A word of warning
Be very careful to buy your tickets from official sites or trusted suppliers. For some reason there seems to be plenty of fraudulant sites selling tickets to the Belgian Grand Prix. I spoke to a couple of guys who lost a few hundred Euros being defrauded online.
More info
For more pictures and information have a look at my summary of the 2011 race. If you still have more questions, feel free to sign up and ask in the forum
Seating
Silver 1
I watched the 2011 race and qualifying from Silver Grandstand 1. It is an uncovered grandstand after the pit exit on the run down to Eau Rouge. I bought the tickets as I thought it would be just like a guaranteed bronze seat. I thought I might get wet and cold but at least I would know that I would see something and if the view was no good then I could just join the Bronze crowd in the mud.
But it turned out that my seats were excellent. Big screens around Spa are generally too small but mine was just big enough and just close enough that I could read who was coming where. I had a view of the cars from the exit of La Source all the way to the right kink in the Kemmel straight so I got to see the first lap carnage, Hamilton and Maldonado having a scrap, Sutil losing it heavily in qualifying, and some great, ballsy moves like Webber taking Alonso on the dive into Eau Rouge. The motorhomes were right in front of us and so the McLaren, Lotus and Torro Rosso drivers were constantly walking by and giving us a wave. The seats were 10 times more comfortable than the bleachers in Montreal. They don't have a back but they are molded for your bum and there is plenty of room to get in and out unlike at Montreal. On race day the guys checking tickets would go around with a sponge and wipe the seats dry.
The only annoying thing about the stands at Spa is that you have to get your ticket scanned when you come into the stand but you aso have to get it scanned on your way out. So there is a line up coming in and a line up going out.
But it turned out that my seats were excellent. Big screens around Spa are generally too small but mine was just big enough and just close enough that I could read who was coming where. I had a view of the cars from the exit of La Source all the way to the right kink in the Kemmel straight so I got to see the first lap carnage, Hamilton and Maldonado having a scrap, Sutil losing it heavily in qualifying, and some great, ballsy moves like Webber taking Alonso on the dive into Eau Rouge. The motorhomes were right in front of us and so the McLaren, Lotus and Torro Rosso drivers were constantly walking by and giving us a wave. The seats were 10 times more comfortable than the bleachers in Montreal. They don't have a back but they are molded for your bum and there is plenty of room to get in and out unlike at Montreal. On race day the guys checking tickets would go around with a sponge and wipe the seats dry.
The only annoying thing about the stands at Spa is that you have to get your ticket scanned when you come into the stand but you aso have to get it scanned on your way out. So there is a line up coming in and a line up going out.
Some Views From my Seat
Bronze seating
Bronze tickets are a great way to go at Spa. For a start they are cheap. And there are tons of great places to watch from. On Friday and Saturday the crowds aren't so big and you can wander around the circuit finding the best place for Sunday. Here are some of my favourite Bronze spots from the 2011 race. There is a map of the track below so you can find the spots on the map.
Searching
Here is the best ticket advice I have found while looking for my tickets for the race at Spa-Francorchamps.
The information on F1 Fanatic is excellent. If it is your first trip to Spa I really recomend you sift through everything that has been posted in the Belgian Grand Prix forum. And, while it might be quiet at the moment, feel free to ask questions in the forum here
Most people on that forum seem to recomend the Elephant Camp site. The owner seems really friendly and helpful and I think the site is nice and close to the track. I will give my proper verdict in September. I was looking at camping at the other end of the circuit but then I saw a Youtube video of drunken Germans being loud drunken Germans and listening to loud German techno so I stayed away.
The Spa Francorchamps circuit website has a lot of good information. Especially the section on how the hell to get there.
Youtube is good for checking out the viewa from different vantage points. I just searched for the grandstand names and found a few videos of older races.
A few veterans of the Belgian circuit were warning me to be well prepared for cold, wet and muddy conditions. If, like me you are going to be camping it is probably a good idea to have good wet weather gear including water proof shoes and clothes for any condition.
Here is an excellent write up of a fan's experience at Spa in 2010. The video he posted is just below. Gives some good indication of the camping and the view of Pouhon
The information on F1 Fanatic is excellent. If it is your first trip to Spa I really recomend you sift through everything that has been posted in the Belgian Grand Prix forum. And, while it might be quiet at the moment, feel free to ask questions in the forum here
Most people on that forum seem to recomend the Elephant Camp site. The owner seems really friendly and helpful and I think the site is nice and close to the track. I will give my proper verdict in September. I was looking at camping at the other end of the circuit but then I saw a Youtube video of drunken Germans being loud drunken Germans and listening to loud German techno so I stayed away.
The Spa Francorchamps circuit website has a lot of good information. Especially the section on how the hell to get there.
Youtube is good for checking out the viewa from different vantage points. I just searched for the grandstand names and found a few videos of older races.
A few veterans of the Belgian circuit were warning me to be well prepared for cold, wet and muddy conditions. If, like me you are going to be camping it is probably a good idea to have good wet weather gear including water proof shoes and clothes for any condition.
Here is an excellent write up of a fan's experience at Spa in 2010. The video he posted is just below. Gives some good indication of the camping and the view of Pouhon
Tips of the day
Here are a few things I would recomend to you if you are heading to Spa.
1. Take binoculars. From most places on the track you can see the track in front of you but you can also see a piece of track a few miles away. Binoculars will mean that from the Kemmel straight you can follow the cars coming to the bus stop, and if you are seated just after La Source you will be able to watch the cars drop down into Pouhon
2. The food and beer is expensive but if you leave the circuit at Les Combes or La Source you will find everything for half the price and it will take you all of 2 minutes to get there.
3. It will rain and it will get cold. Get proper wet weeather gear. Not plastic ponchos and why not leave the umbrellas at home so the poor bastard behind you can see the track.
4. Get out of your seat. Maybe your grandstand has an excellent view but do spend at least one day walking around. You will find good vantage points all around the track and Spa is full of corners that you should not miss out on seeing. The sound bouncing off the trees at Pouhon is pretty impressive
5. Buy early. There is a 20% discount on tickets if you buy befoer the 31st of October and after that they usually have a 10% discount untill a few months before the race.
1. Take binoculars. From most places on the track you can see the track in front of you but you can also see a piece of track a few miles away. Binoculars will mean that from the Kemmel straight you can follow the cars coming to the bus stop, and if you are seated just after La Source you will be able to watch the cars drop down into Pouhon
2. The food and beer is expensive but if you leave the circuit at Les Combes or La Source you will find everything for half the price and it will take you all of 2 minutes to get there.
3. It will rain and it will get cold. Get proper wet weeather gear. Not plastic ponchos and why not leave the umbrellas at home so the poor bastard behind you can see the track.
4. Get out of your seat. Maybe your grandstand has an excellent view but do spend at least one day walking around. You will find good vantage points all around the track and Spa is full of corners that you should not miss out on seeing. The sound bouncing off the trees at Pouhon is pretty impressive
5. Buy early. There is a 20% discount on tickets if you buy befoer the 31st of October and after that they usually have a 10% discount untill a few months before the race.