for nearly 50 years.

However, it did not look or feel like a race track by modern standarts, instead, drivers blasted down narrow roads, bordered by trees, fences, stone buildings and little room for error.

Mistakes often had serious consequences, even in its heyday it was widely considered one of the most thrilling, yet punishing tracks in the world.

Today’s layout is totally different, introduced back in 1979, and further adjusted over the years, now its 7 kilometers long, it still honors roots but in a much safer and more controlled enviornment.

The shift toward safety

Changes didn’t happen overnight, in the 30s, sections of the course began evolving, the famous Eau Rouge and Raidillon complex, came into being around 1939, replacing with Ancienne Douane, this gave birth to one of the most recognizable corner sequences in history.

Later by the ’50s minor changes were made to reduce dangerous blind corners, but the spirit of the place never really changed.

It remained a flat-out blast through villages and forest roads, with barely any protective barriers or space to escape an off track excursion.

The call for safety could no longer be ignored, racing had entered a new era, and Spa’s layout was not going to survive without major changes.

So in 1979, the decision was made to redesign the course completely, cutting it nearly in half and reshaping it into permanent facility that still tested drivers.

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Speed and courage

One of the defining traits of the old Spa was its insane average speeds. Drivers would often complete laps with averages of 240 km/h (150 mph) or more, on public roads, with almost no protection on either side. The infamous Masta Kink was a flat-out left-right that separated the bold from the brave, and a perfect lap required pinpoint accuracy combined with sheer nerve.

Adding to the challenge was the unpredictable Ardennes weather, it could be raining in one part of the track while another section stayed bone dry, even today, we have seen it many times, grip would change without warning, catching even the most skilled drivers off guard.

What can we say more?

Though the original version of Spa is no longer used for racing, its ghost still lingers. Much of the old layout remains drivable today as public roads, and fans sometimes make pilgrimages to experience those legendary sections in person.

The modern Spa-Francorchamps still ranks as one of the best circuits in the world. Corners like Blanchimont, Pouhon, and of course Eau Rouge remain iconic, and the natural setting of the Ardennes forest gives the venue a unique atmosphere.

But there’s a certain romance to the version that came before. It wasn’t perfect, far from it, but it represented an era of racing where machines were pushed to the edge, and courage was the ultimate weapon. The old Spa wasn’t just a circuit. It was a statement.

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