Spare Parts (F1 odds and ends)

So I'm going to Spa this year with a few friends, and I'm wondering if any of you guys have done it with just public transport (we're not driving there because none of us actually own a car ) for around £500 all in. I'm planning on getting Silver 1 tickets (£265 or so) whenever I get paid and then one of the guys really wanna get a hotel, although us other two don't mind camping if we have to.

Sounds like a stupid question, but does anyone know of any relatively cheap hotels or similar around the circuit? We're also going by Eurostar, and it only goes to Brussels and with Google Maps being a pleb it doesn't show any ways of going from Brussels to Spa. I'd assume there'll be some buses around the time because of whats happening but sometimes there's not! Anyone know the best way to get there as it is almost like half the country!

£500 is probably very "budget" for this, and if I need to go a couple hundred over, I probably will, but currently the aim is 500.

 

There are no cheap hotels because its in the middle of nowhere - Spa itself is about a 10 minute drive from the track and has only a handful of hotels which I would imagine are pre booked. Camping is the best option and a there are designated camp areas (Always set your tent high on the banked fields - it may come as a surprise to most but it rains a lot here ) which are set up by local farmers along with parking right by the track. You wont beat the location or atmosphere anywhere else (IMO), the sound of the engines in the hills and woods is just spine tingling. There are also some houses in a little hamlet as you approach the main entrance who offer parking and camping in their gardens, but I would imagine these are on a first come first served basis and you will obviously have to pay.

Its one of the best attended races because of its location so I would advise going a day or two early and getting set up before the mad rush. I always head into Germany and stay there because it pretty close to the boarder and the access is right off one of the auto routes - they close it down a bit like they do at Silverstone. Liege is closest (I think) and I'm pretty sure they might shuttle in from there, about 45 mins. I would price up a cheap car hire from Brussels, because you might find that by the time the 3 of you have shuttled from there it might be cheaper?

 

Wow that's amazing

 

Apparently due to Pirelli and their inability to provide a fast and hard wearing tyre, 2017 gains will be less than amazing/proposed.

Time to change supplier IMO.

 

This is where Pirelli lose any empathy I have with them. Its been argued that they have been forced into a corner with what is expected and produce tyres to a request and not in line with traditional sports performance, but when asked to provide more grip (which is achievable with the additional width alone!) they are already questioning what they can achieve?

 

Pirelli in 'our tyres aren't good enough for that' shock

 

What's happened to F1 engineering standards? Should get some dodgy unbranded remoulds imo. Would save some money for cash strapped Formula 1 teams and probably the same amount of wet grip.

 

Can someone call GoodYear and ask for them for a decent slick tyre that race cars can use?

FFS Pirelli

 

The future of the engine formula remains under discussion, with manufacturers working on proposals to cover off engine concerns that are to be submitted to the FIA by Friday, January 15.

Dalla, whose company is responsible for F1's new-for-2016 high-speed camera to assist with accident investigation, believes the championship could use Formula E technology to increase horsepower in the future.

Magneti Marelli has experience in the area, through its plan to build motors for at least two Formula E teams for season three of the all-electric championship.

"The challenge we are taking onboard with Formula E is to develop a high-tech race solution of a 300kw electric motor," Dalla told Autosport.

"In the future, Formula 1 could have the need to have a bigger motor, a bigger ERS, not only 120kw as today but eventually 300kw if you want to have 1000 horsepower engines.

"Considering that we maintain our approach to Formula E to develop the best we could have done from the technical point of view in a sustainable environment, the two areas are not too far.

"We believe tomorrow, this kind of solution will be used in Formula E and help the future direction of Formula 1.

"Formula E, more than Formula 1, will give us the possibility to redefine the electrical architecture of a car - the voltage, the device, etc.

"I'm sure Formula 1 will use this kind of experience and I'm pretty sure sooner or later hydraulics will disappear from a F1 car.

"So what we are learning from Formula E can be used not only for the motor but in general for the electric architecture of the car."

AUTOSPORT SAYS
Lawrence Barretto, F1 reporter (@lawrobarretto)
Formula 1 has always prided itself on being the pinnacle of motorsport and driver of new technology.

So the prospect of taking tech from another championship, in this case Formula E, will not be an enticing one.

However, the future of F1's engine formula is very much up in the air, with the cost of the current unit a major problem.

F1 bosses also want spectacular races and cars with more power that should in turn be much tougher to drive.

The length of ongoing discussions proves achieving those goals is no easy feat, but borrowing tech from Formula E could be part of the solution.

It would be attractive to manufacturers because of its road car relevance and more power could mean better racing.

There's no shame in borrowing technology, it's how F1 uses and develops it that will be crucial if it wants to remain as the pinnacle of motorsport.

 

Ultimate brown pants

Also the spectators are standing behind a rope lol

 

That is amazing, look at the shear drop at the start! Great test of driver skill as well.

 

I wonder how much private practice he had? Loving the snow chains on an F1 car

 

Rewind a year ago when he binned it in that barrier.

 

Another failure chalked up for the worst WDC in F1 history.........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/35386821

 

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Not a massive fan of this. If the colours were the other way around then sure, but it just looks like they ran out of black paint!

 

I actually like the simplicity, but it will be interesting to see what additional sponsor branding looks like as it appears a little naked at the moment.

 

BBC indicating it may yet be subject to change colour come Australia.


If it's black does it lend any hope to McLaren changing to something a bit nicer than the corporate black...after all their hype last winter!

 

Black cars... about as original as bushy beards and hillarious photo booth props.

Let's have some bloody colour for craps sake.

 

Looks like the Pirelli test car.