Spa is, without doubt, one of the world’s most exciting tracks at which to drive. Our Definitive Circuit Guide to Spa-Francorchamps dives into the detail of what it takes to be quick around this awesome circuit, analysed by our professional racing driver, Scott Mansell. This circuit guide will cover:

Racing lines for Spa-Francorchamps

Braking references

Apex points and curb analysis

Vision and where to look

What it takes to put a great lap together

Scott uses onboard footage along with an interactive display to clearly explain each detail of Spa’s 20 turns and 7 km of winding circuit. Thanks for watching!

La Source

A tight, hard-braking (usually) 2nd gear hairpin, with a slight dip just before the apex. Focus on the exit as there’s a decent straight after it, especially if you’re flat though Eau Rouge.

Approach

Know that there is a tarmac run-off beyond La Source in case you brake too late

There are braking marker boards running down the fence on the left side (150m, 100m, 50m)

Braking

Heavy braking and downshifts are require for La Source

Ensure the car is in a straight line when braking

You’re vision should be towards the apex (not at the braking references)

Apex

There is a small dip as you come in to the apex

Use as much curb as possible to open up this slow corner

The curb is flat and won’t unsettle the car

Exit

Getting a good exit is critical as there is a long straight following La Source

Make sure your vision is up and looking for the exit point and exit curb

Exit Curb

You can use all of the exit curb as it’s flat

Be careful with this curb in wet conditions

Take note of the ‘speed bump’ on the outside of the normal curb, it continues for a few hundred meters

Eau Rouge and Raidillon

Next up is the incredible fall and rise of Eau Rouge and Raidillon – the most famous corners at Spa. This section of track is not for the faint of heart and is very fast in all cars. Be smooth with all your inputs and take your brave pills.

Approach

Keep the car to the right, near the old pit wall

As you’re going so quickly, your vision needs to be a long way ahead – down at the curb on the left of Eau Rouge

Eau Rouge Apex (left)

Gently bring the car into the apex

You can use all of the curb

Ensure your vision is looking up the hill, towards the brow of Eau Rouge

Eau Rouge Apex (right)

The apex is at the second ‘lump’ in the white line (see video for better description)

Ensure all inputs are smooth

If the car gets out of shape, there is limited run-off on the left, so use it if you feel the car might spin

Raidillon Apex

Use all of the flat curb to open up the racing line

Make sure your vision is well ahead, looking for the curb on the outside

Exit

Curb is flat, so use all of it to maximise exit speed

There is some astroturf and run-off tarmac on the outside incase you make a mistake (be very careful of astroturf in the wet)

The next straight is very long, so check mirrors and car’s temperature etc. and if you’re racing it’s an overtaking/defending spot

Les Combes

After Spa’s longest straight comes Les Combes, a medium speed right-left-right. Les Combes is all a bit of a compromise, but your focus should be on the final right hander as there’s a short straight following.

Approach

Keep the car over to the left

There are braking markers on the fence on the left (250m, 200m, 150m)

There is a tarmac run-off area, so if you lock up or make a mistake carry straight on and navigate around the small speed bumps

Braking Area

Keep the car all the way over to the left, you can use a little of the entry curb in the dry (don’t touch it in the wet)

Your vision should be all the way down at the apex curb

Les Combes Apex (right)

The apex at Les Combes is quite late between the 2nd and 3rd ‘buttons’

Do not hit the buttons, they are very solid

Get your vision across at the left of Les Combe as you approach this apex

Les Combes Apex (left)

There aren’t really any apex markers for this left, however if you have you vision well ahead of yourself you’ll find the right line (watch the video for more detail)

Don’t use all the track on the outside as you come out of this left, only about 75%, otherwise you won’t optimise the final right

Les Combes Right (Approach)

Make sure you get the car back to the left of the circuit as much as possible

Vision should be at (and through) the next apex

Les Combes Right (Apex)

Apex at 2nd and 3rd button

Use a little curb, but do not touch the buttons (they’ll cause damage)

Vision at exit point along the exit curb

Exit

Exit curb is flat, use all of it

You can use a bit of the green concrete too (in the dry)

The gravel trap comes towards the circuit as you exit, so get the car between the white lines ASAP

Bruxelles

There is a short straight after Les Combes as we fall slightly downhill towards the corner of Bruxelles, formerly Rivage. Heavy braking again and a couple of downshifts are needed before a lot of patience in this 180 degree downhill bend.

Approach

The approach to Bruxelles is downhill

There are braking marker boards on the left fence (150m and 100m)

If you’re in a car that slows quickly, you can also use the start of the entry curb

Again, there is run-off tarmac around the outside, so use if you out-brake yourself

Braking Area

Keep the car all the way over to the left, you can use a little of the entry curb in the dry (don’t touch it in the wet)

Your vision should be all the way down at the apex curb

There are a couple of different lines into Bruxelles, depending on your type of car

Apex

A very late apex (see video for more detail)

After the final buttons inside the curb

Exit

The exit is a compromise

Don’t run too wide, otherwise you’ll compromise the next corner with is important as it has a following straight

Turn 11 (no name)

Quickly after Bruxelles comes Turn 11, which randomly doesn’t have a name, but is a medium-speed left with a slight downwards gradient. Still, it’s an important corner at Spa-Francorchamps as it has a decent straight following it.

Turn-in

Make sure you get the car over to the right, to open up this left-hander and maximise exit speed

Don’t touch the entry curb as I did on this lap – watch the video to see what happens

Vision should be at the apex curb

Apex

You need to be closer to the curb than I am on this lap!

Apex at the 2nd button

Vision should be through the corner, at the exit curbing

Exit

You can really use a lot of the exit curb

Be careful of the astroturf (especially in the wet) ad you can slide and then spin towards the inside wall – which isn’t far away

Bring the car back between the white lines before the end of the curb, as there are bollards

Pouhon (Double Gauche)

Following a downhill straight comes the high-speed, hugely enjoyable, Pouhon corner – one of Spa’s finest. It’s a double apex left hander, with a very difficult entry phase.

Approach

Most cars will require a lift or brake for Pouhon

There are many references along the barrier on the right (watch video for more detail)

Approach is downhill

There is some run-off tarmac on the outside

Turn-in

As we’re travelling so quickly, ensure all movements are very smooth – we don’t want to unsettle the car

Vision should be down at the first apex (where the ‘S’ is in Nielsen)

Rear of the car may be light as it’s downhill

Apex 1

No apex reference

Do not use the curb – it may unsettle the car

Drive up against the white line

Vision should be towards the exit curb as highlighted

Exit 1

Use all the curb in the dry

Do not use it in the wet

Do not ‘fall off’ the curb – you’ll go on to the astroturf and won’t be able to get back on the grippier track without reducing speed

Vision at next apex

Apex 2

Again, no real apex marker

By this time you should be beginning to accelerate, if not flat

Vision should be at the exit curb

Exit 2

Use all of the flat exit curb to open up the corner and maximise exit speed

Do not run on to the astroturf – if it makes you slide, you could spin towards the inside of the track and the barrier is close here

Fagnes

After another medium length straight we have the medium-speed right-left of Fagnes. Both entry and exit are equally important, as well as carrying good speed on the transition.

Approach

There are a couple of braking references on the left, depending on your car – namely the end of the barrier and the start of the entry curb

Make sure you’re parallel with the white line before braking

Turn in gently, the apex is late

Apex (right)

Again, there are buttons on the inside of Fagnes

The apex is after the 3rd button, where there is some green concrete

As you approach the apex, move your vision to the next apex

Apex (left)

Buttons on the inside of the left too

Again, it’s a late apex – after the buttons, where the red mark is on the image

Don’t be tempted to get on the throttle too soon here – you’ll likely push wide at the exit

Move vision to the exit curb

Exit

Use all of the flat exit curb to open up the corner and maximise exit speed

Do not run on to the astroturf – if it makes you slide, you could spin towards the inside of the track and the barrier is close here

Begin to bring the car back to the left hand side of the circuit as the next corner (Campus) is close

Campus (Stavelot)

Next up is Campus (formerly Stavelot) and this is the point where we begin heading back up towards the start-finish line. There’s two corners to it, and if the second part is flat in your car, the first part is critical as there’s a huge log straight that follows. It’s also one of the only corners at Spa where there is still a gravel trap (sorry Pastor).

Approach

There are a couple of braking references here, namely the yellow and red on the tyre wall or the start of the entry curb (if you’re in a quick slowing car)

There is a gravel trap on the outside, so make sure you don’t make any mistakes here

Braking Area

Keep the car all the way over to the left, but do not use the entry curb

Make sure your vision is at the apex curbing

Apex 1

Apex is at the end of the concrete (on the inside of the curb)

There are buttons on the inside of the curb – don’t touch them

As you approach the apex, move your vision towards the exit curb

Exit 1

Use all of the curb here, it’s smooth and flat

Ensure you’re on the throttle as soon as possible, as it’s likely (if the next corner is flat) that you’ll be at 100% throttle for a long time

Apex 2

Apex is between the 2nd and 3rd button

Entry is quick, can be flat in a lot of cars

Pick your vision up towards the exit curbing

Exit

Only use about 50% of the exit curb as is quite heavily serrated

Aim to have carried as much speed as possible as we’re going to be flat for quite a while

Blanchimont

After a relatively long ‘straight’ we approach the infamous Blanchimont – an extremely fast left-hander which has now been sanitised slightly, with run-off tarmac on the outside. You still need to be careful here, however, as it’s still possible to have a monumental accident.

Approach

The approach to Blanchimont is very quick

Make sure any reduction in speed is done with smooth inputs off the throttle or onto the brake

Open up the corner as much as possible, using all of the road on the right

You can use some of the green concrete on the entry, but don’t use too much as it become cambered (see video for more detail)

Turn-in

You should already be looking towards the apex – quite a long way aead of yourself, as we’re travelling at such a high speed

All inputs into the steering wheel must be very smooth

Apex

There is no specific apex reference (watch the video to see the racing line)

Do not use the curb here as you do not want to unsettle the car

Move your vision to the exit curb

Exit 1

The exit curb at Blanchimont is flat – so use all of it

There is astroturf on the outside. Do not use this!

If you make a mistake there is some tarmac run-off around the outside, but if you do use it you need to be really careful as the barrier is very close

Chicane

After all the excitement of Blanchimont, it’s time to slow things down for the slightly awkward right-left chicane, the final corners at Spa-Francorchamps. You’ll need to compromise the first section to maximise your exit speed on to the start/finish straight.

Approach

There are braking distance boards that run down the fence on the left

There’s a slight kink in the track before the braking area, so you’ll likely be braking across the circuit (see video for more)

There is a tarmac run-off, so if you out brake yourself by a few meters, it’s not a huge issue

Braking Area

You should gently bring the car (in a straight line) across to the outside of the track in the braking area

There’s a bump along the braking area, so be mindful of this

Your vision should be down at the apex curb on the right

Apex (right)

You’ll want to use all of the yellow and red curb

Do not use the red ‘sausage’ curb, as it’ll unsettle the car

Apex (right) 2

You want to run the right front tyre over the section where the curb meets the track (in red)

This will open up the next left as much as possible and so you can carry lots of speed on to the following straight

Move your vision to the left apex curb

Apex (left)

In most cars you’ll want to use all of the curb on the left

Again, do not use the ‘sausage’ curb

I wasn’t using the curb in the example, as it caused the Radical’s inside wheel to spin up

Move your vision to the exit curbing

Exit

Use all of the curb on the exit to open the corner and carry the maximum exit speed

The curb is quite smooth and flat

Do not use the astroturf (especially in the wet) as it could cause wheelspin and good traction here is important to lap time

SPA DRIVER COACHING & INSTRUCTION

Our circuit guides are a useful resource before you head to your track or test day, but your progression on track will always be faster with the help of a driver coach. We have a list of certified instructors to make you faster at Spa here.

TRACK MAP

If you’d like to follow our circuit guide with a track map, use the following diagram of Spa.

CIRCUIT ADDRESS

Trying to get to Spa? Here’s the address:

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Route du Circuit 55, 4970 Stavelot, Belgium

Start / Finish GPS

Start / Finish Line: 50 26’38.7″N 5 58’6.0″E (map link)