2013 Belgian GP - Spa

[ExplodeTheApex]

Right, my current weather predictions:
- Friday FP1: Starts with a fairly wet track due to early morning rain (of a moderate velocity)
- FP2: Should be a fully dry track, and no rain projected for the rest of Friday during daylight hours
- FP3: Could be some clouds overhead for most of the day, maybe a damp/drying FP3
- Quali: Probably a fully dry track for all sessions, but from 17.00 Local Time onwards, showers ranging from light to downpours will plague Saturday evening and night, with little chance between to let the track dry off, especially in the cooler night time temperatures.
- Race day: A damp but possibly drying track in the morning, not helped by another 08.00 Local Time shower. However, just before/into the race window, the weather gods look like they will strike again, and strike hard. Heavy rain on and off, with peeks of sunshine in between, possibly lightning: a typical Ardennes storm!

However, don't get too excited as the weather projections are literally changing hourly, and I am not sure we will know for certain what the weather will be like until after it has passed Thanks to all the other guys monitoring weather as well, and also the rather off-topic, but interesting beer and food chat, I might have to plan some serious gym sessions next week

[SectorOne]

Right, my current weather predictions:
- Friday FP1: Starts with a fairly wet track due to early morning rain (of a moderate velocity)
- FP2: Should be a fully dry track, and no rain projected for the rest of Friday during daylight hours
- FP3: Could be some clouds overhead for most of the day, maybe a damp/drying FP3
- Quali: Probably a fully dry track for all sessions, but from 17.00 Local Time onwards, showers ranging from light to downpours will plague Saturday evening and night, with little chance between to let the track dry off, especially in the cooler night time temperatures.
- Race day: A damp but possibly drying track in the morning, not helped by another 08.00 Local Time shower. However, just before/into the race window, the weather gods look like they will strike again, and strike hard. Heavy rain on and off, with peeks of sunshine in between, possibly lightning: a typical Ardennes storm!

However, don't get too excited as the weather projections are literally changing hourly, and I am not sure we will know for certain what the weather will be like until after it has passed Thanks to all the other guys monitoring weather as well, and also the rather off-topic, but interesting beer and food chat, I might have to plan some serious gym sessions next week

Honestly the weather predictions are totally useless right now. what you can be fairly certain of is that on Friday it will be light which then transforms into darkness.

[AnthonyG]

Can anyone recommend a good Belgian dish for me to cook this weekend please?

I'm gonna buy some Belgian waffles (even though they'll probably taste no where near as good as the ones I had at Spa)

I'm after a savoury dish as well though - something to eat for dinner and maybe something a little more adventurous than fries and mayo - although if I have to eat that I can't say I'll mind too much

Stoofvlees (Almost literally, meat and stuff). Basically, thick belgian beef stew.

While we're at it; stoof is derivated from the verb "stoven" which means "to stew"

[smr]

Thanks fellas,

Does it go nicely with fries and mayo, did a quick google and found a pic of the stew on a plate with fries and mayo so I'm guessing yes lol

[Kiril Varbanov]

That doesn't look right to me. Speed and latacc traces seem a bit strange to me.

EDIT: did you change the image? It looks ok now.

Yes, I did change it, I posted the wrong one, then I was lazy enough not to mention it, you quick sharp eye!
Here's a short explanation of each of the lines - F1 Spa Telemetry.

It would be very interesting to see how it compares with Mclaren telemetry from last year.

It's on page one of the thread, this post.

[SilverArrow10]

Alright! New images, updates and press conferences today, F1's back baby!!! been a long four weeks.

[Mika1]

Come on guys, show me some pics!

[turbof1]

Kimi will be absent during the wednessday press conference; the official reason is ilness, although I'd rather believe he just can't be bothered with the questions about his future.

[Kiril Varbanov]

Come on guys, show me some pics!

Sure, knock yourself out:



or maybe this 'artistic blur' from Merc AMG:



and the sidepods...

[stefan_]

Track details: grooves for water drainage in case it rains.


Photo via Ferran Figuerola

[Goran2812]

how large are the grooves? are they only on the start-finish line or?

EDIT: found out... just the start-finish line, only first 5 rows...

[turbof1]

That looks ok. It is only a a small strip on a straight; the loss of grip isn't such a big deal there.

[Kiril Varbanov]

Last year on Spa RBR had 4.25 degrees front camber on the tires. Today we have limit of 3.5 degrees front, 2.5 degrees rear.
18 PSI initial pressure, which builds up to 20.

[turbof1]

Are teams obliged to follow those?

[SectorOne]

That looks ok. It is only a a small strip on a straight; the loss of grip isn't such a big deal there.

If anything it gives the tires something to really dig into in the start,