Grand prix Belgium

hannah01

Hi,

Sorry if this isnt the right forum to ask but just after some advice really. I want to take my boyfriend to the grand prix next August in Belgium and just wondered if anyone's been and can give me a roiugh cost? I know Thomas Cook do packages but they have no prices yet due to it being next year. Thanks in advance

Yolina

A lot will depend on what tickets you go for(general admission will be the cheapest, grandstands will vary) and which hotels. It won't be cheap - I would say budget for a ballpark start figure of £500 per person.

Now, Spa is an amazing track - it really is, F1 might not necessarily be the best event there If you want to take your bf there purely because it's F1, then fair enough but there are other races that make the trip worthwhile (and far cheaper) - there's the WEC 6 hours (the cars that do Le Mans - prototypes & GT class); the 24h (lower specs GT class); and one of my favourites; the 25h Funcup (yes 25h!) not super powerful beetle-based cars but there's 150+ of them on track and it's fantastic racing.
Edit: and for vintage cars, there's the Spa Classic

hannah01

great thanks for your help

Itismehonest

Bookmark this site http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/ & keep checking it. It will give the link to next year's site for tickets when it becomes available.
As you can see, it also gives links to accommodation.
Enjoy Spa if you get there.

leosayer

I went around 5/6 years ago and it was a great experience. General entry ticket weren't expensive - 40 Euros each I think, however I would recommend paying the extra to get a grandstand seat overlooking some of the best corners like Eau Rouge.

One thing to bear in mind is that it a massive and hilly circuit and with a general entry circuit you could spend quite some time finding a good spot unless you arrive very early.

We stayed in a hotel in Aachen in Germany which is about an hours drive from the circuit. It's a nice town and you're not far from Bruges which is absolutely beautiful. Look on accorhotels or expedia to get an idea of hotel prices. Spa is about 3 hours drive from Calais.

Another word of warning, don't drive straight back to Calais from Spa after the grand prix. The traffic was terrible.

If you want to get a package then fine but personally I like to fun of planning and booking it all myself.

hannah01

Thats really helpful guys thank you! :A

Johnmcl7

Yolina wrote: »

A lot will depend on what tickets you go for(general admission will be the cheapest, grandstands will vary) and which hotels. It won't be cheap - I would say budget for a ballpark start figure of £500 per person.

Now, Spa is an amazing track - it really is, F1 might not necessarily be the best event there If you want to take your bf there purely because it's F1, then fair enough but there are other races that make the trip worthwhile (and far cheaper) - there's the WEC 6 hours (the cars that do Le Mans - prototypes & GT class); the 24h (lower specs GT class); and one of my favourites; the 25h Funcup (yes 25h!) not super powerful beetle-based cars but there's 150+ of them on track and it's fantastic racing.
Edit: and for vintage cars, there's the Spa Classic

I think that's a great suggestion, I went to the see the WEC cars at Silverstone and had a great weekend. It was only £25 each for weekend tickets which included access to all the grand stands, paddock access and a pitwalk. As WEC isn't that popular at the moment there was no queuing to get in or out of the track and during the six hours could wander round and see the track from all the different parts which gives a really good feel for it all. The endurance cars are great to watch and to hear as there's a fantastic variety of them from the odd whooshing noise of the Audi's turbochargers to the the ground shaking roar of the GT cars. There was a lot more to see because there were so many cars on the track and the slower GT cars held up the prototypes coming through the corners so you got a good chance to see them in action rather than just belting past in the blink of an eye.

I was hoping to get to Spa this year for the WEC but my passport had expired, similarly the cost for weekend tickets was pennies and Spa is one of my favourite tracks (the F1 there was rubbish this year, what a letdown). If it's the race ahead of Le Mans again next year it should be good as this year Audi and Toyota were both testing their new cars alongside the existing ones.

John

Yolina

I've always had a soft spot for sportscar endurance racing so ALMS, Grand-Am, WEC, Blancpain, British GT, Britcar and more and I do really enjoy the small grassroot club stuff too.

Audi had a new (unintentional!) party trick during yesterday's 6 hours... lost a wheel coming out of the pits, which bounced and safely wedged itself against the rear wing, car did a lap and obviously went for the pits bringing the errant wheel back :rotfl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ono2ASp7HWo

Johnmcl7

I couldn't believe that had happened, you'd have thought he'd stopped on the track, picked up the wheel and dumped it on the back. Shame to get all those penalties after managing to limp the car back to the pits without damaging it but I guess rules are rules.

John

Yolina

Let's see if they can do it with 2 wheels next time

TooClumsy

Hi hannah01,

I went to the F1 in Spa this year, it was my first time. We went on a road trip leaving at 22.30 on Saturday and took the ferry to Calais, Generaly entry tickets were around £120 me thinks and then £15-£16 for a carpark pass and then the Ferry was £80 (I think!). We had bronze tickets so we had to find a spot ourselves big enough for 14 people!

We managed to find a stretch, it was empty because it was right beneath the PA system so could hear the really bad commentary. We didnt have TV screens in front of us but we were right near the track and we were on the long straight and would hear the VERY loud cars downshift before the turning.

Crazy walk from the car park (uphill), with all our food and folding chairs and then a massive uphill trek to find a spot around the track. Would never do it again personally, was worth seeing the look on DH face when the F1 cars came out-made everything worth it!

Hope this helps.

TC