Luc & I once again had a motorsports-themed father-son weekend when we visited the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps for the 24-hour WEC weekend. We went in style, in a VW T3 camper, with campsite accommodation a stone’s throw from the circuit entrance at La Source. Upon arrival a quick electrical hook-up so that the coolbox could do its work, and off to the circuit.
On Friday afternoon we watched various on-track activities, in the early evening we had the opportunity to do a pitwalk with all sorts of swag on offer, as well as drivers autographing posters. After the pitwalk there were some more track sessions, these extended beyond sunset and into the advancing dusk. After the last events (±10.30pm) we had the opportunity to do a trackwalk, where Luc signed an Eau Rouge kerbstone (😁); we walked up to La Source and exited the circuit there, heading back to the camper and a good night’s rest.
An on-time start on Saturday so as to get a good seat for what, of course, was the weekend’s highlight …: the 24-hour race. There was enough on-track activity with some races as a warm-up (Lamborghini’s, McLarens, and GT3’s), with the 24-hour preamble starting well on time with the formation of the massive grid, and the formation lap leading into a rolling start. We had been seated at the Eau Rouge tribune from mid-morning, and had a good view of the run down from La Source, through the Raidillon de l’Eau Rouge complex and up to Kemmel. In the afternoon we started a slow meandering wander around the circuit to see different angles of track-side action, eventually ending up at the (bus-stop) Chicane – having known about the significant height difference on the circuit didn’t prepare us for the reality of it, though … 😰
A late dinner was from one of the many concessions, after which we headed back to the campsite. Later in the evening Luc elected to head back to the circuit after a freshen-up; we had paired my new digital camera with the 600mm lens, and Luc was keen to get some night-shots around the circuit; I declined and tucked in for the night. Luc ultimately walked around the circuit again, but managed to get some good shots.
On Sunday morning we had an easy start, and headed to the circuit in the late morning. We decided to remain at La Source until the end of the race; and then moved on to the event-area for the prizegiving. After the prizegiving ceremony we headed back to the campsite, did the final clean-up and had a quick snack before heading off home.
A great weekend – lots of steps recorded (in excess of 70.000), lots of photo’s (±10.000 between 2 camera’s and the mobile phones), swag from the pitwalk and debris from the track would be the reminders … 🙂
📷 A photo gallery with more photo’s is available here.