Your view: Spa is greatest circuit

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Jan 14:52:00 2009

There was a ripple of surprise at Eurosport when the result of our latest Formula One poll was announced; you voted overwhelmingly in favour of Spa-Francorchamps as the greatest current F1 track.

2008 Spa-Francorchamps Eau Rouge - 0

Spa received 41% of the vote to beat Monaco (21%) into a distant second place, with the legendary Monza further back in third with just 10%.

A mammoth 5,774 of you cast your vote, with the fast and twisty Belgian track the favourite of 2,385 voters - who must all have been weeping into their leather-palmed driving gloves in 2003 and 2006 when it was dropped from the F1 calendar.

So-called experts in the Eurosport office had confidently tipped Monaco to emerge as a clear favourite track - after all, the Monaco GP is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious races in all of motoring.

But you shunned Monte Carlo's glitz and glamour in favour of Spa's pure driving excitement.

Perhaps you were inspired by Michael Schumacher's record six wins at Spa, or the unpredictable weather - at one stage in its history it had rained at the Belgian Grand Prix for 20 years in a row.

Maybe the Lewis Hamilton overtaking controversy of 2008 was fresh in your minds, or the fact that the track contains probably the best corner in all of motorsport: the section through Eau Rouge, which requires drivers to bomb downhill and over a bridge at 200mph before suddenly switching direction and heading up a steep hill.

Either way, here are the full results:

What is the greatest current F1 track?

1- Spa-Francorchamps - 41%

2- Monaco - 21%

3- Monza - 10%

4- Silverstone - 9%

5- Singapore - 8%

6- Nurburgring - 7%

7- Istanbul - 4%

What you said:

Greatblue56: Spa has length, character, and a beautiful setting. Great crowds and a nice race to spend a weekend with. Most of my favourite races have been at Spa.

m.e.jenner: Brands Hatch - I haven't been there for many a long year, but that's where it all started for me, so it has lovely memories and will always be a favourite of mine.

ournige: Spa, hands down. The only close second would be the Northern Loop of the Nurburgring. Would still love to see an F1 race at Laguna Seca in California. Sorry to you purists, but this would be magic.

Ginger_gitt: How can it be anywhere but Spa? No modern track will ever emulate what F1 has there, no matter how much money gets thrown as it. No other track offers both history and racing in such great measures, as (with the exception of Silverstone) they are all sanitised shadows of their former selves.

abtscot: Spa gets my vote...although I love watching Monaco, it cannot really be viewed as a racing circuit. I love Imola too and its too bad F1 doesn't go there anymore.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

Comment 10 - 29 of 29

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  1. By the way folks your on about the issue about Lewis Hamilton overtaking Kimi raikonnen
    look lads and lasses, Kimi fell off the track two or three corners later.
    Now thats a fact get over it Lewis would of won any way so stop your whinging and get over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From anthony m, on Tue 13 Jan 6:06PM

  2. Formula1 should have more tracks with emphasis on safety of the track.
    So therefor it would keep development costs down of all the tracks.
    We should be encouraging courses to operate safe courses but also exciting ones with plenty of overtaking.
    And less about the facilities at the end of the day the more people you get coming to watch the sport the more money you will make in sponsorships, selling sundries like beer and burgers.
    Lets get back to the basics of what F1 is all about.
    Cutting out cigerate adverts because of the goverment getting on the band wagon.
    With the smoking ban in place it has killed off the leisure industry I.E: Bingo halls and Pubs.
    Now Supermarkets are getting the blame for selling cheap booze.
    If they didn't you would only get it cheaper elsewhere.
    What I am trying to say is cut out all the red tape and let the money flow and hey presto end of recession and a prosperace future.
    At the end of the day people will smoke and people will pack in smoking when it suits them.

    From anthony m, on Tue 13 Jan 5:59PM

  3. Isn't it amusing that the fans like the " old " tracks best.Bet Bernie don't like that opinion. Max don't care as he's not allowed at any of them except Monaco, but he does live there.

    From chtech06, on Tue 13 Jan 3:29PM

  4. I obviously voted of Spa... But what happened to Imola???

    From Alex S, on Tue 13 Jan 2:32PM

  5. ALL MONEY SQUANDERING F 1 RACING SHOULD BE SUSPENDED IN THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS

    HONDA SHOULD SPEND SURPLUS £££ 440 MILLION A YEAR ON UK CAR FACTORY TO KEEP JOBS

    From Lucie D, on Tue 13 Jan 2:16PM

  6. BRANDS HATCH 1986 WAS BEST EXCITING ENTERTAINING CIRCUIT

    _ Brands Hatch --- SPEND A few million euros here

    From Lucie D, on Tue 13 Jan 7:52AM

  7. slimj i agree with you the old nurburgring. every body on here could go and have a blast . that would change the 7 % went last yr hired an old alfa with slicks . didnt even cost too much . this yr ive bought a car to prep for going back . would love to do spa in the future.

    From Tam, on Tue 13 Jan 7:23AM

  8. More than 62,900 fans have signed an online petition urging the FIA to reconsider the penalty that stripped Lewis Hamilton of victory in the Belgian Grand Prix.

    The way that Hamilton was punished for gaining an advantage when he cut the chicane in the closing stages of the race has infuriated fans.

    And one has now set up a petition to garner support for Hamilton's penalty to be overturned.

    From Hell Y, on Tue 13 Jan 1:16AM

  9. More than 62,900 fans have signed an online petition urging the FIA to reconsider the penalty that stripped Lewis Hamilton of victory in the Belgian Grand Prix.

    The way that Hamilton was punished for gaining an advantage when he cut the chicane in the closing stages of the race has infuriated fans.

    And one has now set up a petition to garner support for Hamilton's penalty to be overturned.

    From Hell Y, on Tue 13 Jan 1:15AM

  10. More than 62,900 fans have signed an online petition urging the FIA to reconsider the penalty that stripped Lewis Hamilton of victory in the Belgian Grand Prix.

    The way that Hamilton was punished for gaining an advantage when he cut the chicane in the closing stages of the race has infuriated fans.

    And one has now set up a petition to garner support for Hamilton's penalty to be overturned.

    From Hell Y, on Tue 13 Jan 1:15AM

  11. SlimJ: I would have voted for the Nurburgring if the vote was for the Nordschleife and not the track F1 uses now. The Ring is legendary, and its a shame it isn't used anymore for a major racing event. It is good to know racing does still take place there, but as for modern tracks, the Nurburgring we have now has nothing on Spa, let alone quite possibly the most fearsome track anywhere in the world.

    From ginger_gitt, on Tue 13 Jan 12:23AM

  12. I can't believe that Nurburgring only got 7% . I'd love to see a race through the old track once more. Considered too dangerous by many i wonder " have they ever gone to the Isle of Mann " ? Now that's dangerous and by far more entertaining.

    From slimj, on Mon 12 Jan 11:50PM

  13. kurtmagrigatt: That is exactly what I was saying about tracks being a shadow of their former selves. Hockenhein just isn't Hockenheim without the blast through the woods.

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 12 Jan 11:30PM

  14. I voted Monaco, only because GT4 didn't have Spa so I didn't have a chance to live out my fantasy as an F1 driver...

    From HT, on Mon 12 Jan 9:57PM

  15. I TYSON,
    You obviously missed Valencia

    From MGA, on Mon 12 Jan 9:33PM

  16. BRAZIL WORST TRACK

    From I TYSON, on Mon 12 Jan 8:49PM

  17. Tamscott hs just given Yahoo the idea for the next 'talking point'. Everyone, fingers at the ready!

    From vinnydawg67, on Mon 12 Jan 7:52PM

  18. maurice unless you havnt noticed schumi has stopped raceing now. no matter what the outcome im sure you and every body on here that spa was the bast race of last yr.

    From Tam, on Mon 12 Jan 7:18PM

  19. Spa: history, techincal circuit but offering great passing opportunities. Beautiful scenery, eau rouge in particular - Spa is the most beautiful circuit in f1 since its introduction.

    However, I would have voted old pre-2000 Hockenheim (before they changed it) had it been on the list. I really used to love that. Speeds in excess of 360km/h those days. Passing and slipstreaming continuously, and huge braking for chicanes - TWICE A LAP! And all that through the woods on a relatively narrow track.

    When people say Hockenheim Ring has lost its soul, they're darn right. Hockenheim and it's 'refurbishment' was, in my opinion, the greatest mistake in F1 track history. Bernie should revert it to its previous configuration if he really wants F1 interest to rise.

    From KurtM, on Mon 12 Jan 5:39PM

  20. ERRRRRRR What Montreal GP?:-))))

    From MGA, on Mon 12 Jan 5:35PM
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