With the advent of the new ground effect single-seaters, lap times have risen by a few tenths compared to the previous ones in 2021. However, this constant could reduce, if not skip, a Spa-Francorchamps, meeting this weekend. The Belgian track has been the subject of modifications and refurbishments, and such a situation represents an important variable in the world fight between Red Bull e Ferrari.
A new dress for Spa-Francorchamps
The legendary Ardennes track has a new look. The asphalt was redone after about twenty years, and the works of runway safety (such as the novelty of the gravel outside Pouhon, a tricky curve that can be traveled almost in full), also recently the subject of dark days for motorsport. The millions spent rhyme with “eighty”, therefore a use of first-class means and capital. The organizers are trying to keep the historic track afloat, increasingly at risk in such a coveted calendar.
The words of Jarno Zaffelli on the renovation of Spa
The founder of the company named “Dromo” who carried out the work on the Belgian circuit is called Jarno Zaffelli. The forty-five year old from Emilia spoke about the changes made, assuring that the resurface made the track faster, thanks also to a more modern asphalt. The gap from last year's cars, therefore, could be smaller than expected.
Zaffelli had his say on the subject, also referring to how the Eau-Rouge curve will be covered: "It will be a curve to do in full and will offer opportunities. The cars will feel the difference between the new asphalt and the old one. If we look at the GT cars during the Spa 24 Hours, pole was 1s faster than last year. We know that F7 cars are generally slower this year than in 1, so there won't be a big gap here".
“The last time the track was paved was almost 20 years ago. “Since then, the performance of racing cars and motorcycles has increased enormously. The technology available for asphalt materials and paving equipment has also changed dramatically. Dromo's experience and expertise consist in the development of a specific mixture for each circuit".
The sacredness of Eau-Rouge
The legendary uphill curve that leads to the long straight towards Les Combes was the scene of unforgettable episodes in the past, just think of the duels between Alonso and Webber, or between Schumacher and Raikkonen. Zaffelli explained how the company examined him more than 20 different ways how to change the Eau-Rouge zone. The goal: to leave the curve as pure as possible, while making it safer: “In planning and further developments we took into account the new regulations and the new tyres. Ci have been more than 20 iterations of Eau Rouge. We spent several days with professional pilots in our simulators internal to get their feedback.”
“We then spent two full days with professional pilots in the Vi-Grade simulation center, supervised by Thierry Boutsen ed Emmanuel Pirro. Between October and November 2021 the work was then fine-tuned in the F1 and GT car simulators with Marco Bonanomi, to get their feedback”.
“This work helped us a lot in choosing the final project which was then presented to the Circuits Commission of the FIA before the works that were carried out in the first months of the 2022 season. In addition, we did our internal analysis of the circuit, a LIDAR scan of the area and then a full analysis to fine-tune all the details”Zaffelli concluded.
SOURCE: Motorsport.com Italy; FormulaPassion
