Belgian Grand Prix, best spot

agrinnall

I'm thinking of going to the Belgian Grand Prix this year, and wondered if any of you have been in recent years and can recommend the best place to watch from. I'll probably splash out on a Gold weekend ticket so if you've previously watched from the likes of Eau Rouge (probably my preferred choice if it's any good), La Source, Pit, etc., it would be good to hear whether you picked the right place.

https://tickets.formula1.com/en/3286-belgium-fom/

I've read a thread from 2013 but it didn't go into the level of detail that I'd like.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4753579

I have been to Spa Francorchamps once before, in 1976 to watch the bike Grand Prix, but as I was much poorer then I just paid the minimum price and sat on a grass bank, and the course was longer with some layout differences then so my rather vague memories aren't a lot of help.

wba31

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm thinking of going to the Belgian Grand Prix this year, and wondered if any of you have been in recent years and can recommend the best place to watch from. I'll probably splash out on a Gold weekend ticket so if you've previously watched from the likes of Eau Rouge (probably my preferred choice if it's any good), La Source, Pit, etc., it would be good to hear whether you picked the right place.

https://tickets.formula1.com/en/3286-belgium-fom/

I've read a thread from 2013 but it didn't go into the level of detail that I'd like.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4753579

I have been to Spa Francorchamps once before, in 1976 to watch the bike Grand Prix, but as I was much poorer then I just paid the minimum price and sat on a grass bank, and the course was longer with some layout differences then so my rather vague memories aren't a lot of help.

I've not been but have researched going myself, and the outside of Eau Rouge seemed to be the best place due to the amount you can see from the hill.
Les Combes (at the end of the straight after Eau Rouge) would be my second choice whenever i can fund the trip...

agrinnall

Thanks wba, so would you say that's the Gold 3 stand on the map in the link? It's the one that was top of my list too.

I assume Les Combes would come under the Bronze general admission ticket.

agrinnall

Just found this that gives a pretty good description of what can be seen from each of the grandstands. Personal anecdotes still welcome though!

http://www.enterf1.com/belgian-grand-prix/where-to-sit-at-spa-francorchamps

wba31

agrinnall wrote: »

Thanks wba, so would you say that's the Gold 3 stand on the map in the link? It's the one that was top of my list too.

I assume Les Combes would come under the Bronze general admission ticket.

Spot on, Gold 3 is what I would go for...

Growing jealous now!

Max_Planck

I went in 2015, fortunate enough to get a full weekend ticket with a Gold 3 grandstand seat at Eau Rouge.

Great place to be sat as you can just see the cars coming round turn 1 from the start/finish straight (make sure you borrow some binoculars) and then accelerating all the way past you.

Obviously if you've got a full weekend ticket then you can wander round the course for the other races for a bit of variety.

If I went again, I'd want a ticket in the same place.

agrinnall

Gold 3 sounds like it meets with approval, so I'll move on now to how to get there. I can drive, but would those who have been recommend that or using public transport?

wba31

agrinnall wrote: »

Gold 3 sounds like it meets with approval, so I'll move on now to how to get there. I can drive, but would those who have been recommend that or using public transport?

My plan was to always drive over, find cheapest ferry crossing, and camp

agrinnall

It's probably what I'll do, although I might side step the camping, too old with too many aches and pains these days! I read somewhere that public transport to the circuit from nearby towns is a bit hit and miss and liable to be packed. I seem to remember walking quite a long way on my previous visit, which was a day trip by coach.

Max_Planck

We went with Camping F1, where there was a pre-erected tent that we just turned up at, parked the car and slept.

There were portacabin toilets & showers on site along with a large marquee for evening entertainment, with a bar! There were a couple of food trailers there too, doing burgers and pizza, although there are a couple of supermarkets in close enough proximity which served us well.

They also had a free shuttle bus service (from morning till evening) but it was only a 25 - 30 minute walk to the circuit through the woods - which was quicker than the shuttle bus on race day due to traffic.

We had some people sitting next to us that coached it in from Brussels, but they had very long days, had to be up early and got back late (albeit sitting in the comfort of air-conditioned surroundings with someone else driving!)

agrinnall

Thanks Max, that looks like an interesting option.