From Sunday June 9 to Friday June 14, the Circuit will be carrying out various works on its site to improve its infrastructure. These works are fully in line with the company's 2024-2028 strategy, adopted in autumn 2023.
Some sections of the runway will be resurfaced, representing a total of 3.5 km of runway and over 600 m of pitlane, or some 43,000 sq. m. of surface area.
The new tarmac will be laid on the following bends:
- from T17 to T2, i.e. from the Blanchimont bend to the Eau Rouge bend, including the fastlane of the F1 pitlane
- T4 to T8, from Kemmel to the Brussels bend
- From T14 to T15, i.e. from the Campus bend to the Paul Frère bend.
These major works, which follow on from the resurfacing work carried out in 2022 between Eau Rouge and Raidillon and between the Brussels bend and Speaker Corner (which has also been split to create a track dedicated to two-wheelers), aim to improve safety conditions on the track and guarantee the best driving conditions for drivers. The sections to be renovated include some of the oldest parts of the circuit.
Amaury Bertholomé, CEO Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
"As we all know, track safety is one of the Circuit's priorities. A number of projects have already been completed this winter. One kilometer of new protective fencing (debris fence) has been installed along the track, new accesses to the track have been created for emergency vehicles, and a new vibrator has been installed at the Speaker Corner bend. Secondly, and this is of course an important issue for all circuits and particularly Spa-Francorchamps, water run-off on the track was improved with new gutters and grooving at the Speaker Corner. Various drains have also been installed to improve groundwater flow management.
Another major project is getting underway, involving large sections of the circuit: half the track will be resurfaced. It's a real challenge, and we've called on the advice of specialist companies. The duration of the work may seem short, and the resurfacing to be carried out quickly, but their studies have shown that it is possible to drive on the track the day after the work has been completed. It has also been shown that laying new tarmac requires specific weather conditions. In the event of temperature variations, the strength of the asphalt can be problematic, which is why we decided to carry out the work in June. In fact, it's preferable to carry out the work over a short period of time, but at a time when there is the least difference in temperature between day and night".
In addition, a new sound emission management system will be installed during the same period. The entire sound measurement system, both hardware and software, will be replaced, in order to provide the latest generation of equipment for controlling noise emissions from motor racing activities on the Circuit. As a reminder, the sound level meters (Class A as required by the Circuit's operating permit) are located outside the Circuit at Meiz and Pierris, and inside the Circuit on the start line at the foot of the Pit Building.
Finally, improvements will also be made to the Circuit's sound system, to provide spectators with greater comfort when listening to the speakers' comments during events taking place on the Circuit.
The Circuit will therefore close its doors to the public during this period, before resuming the season in earnest on June 15 with a track day, followed by Spa Italia on June 16, before devoting the second half of June to SRO Speedweek and the much-anticipated centenary of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
