BLOG ARCHIVE 2011
TRACKDAY PHOTOGRAPHY SPA BELGIUM
27/03/2011
Track day at Spa, Belgium
After we arrived in Calais it was on to the motorway for an unadventurous drive to Belgium, miles and miles of straight roads with traffic building up the closer we got to our destination. The highlight on the trip down was swing the Lamborghini sucking up the road in our rear view mirror, it resembles a stealth fighter and with 670 bhp it accelerates past you like one as well. The other cars on the trip were two BMW M3's, a BMW compact (with an M3 engine) and my Megane RS 250. We arrived at the hotel Le Source just after 5pm, we couldn't have picked a better location as it sits next door to the circuit and not only has a full size amercian pool table but also a Porsche rally car in the foyer.
The drivers briefing was set for 7.30am at the circuit, we gathered that due to the number of cars still outside that maybe their wasn't so much of a rush to get down to the track. With over 100 cars booked in it was going to be a busy day on and off the track, it's difficult to work out how many millions of pounds was lined up in the pits, Ferrari 599 GTO's, 458's, an original California, Le Man E Type Jaguar and of course the 670SV which was still the stand out car on the day. After a few warm up laps behind the safety car you get to appreciate the 4 1/2 miles of Spa, it is an amazing sweeping circuit which is challenging and in places very fast. As their were ten of us we tended to go out various times during the day, always with a passenger, good for another pair of eyes to see who is coming up alongside, the RS was excellent in all accounts and apart from a couple of twitchy moments early on I got used to the circuit, only downside was the 13 miles to the gallon, I never asked Robin what his was though! In between the driving it was time to take some photos, mainly concentrating on our cars but as a petrol head it seemed unfair not to take some of the other amazing cars in the pits and on the track. Spa is set in beautiful surroundings, trees outline the circuit and with some glorious spring time sunshine it was a truly memorable day. After another good meal and company plus the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia starting early tomorrow morning it had been a full on motor sport weekend. The drive back in Sunday wasn't as exciting but with a detour via Lille the journey back was more enjoyable then Friday's. Roll on next years trip.
The drivers briefing was set for 7.30am at the circuit, we gathered that due to the number of cars still outside that maybe their wasn't so much of a rush to get down to the track. With over 100 cars booked in it was going to be a busy day on and off the track, it's difficult to work out how many millions of pounds was lined up in the pits, Ferrari 599 GTO's, 458's, an original California, Le Man E Type Jaguar and of course the 670SV which was still the stand out car on the day. After a few warm up laps behind the safety car you get to appreciate the 4 1/2 miles of Spa, it is an amazing sweeping circuit which is challenging and in places very fast. As their were ten of us we tended to go out various times during the day, always with a passenger, good for another pair of eyes to see who is coming up alongside, the RS was excellent in all accounts and apart from a couple of twitchy moments early on I got used to the circuit, only downside was the 13 miles to the gallon, I never asked Robin what his was though! In between the driving it was time to take some photos, mainly concentrating on our cars but as a petrol head it seemed unfair not to take some of the other amazing cars in the pits and on the track. Spa is set in beautiful surroundings, trees outline the circuit and with some glorious spring time sunshine it was a truly memorable day. After another good meal and company plus the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia starting early tomorrow morning it had been a full on motor sport weekend. The drive back in Sunday wasn't as exciting but with a detour via Lille the journey back was more enjoyable then Friday's. Roll on next years trip.
