Spa-Francorchamps is a 7 km, 19-corner circuit through the Ardennes hills where long straights, big braking zones and very fast corners reward a car you know well: brake early and straight for La Source and the Bus Stop, build up to Eau Rouge and Raidillon step by step, and carry speed through Pouhon. Check the noise category of your date before you book, because Spa's limits differ between weekdays and weekends.
Spa-Francorchamps rewards patience and a car you know well: the lap is long and fast, the braking zones are big, and Eau Rouge, Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont are taken at high speed. Learn it in layers: first the direction of the lap and the braking points, then the fast corners, and only then the speed.
This guide takes you round the lap corner by corner. Right now Trackstr lists 13 upcoming dates at Spa where you can drive yourself. Published prices for trackdays: €420–€840.
What makes Spa-Francorchamps different from other circuits?
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps runs for 7,004 m through the forested hills of the Ardennes in Belgium, between Stavelot and Malmedy, and has 19 corners. Three things set it apart:
- Length and speed. At seven kilometres, a lap takes much longer than at most circuits, and the long straights mean high speeds into the braking zones. Your brakes and tyres work hard.
- Elevation. The lap climbs and drops by around 100 metres, from the steep climb of Raidillon to the descent towards Pouhon.
- Changing weather. The weather can differ between one part of the track and another: it can be dry at La Source and wet at Blanchimont. Watch the surface and the sky, especially early in the day.
Spa has wide modern run-off in many places, which helps, but the speeds are high, so mistakes can still be expensive.
How does a lap of Spa go, corner by corner?
The notes below are general advice for a trackday, not race lines. Every car brakes and turns differently, so follow your instructor or the briefing on the day. Spa’s numbered track map has 19 turns; this guide follows the well-known corner names.
La Source
The lap starts with La Source, the tight right-hand hairpin just after the start line. It is a big braking zone and the place where most overtaking happens. Brake in a straight line, turn in late and focus on your exit: the long run down to Eau Rouge starts here.
Eau Rouge and Raidillon
After La Source, the track drops downhill to Eau Rouge and then climbs steeply through Raidillon: a left-right-left sequence that is one of the best-known in motorsport. The compression at the bottom and the blind crest at the top make it feel even faster than it is.
On a trackday, do not try to take it flat out on your first laps. Lift or brake gently before the bottom, keep the car straight and stable through the compression, and look up the hill early. Add speed only when the car feels settled over the crest. A stable car here is worth far more than a few km/h.
Kemmel straight and Les Combes
Raidillon opens onto the long Kemmel straight, the place to check your mirrors and let faster cars past if the briefing asks you to. At the end comes Les Combes, a right-left chicane and one of the biggest braking zones of the lap. Brake straight and early, and take the second part with a clean exit.
Malmedy and Rivage
After Les Combes the track runs downhill through Malmedy and into Rivage, a tight, downhill right-hand hairpin. Downhill braking is easy to underestimate: brake a little earlier than you think and avoid turning while braking hard.
Pouhon
Pouhon is a fast, double-apex left-hander that rewards commitment. It is one of the corners where a good line and a smooth, steady throttle make a big difference. Build up to it: take it a little slower at first, find your two apexes, and add speed when the car feels balanced through the whole corner.
Fagnes and Stavelot
After Pouhon comes Fagnes, a right-left sequence, followed by the long right-hander towards Stavelot. These corners link into each other: a tidy exit from one sets up the next, so think about the line through the whole section rather than one corner at a time.
Blanchimont
From Stavelot, the track climbs back through a fast section to Blanchimont, a flat-out left-hander for racing cars before the Bus Stop chicane. On a trackday, treat it with respect: the speed is very high and the run-off is narrower than at other corners of this speed. Take it only as fast as you and your car are comfortable with, and keep the car straight before the braking zone that follows.
The Bus Stop chicane
The lap ends with the Bus Stop chicane, a slow right-left after the fast run from Blanchimont, which brings you back onto the start-finish straight. It comes after one of the fastest parts of the lap, so the braking zone is long and heavy. Brake straight, take the chicane cleanly and be patient on the exit: it sets up the start of the next lap at La Source.
Which corners should you learn first?
With limited track time, focus on four places:
- La Source, because it is the start of every lap and a key braking zone.
- Eau Rouge and Raidillon, because they are fast and blind, and the place where a stable car matters most.
- Pouhon, because a good line here gains time without much risk.
- The Bus Stop, because it comes after the fastest part of the lap and decides your speed onto the straight.
What are the noise limits at Spa-Francorchamps?
Spa uses noise categories, and the limits differ between weekdays and weekends. For the upcoming dates on Trackstr: 103–110 dB
On weekday rentals, category C is up to 103 dB, B is 103 to 110 dB and A is 110 dB and up. On weekend events, category C is up to 107 dB, B 107 to 118 dB and A 118 dB and up. The category of your day decides which cars may drive, so check it on the organiser’s website before you book, especially with a loud exhaust.
How do you book a trackday at Spa?
Spa has a busy calendar of trackdays, driving experiences and race weekends. Upcoming days to drive yourself are run by Audi Driving Experience, Circuit Days UK, Drivers Days, Driving Fun, GP Days and 6 more. Prices are set by each organiser and depend on the format, the noise category and the number of laps or sessions. Published prices for upcoming trackdays: €420–€840. The next dates are:
- Mon 26 Oct: JCL Driving By FM
- Tue 27 Oct: Audi Driving Experience
- Mon 2 Nov: Opentrack Events Ltd
- Wed 4 Nov: Motopark
- Fri 6 Nov: Skylimit Events
How do you prepare for a trackday at Spa?
A few practical steps:
- Brakes and tyres first. The long straights and big braking zones are hard on both. Fit fresh pads and fresh brake fluid, and check your tyres before you go.
- Plan your fuel. A seven-kilometre lap at speed uses a lot of fuel, so know where you can refuel.
- Be ready for rain. The weather can change during the day and even between parts of the track. Bring clothes for both and adjust your driving to the surface.
- Book an instructor if it is your first visit. Spa is long, and an instructor shows you the lines and braking points much faster than you can find them alone.
- Plan your travel. The circuit lies about 45 km south-east of Liège. Liège airport is around 50 minutes away; Brussels and Cologne/Bonn are about 1 hour 45 minutes by car.
Then build up through the day: learn the direction and the braking points first, add speed in the fast corners step by step, and you will understand why so many drivers call Spa their favourite circuit.