Welcome Back Spa !

Belgian GP - Preview
Heidfeld returns to Spa for the first time since 2004

Spa-Francorchamps typifies the sort of atmosphere in racing as it was in the old days. The traditional circuit lies naturally in the hilly landscape of the Ardennes, where a total length of seven kilometres means it is the longest track of the season.

Just one week after the Italian Grand Prix, Formula One will hold round 14 out of the 17 in this season's World Championship on this uphill and downhill track. In 2006 Spa wasn't a Grand Prix venue - the time off was used to renew the pit and paddock facilities as well as to carry out the work regarding the final corners before the start/finish line. The former left-right-left Bus Stop chicane has been changed into a right-left chicane.

Nick Heidfeld:
"I am happy Spa is back on the calendar. I didn't attend the test in July so for me the last time I was there was in 2004 – and those days I was in a car which wasn't competitive at all. It will be different this time. Althoug Spa isn't too far from my home town of Mönchengladbach, I didn't race there very often. The circuit wasn't on the Formula Ford and Formula 3 calendar when I was racing, and I had to miss the 2005 Formula One race after I injured myself in a bicycle accident. Spa is a very beautiful circuit with some very special parts. The combination of turns that make up Eau Rouge through the depression is world famous, and for spectators it is a must.
The speed and power of the cars are really impressive if you see them rushing down the hill, going through the turns and accelerating uphill again. For us drivers the depression is not at all a physical problem, we are just not used to it. Normally we have to deal with G-forces in cornering speeds or under braking."

Robert Kubica:
"It will be very nice to race in Spa in Formula One for the first time, although I have raced in Formula 3 and Formula Renault. Spa is a very nice track, very challenging, very quick and I think generally one of the favourite tracks of all the drivers. We had quite a good test there, but the weather, as always in Spa, will probably be unpredictable, so we have to see how things develop. After Monza, again we have a track where we have a lower downforce configuration on the cars, although not as low as in Monza, but it will be very good. "I think Spa is very nice because of the long, quick corners. Normally there is very good grip there so you have to bring a lot of speed into the corners."