Michelin about Spa-Francorchamps

The Formula One world championship moves to another historic venue this weekend, as the teams head from Monza to Spa-Francorchamps. The circuit promises again to put high loads on the tyres, a challenge for the Michelin engineers.

Michelin Motorsport Director, Pierre Dupasquier “The Spa circuit is a case apart, with two particular corners that demand well -defined chassis set-ups and perfect judgment – not to mention undiluted commitment – on the drivers’ part: the Raidillon ascent and Blanchimont. They put significant loads through the left- and right-side tyres respectively – and both are taken at about 320 km/h (almost 200mph). These unusual loads oblige us to prepare tyres specifically for the task.
Track temperatures can vary enormously – and that’s why we are obliged to choose tyres with a broad operating spectrum, to cope with whatever weather we encounter. There’s always the possibility of rain, which might throw up a few surprises, but we are ready to try out our latest-specification wet-weather tyres in racing conditions. If that happens, it will be a first this season.”

Executive Engineering Director, Renault, Pat Symonds “The majority of the corners at Spa are very long and taken at high speed, although they are punctuated with several heavy braking events – before the Bus Stop and at the end of the main straight up to Les Combes, for instance. From a tyre perspective, the loadings are high and sustained over long periods. This combination – in the lateral and longtitudinal axes, as well as vertically through Eau Rouge – makes Spa a challenging circuit for tyres. Michelin has conducted extensive research in this area, however, and we will be using a specially developed construction. We have every confidence it will perform to a very high standard.”