Spa24 - 2024

[Scott.T]

Off to Spa24 arriving Wednesday to catch the Spa street parade and have all access tickets for the weekend.
We are staying in an apartment in the city, so wondering if there are shuttle bus's that run to and from the circuit.
Will save getting stuck in traffic between apartment and track and would allow for some alcoholic liquid consumption.
Any help/advice appreciated.

[Scott.T]

Any guidance on where to park appreciated

[FredericRobinson]

I’ve only camped, not gone in and out, but I’d be seeing if access to the road that runs up from Stavelot is passible and looking to park on the verge, most years it seems to be possible (for a fee), otherwise try coming up from Malmedy and parking at Les Combes, it’s on a slope though so might be tricky if it’s wet.
Wherever you go get in early, traffic was chaos around the WEC, not helped by roadworks in Francorchamps

[Scott.T]

Thanks.
We are there from Wednesday so will have a scout around on the quieter days.
Cheers

[FredericRobinson]

Scott.T said:

Thanks.
We are there from Wednesday so will have a scout around on the quieter days.
Cheers

If you’ve not done it before you should drive the old circuit from Les Combes, through Burneville, along the Masta straight and up to Paul Frere, which will include the areas I was suggesting, worth doing early in the week as they have booths on the roads and charge you to drive through as a way of collecting parking money, times they’re there don’t seem particularly fixed

[bodysnatcher]

bodysnatcher said:

This coming race will be my 4th 24 and despite coming in every day and at odd hours during the race I have never encountered any booth on a public road.

Usually come in from Stavelot, parking at double gauche. Have also parked Les Combes. But I do have a pass for on circuit parking. Quite a few park on the verges on the Blanchimont gate access road from Stavelot, but it's then a hell of a walk.

FredericRobinson said:

If you’ve not done it before you should drive the old circuit from Les Combes, through Burneville, along the Masta straight and up to Paul Frere, which will include the areas I was suggesting, worth doing early in the week as they have booths on the roads and charge you to drive through as a way of collecting parking money, times they’re there don’t seem particularly fixed

[FredericRobinson]

bodysnatcher said:

Must have stopped then, last time I encountered one was 2019, didn’t go last year and won’t this year as it’s too close to Le Mans now

[Underdone]

I'm heading over on Friday with my 12 year old son, camping close to the les combes entrance. I'm planning to bring bikes as heard its possible to bring them in to the circuit to help get around. Can anyone confirm that this is the case?

[t955daytona]

Hi,
Enjoy your trip, I am heading down on Thursday and have been for the last 4 years. It is an amazing event but is looking wet this year. I can't say I have seen many bikes but there has been a few so doubt you will have any issues, just be aware it is exceptionally hilly. The trip from where you will enter at Les Combes to the fan village (bottom of Radion) is down hill but the trip back is steep. The entire 7km circuit is accessible by some form of path and if you are there on Friday evening there is a circuit walk which would be great on a bike. any other questions just ask.

Regards Craig

[FredericRobinson]

I'd be surprised if you find it easier or quicker to get about by bike than on foot, the paths will be crowded, and as has been pointed out, bits are very steep

[Underdone]

Cheers guy, we'll stick with plan A And if it's too packed lock the bikes somewhere and come back later. Noted about the hills, I've been powering up the mendips with him over last couple of years so the odd hill won't be a showstopper. Regarding the track walk, have you seen people do it on bikes before? That would be really cool. Might even make 2 laps...

[Underdone]

Oh yeah forgot to ask are there plenty of food and beer stalls or should we stock up on route at a hypermarche

[FredericRobinson]

Underdone said:

Oh yeah forgot to ask are there plenty of food and beer stalls or should we stock up on route at a hypermarche

There’s plenty about, expensive and queues as you’d expect, there’s a few supermarkets in Malmedy which is convenient for where you’re camping

[Underdone]

Just to complete the loop, we had a great time at spa, plenty of bikes on the paths (and e scooters etc) and having them was a great asset despite having to push up a few hills. Crowds were not a big problem as it wasnt ever that busy and people were used to looking out for numerous atvs and mopeds etc. Would highly recommend as it means you can traverse the track in 1/2hr and still have the energy to return to remote spots. They were even relaxed about bikes in the paddock which I was surprised about. Belgians obviously very relaxed.

The bar and food at the Raidillon grandstand was good value and quality, so thanks for the recommendations for that.

We never had issues getting good seats in grandstands even at the start of 24hr race ( although it was much busier then)

Highlight for my boy was seeing the hypercars run on Friday from pit wall, the new detomasso thing and the AM valkarye, Praga and dallara cars flashing by a few centimeters away was shocking!!

We camped at Camping Les Ecuries F1 which was good value and not noisy at the expense of being ~25mins walk to the track up a chuffing steep hill, I think I'd return here rather than the other closer options we witnessed at les combes which had large groups of drunk Germans and dutch blasting euro beats into the small hours

[Scott.T]

We have also had a great time.
Stayed in an Apartment in Spa, so had a great meal in local bars/restaurant each day. We were right in the centre so the Wednesday parade was literally on our doorstep.
Shame the rain came but we retired back to Spa Town and had a great 3 course meal, beer and watched it in the motorsport themed restaurant on the live stream.

The track is next level and makes UK tracks feel amateur and money grabbing ,(for access and seating). Our wristband was only ever checked once on entry and allowed us access to everything bar the start grid walk. This was only about £63 for 4 days (super good value). I'm not normally a Grandstand user, but it was a great experience to watch the start from Eue Rouge and finish from the Chicane grandstand.

With regard to parking. We were lucky enough to be given a complementary parking pass for P6 by the attendant as we entered the car park. This gave us the freedom to come and go during each day as we chose (which we did) rather then having to pay 15 euro each time.
If we go again we will definitely pre pay for parking.
I'm not sure how you can park closer. P6 is a steep 10-15min walk. So will look into that. Although the P numbering doesn't seem that logical.

We walked the track twice and in total over 4 days walked 35 Mile's!!!!!
All In all a great experience with so many positives I can't pick a highlight.......other than Aston Martin beating Ferrari and i recommend the night practice on Thursday.

Edited by Scott.T on Monday 1st July 07:53

Edited by Scott.T on Monday 1st July 07:54

Edited by Scott.T on Monday 1st July 07:59

Edited by Scott.T on Monday 1st July 08:01