Spa in the Wet
Discussion
Eau Rouge/Le Raidillon is the obvious one to watch, Pouhon (plenty of run off on the outside but very little on the inside) and Blanchimont.
Also the left kink before Blanchimont (not really a corner in the dry) becomes tricky in the wet - line is crucial as the danger is running wide on the exit.
You can have a play at La Source if you give yourself enough room away from the barrier on the left. Watch out for the line of drain covers on the left at the exit.
Wee video from May (when it had dried out a little):
http://media.putfile.com/Spa_310506
You'll love it - awesome track, even in the wet.
Cheers,
Ali
Also the left kink before Blanchimont (not really a corner in the dry) becomes tricky in the wet - line is crucial as the danger is running wide on the exit.
You can have a play at La Source if you give yourself enough room away from the barrier on the left. Watch out for the line of drain covers on the left at the exit.
Wee video from May (when it had dried out a little):
http://media.putfile.com/Spa_310506
You'll love it - awesome track, even in the wet.
Cheers,
Ali
, and to add that you should remember Spa is big enough to be dry one section of the circuit and very wet on the other. 
First time i went out in the wet testing it was pissing it down, a little imtimidating, especially with ferraris and m3's a little quicker than i was kicking up massive rooster tails and blinding me for a good 200 metres. Anyhoo spa is awesome, i found in the damp your could really start to push it in relative safety. Go through the corners:
Eau rouge: in the wet take it slowely to start but going up the hill through La Radillion the track bears right on the brow but you can straight line it over the curbs in safety, although in the real wet be wary over the curbs.
Les combes: just get your break point right.
Rivage: a down hill off camber switchback, break a little earlier than you think but if it dries out i found you can break quite deep into this.
Pouhon: turn in is brave but it is a long sweeping corner with a runoff like a carpark, its forgiving to be ballsy on the turnin.
The complex to stavelot has little runoff but does have grassrete on the apexes so if it dries get most of the car up over these, in the wet, keep in on the track.
Blanchimont: in the wet be a little tentative but there is lots of run off on the right.
Bus stop: the break point is on or just before a gentle right, in the wet this might be a little hairy but if you miss your break point you are presented with another carpark runoff so once again forgiving. If its dry you can use all the curbs + grassrete through here. Careful on the exit, you'll be going slow but there is only 2m of grass before an unforgiving wall.
La source: just pick your break point.
If your going for times ( i know your not supposed to on trackdays but....)'accidently - whoops' miss your break point for la source and go into the runoff, turn round then you get a massive run down the hill through eau rouge, a little tip i was told when racing there.
Eau rouge: in the wet take it slowely to start but going up the hill through La Radillion the track bears right on the brow but you can straight line it over the curbs in safety, although in the real wet be wary over the curbs.
Les combes: just get your break point right.
Rivage: a down hill off camber switchback, break a little earlier than you think but if it dries out i found you can break quite deep into this.
Pouhon: turn in is brave but it is a long sweeping corner with a runoff like a carpark, its forgiving to be ballsy on the turnin.
The complex to stavelot has little runoff but does have grassrete on the apexes so if it dries get most of the car up over these, in the wet, keep in on the track.
Blanchimont: in the wet be a little tentative but there is lots of run off on the right.
Bus stop: the break point is on or just before a gentle right, in the wet this might be a little hairy but if you miss your break point you are presented with another carpark runoff so once again forgiving. If its dry you can use all the curbs + grassrete through here. Careful on the exit, you'll be going slow but there is only 2m of grass before an unforgiving wall.
La source: just pick your break point.
If your going for times ( i know your not supposed to on trackdays but....)'accidently - whoops' miss your break point for la source and go into the runoff, turn round then you get a massive run down the hill through eau rouge, a little tip i was told when racing there.
its not that bad if you are sensible. dry line can appear quite quick once its stopped...but it CAN start again!
if the clouds clear you'll be fine, if it stays overcast...?
two offs in June in the VERY wet...one biggy at Radillon (as previously mentioned)
should be ok (but soggy) in a caterfield
andy
if the clouds clear you'll be fine, if it stays overcast...?
two offs in June in the VERY wet...one biggy at Radillon (as previously mentioned)
should be ok (but soggy) in a caterfield
andy
wet or dry spa is a brill circuit, as already stated above. treat it with a little respect in the wet just like you would any other circuit you've never driven before and you'll be fine. My second ever race was at spa in a torrential down poor with a car that had single speed wipers - charachter building is how you'd best describe it i think.
Can be 'interesting' in wet!
June trip- Elise spin in front of me (not my gay voiceover in the vid BTW)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc
June trip- Elise spin in front of me (not my gay voiceover in the vid BTW)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc
I've just got round to uploading another vid from Spa. It's VERY wet!
http://media.putfile.com/Spa-in-the-r
I uploaded it for the Porsche boys 'cos I'm following the Parr motorsport GT3RS as featured in Total911.
http://total911.co.uk/index.asp?id=9
http://media.putfile.com/Spa-in-the-r
I uploaded it for the Porsche boys 'cos I'm following the Parr motorsport GT3RS as featured in Total911.
http://total911.co.uk/index.asp?id=9
iguana said:
Can be 'interesting' in wet!
June trip- Elise spin in front of me (not my gay voiceover in the vid BTW)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc
June trip- Elise spin in front of me (not my gay voiceover in the vid BTW)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc
Don't talk wet, that is you.
It was May actually.
Daft Lizard.
Ali's vid looks to be on the same day we were there.
Pic thanks to Scott at www.trackphoto.co.uk
Remembered the RS200s etc...
Edited by GVK on Wednesday 19th July 04:46
IMHO, for the wet days out particularly Spa, I'd suggest
1. doing some skid pan work this winter
2. try 1 gear higher at each corner
3. don't be a slave to the 'line', there's often grip elsewhere and you're never going to be at the highest optimum speed
4. don't slavishly follow the guy in front, try and look past him and if he looks nervous, expect the worst
5. relax, drop your shoulders and free up a little.
1. doing some skid pan work this winter
2. try 1 gear higher at each corner
3. don't be a slave to the 'line', there's often grip elsewhere and you're never going to be at the highest optimum speed
4. don't slavishly follow the guy in front, try and look past him and if he looks nervous, expect the worst
5. relax, drop your shoulders and free up a little.
Spa in the wet is as much fun as it is in the dry - maybe even more so if you're in a lesser-powered car.
Sure - you need to have your wits about you but as with any track driving - you just need to drive within yourself and according to the conditions.
Here's a couple of clips of me trying to prove my point :-)
www.jimbocam.com/spa-francorchamps/v1/VCDw-spa1-1300-batcat.mpg
(rivage in the wet is one of my favourite track experiences)
www.jimbocam.com/spa-francorchamps/v1/VCDw-spa1-1411-batcat-cam.mpg
plenty more sideways spa-in-the-wet action at www.jimbocam.com/index-big.html#spa1
Jonny
BaT
Sure - you need to have your wits about you but as with any track driving - you just need to drive within yourself and according to the conditions.
Here's a couple of clips of me trying to prove my point :-)
www.jimbocam.com/spa-francorchamps/v1/VCDw-spa1-1300-batcat.mpg
(rivage in the wet is one of my favourite track experiences)
www.jimbocam.com/spa-francorchamps/v1/VCDw-spa1-1411-batcat-cam.mpg
plenty more sideways spa-in-the-wet action at www.jimbocam.com/index-big.html#spa1
Jonny
BaT
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