Spa- The Bus Stop is no more

[Toronto]

What do you guys think of the new turn, i think the old one allowed people to out break one another into the turn, but now (sorry no pics) it sweeps right then left, with no 90 degree turn, i don't know how the pit entrance is going to look, but they just butchered this turn, i hope they don't make anymore changes to the best race in F1

[SFDMALEX]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

If they take bus stop off they have to use the straight strethc wich runs parallel to the bus stop.

[sameerrao]

Damn! It used to be a place with a lot of overtaking. The braking for that corner was difficult to judge because you were just completing a bend at a speed of 190 mph and then hard on the brakes....

I did not see a mention of this on the spa site though http://www.spa-francorchamps.be

[Ghostbat]

What a shame, if it's true!! :(

[Toronto]

Damn! It used to be a place with a lot of overtaking. The braking for that corner was difficult to judge because you were just completing a bend at a speed of 190 mph and then hard on the brakes....

I did not see a mention of this on the spa site though http://www.spa-francorchamps.be

I to had trouble finding info but

http://2004-francorchamps.skynetblogs.be/images.php?image=364265_travaux%20plan%2040.jpg&resize=no

the old turn is in dark green the new one is paved

and a photo
http://2004-francorchamps.skynetblogs.be/images.php?image=391010_nouvchic%20jun%2009.jpg&resize=no

[sameerrao]

Okay it doesnt look bad at all. In fact the corner looks tougher than before. Earlier the fast guys used to hammer the curbs on the entry to bus stop to go through quicker. Now you have to judge the braking better because the entry to the bus stop is much sharper. And the braking is going to be on a curve. Looks cool!

[hwe]

Agree it doesn't look bad in its own, but it still isn't The Bustop schicane anymore. :( Put it on another track ! :lol:

[sameerrao]

Agree it doesn't look bad in its own, but it still isn't The Bustop schicane anymore. :( Put it on another track ! :lol:

Well to be honest the Bustop chicane wasn't a part of the original Spa circuit anyway. I am normally against change for the sake of it but I dont have that much attachment to the bus stop except for the overtaking opportunities it provide.

Now if they re-routed Eau Rouge or some of the other old turns I would be super pissed...

[chipanggo]

aaawe. too bad. though it was a very slow corner, there were a lot of overtaking action going on in there.

[McLarenboy]

yes, it's fucked up it has changed - DC even complained about the fact that the F1-drivers in the drivers association weren't even consulted.
Also the national drivers are very pissed off indeed, no one actually knows why they changed it. It just means one less place to overtake.
Where's the freaking logic behind that :x :x

[SPEEDCORE]

Im just glad the track is back :D

[sameerrao]

Here is what David Coulthard had to say

David Coulthard has criticised the Belgian GP organisers for making modifications to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit without consulting F1 drivers.

The distinctive Bus Stop chicane at the end of the lap was reprofiled earlier this year, and the revised version came in for criticism from sportscar drivers at the recent Spa 24 Hours, who said it made overtaking more difficult at what was traditionally a favourite passing spot.

"It's a little bit disappointing," said Coulthard, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. "Quite how we find ourselves in a situation where a track is changed without input from a current driver is very strange."

The Scot said the GPDA would need to be more pro-active in future, and will ask F1 circuits to advise it of any planned changes.

The Bus Stop was previously reconfigured in 2002, when the second part of the complex was eased. A spokesman for the circuit said the latest tweaks were made for safety reasons.



Source: www.itv-f1.com

[SpeedBoy]

It is a shame that they changed the turn. one place less to overtake. :(

[kickme]

don't believe this! they are really taking the fun out of F1. next they'll want to change Eu-rouge