Spa-Francorchamps F1 Future in Doubt
The future of Spa-Francorchamps on the F1 racing calendar is in serious jeopardy after the news that the local Council of State has decided to suspend the track’s license until 2026.
The news comes a blow as it remains a favourite of many fans and drivers alike.
A new permit was issued to the track in 2007 however the permit came with the condition that the track owners would carry out an environmental impact study having received complaints from locals about noise from the track. According to PitPass, the Council of State has now declared that the work done to the track is seriously inadequate and incomplete and they have therefore decided to revoke the circuit’s license for 17 years.
“Since the filing of the complaint, the situation has changed,” circuit director Pierre-Alain Thibaut told Lesoir.
“The circuit has worked hard to reduce noise and relations with local residents has improved.
“It is a difficult situation, however we have made commitments vis-a-vis a range of people and we must comply on pain of having to pay damages.
“We will challenge the government and organise a dialogue with the board of residents.”
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Alex 3 | Sep 23, 2009 | Reply
Bummer!
Alex 3 | Sep 23, 2009 | Reply
It seeems there is a reprive at least short term but this reminds me of a situation that is all too common.
Many people get permits to build houses under the approach and take off paths of airports. They price them right and people buy them. Once they move in they start to complain about the noise levels of aircraft landing and departing.
Spa has been in existance since 1921 and was orignally 15 km long, shortened to 14 km after the war and to its present length of 7 km. It hosts about 24 events in 2009 with obvious economic benefits to the region and presumably an ROI on the 19 million Euro investment made in 2006. The government sees the Belgian GP as a world class event.
So to those who don’t like the noise, suck it up and accept it. The track will mitigate it to the fullest extent possible but silence in the country side on race weekends just is not going to happen. You knew it was there when you moved to the area. The fawna has long adapted to it and that is the way it is.