Tragically, rising F1 star Stefan Bellof would lose his life at the corner during a sportscar race in 1985, but as the decade went on, so the safety precautions improved, with tyre barriers extended and run-off areas upgraded. save. Now let’s go drive that priceless prototype! Alain Prost approaches Eau Rouge during the 1987 Belgian Grand Prix. After having negotiated the La Source hairpin, drivers barrel down a straight to the point where the track goes over the Eau Rouge stream for the first time, before being hurled steeply uphill into a sweeping left-right-left combination of corners with a blind summit. Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge (Concept) Infiniti is a subsidiary under the Nissan umbrella. In a corner like Eau Rouge, power helps, but downforce is what really makes the difference–The F1 cars already have more speed at the end of … The Eau Rouge displayed wonderful agility with instant turn-in, but I think that might be an artifact of the rear-diff behavior along with the relative lack of grip at the back end. © LAT Photographic, Luigi Musso (Ferrari Dino 246) crosses the bridge at the bottom of the hill. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 2014 Belgian Grand Prix. Yes, please. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Eau Rouge has remained broadly the same since the turn of the decade, though the evolution of technology has continued to make it an ever-changing challenge for the drivers. Patches are left where the wooden planks scrape the track surface. “We want to know what you think,” said the polite fellows in custody of Infiniti’s recently completed—and only—Q50 Eau Rouge prototype. © LAT Photographic, Jarno Trulli goes through Eau Rouge in 2007. Plus—big, wide tires look cool. Until recently, the prototype was running Infiniti’s steer-by-wire system, which was swapped for a conventional electric-assist helm to see how that would work. With the official fastest time of 5.55 and average speed of almost 141km/h. If you look closely at these pictures from the 1950s you can still see the old left-hander at the bottom of the hill, just after the brick wall denoting the edge of the bridge. Strangely, I kept lighting up the inside rear tire coming out of one particular corner, which may have been due to the track’s undulating pavement. A production Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge could cost as much as $100,000, and form the basis of three new models. There are a few sections where a brake-tap is mandatory to prevent serious air, as on the “Jaguar corner,” so named because it sent a Jaguar airborne into some trees. 1986 Belgian Grand Prix. "Eau Rouge is always the most exciting part of the circuit," Lewis Hamilton concurs. Hubert violently struck a barrier near the track's high-speed Raidillon/Eau Rouge complex and was then hit by fellow driver Juan Manuel Correa, sparking a multi-car incident. The first car race was held at the circuit in 1922, and 1924 saw the first running of the now famous 24 Hours of Francorchamps race. Build that. As you can see, there were initially no barriers at the corner, though a low-level metal Armco barrier was added to the inside of the uphill section in the mid-Fifties. Speed: 110 km/h. 1970 Belgian Grand Prix. As for runoff, there are a generous few inches of it here and there, right before the guardrail. Updated 12/24/2013: Infiniti unveiled a new video for the upcoming Q50 Eau Rouge concept set to be unveiled in January 2014. © LAT Photographic, Tony Brooks (Vanwall) makes his way down the hill towards the towering Eau Rouge. Of course, what these pictures struggle to get across is just how steep the hill is - such is the gradient that Michael Schumacher once said that approaching Eau Rouge was like âflying downhill and seeing a big mountain in front of youâ. By the time he passed through Eau Rouge on that first lap, Cook (0) had pulled out a 3 space lead. I told them I’m the wrong guy to ask about that, as I’m firmly in favor of sticking GT-R engines in everything that Nissan makes, including its forklifts. © Sutton Motorsport Images, The competitors climb through Eau Rouge in tricky wet conditions at the start; a keen photographer on the right getting very close to the action. But it wasnât until 2006 - when the engine formula changed from 3.0-litre V10s to 2.4-litre V8s - that most drivers agreed that Eau Rouge had become easier to drive, though many were keen to point out that it still a real challenge in the wet or on full tanks. The twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 itself fits quite nicely, but everything else is sort of an engineering nightmare. Again, the high-speed Spa circuit was the obvious venue on which to try the new device. ©Sutton Motorsport Images, The awesome Eau Rouge corner, 1997. That incident increased speculation that, for safety reasons, the corner might one day have to be re-profiled to a chicane - a suggestion that outraged Ayrton Senna. Note the extensive tarmac run-off. Articles by Atelier Eau Rouge telling stories from the Japanese car culture. © LAT Photographic. Graham Hill leads the field through Eau Rouge at the start of the 1965 Belgian Grand Prix. 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. Raidillon means steep slope. In its current guise, the Eau Rouge is running the seven-speed torque-converter automatic from the V-8–powered Q70, along with the Q70’s all-wheel-drive system. Eau Rouge is the lefthand kink at the bottom where the river Eau Rouge flows underneath. 2005 Belgian Grand Prix. © LAT Photographic, Heikki Kovalainen kicks up some sparks through Eau Rouge during the … 1958 Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps. Infusing a Q50 sedan with GT-R guts isn’t quite as easy as fabbing up some new motor mounts, as I discovered at the Millbrook Proving Ground in England. © LAT Photographic. © ©Sutton Motorsport Images. In its current setup, the Eau Rouge is running the seven-speed torque-converter automatic from the V-8 Q70, along with the Q70's all-wheel-drive system. It’s like a wall when u go downhill towards it. Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps, 12 June 1966. But that’s the kind of thing they’d sort out over the next 18 months or so, should this car go to production. The good news was that Eau Rouge remained as great a challenge as ever, with the only modifications being marginally increased run-off, better Armco barriers, the addition of tyre walls at the bottom of the hill and new entry and exit kerbing on the track edges. "If you take away Eau Rouge," the five-time Belgian winner said, "you take away the reason why I do this..." The sad irony was that it was Sennaâs death - and the subsequent safety backlash - that led to a chicane being installed at the corner in 1994. The characteristic down-up sweep of Eau Rouge, named for the red-hued, iron-rich stream running beneath it, has been used in every iteration of Spa since the world championship began in 1950. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren MP4-27. The Belgian Grand Prix is one of the most awaited races of the season, primarily because of the famous ‘Eau Rouge’ corner, one that allows cars to zip through a slope. The circuit was first used for Grand Prix racing in 1925. U can still see it if u go left towards the old borderpost (long gone) and the hairpin. This corner was initially called as the Vialone chicane. But you can’t judge a car like this the way you would a production car or even a development mule. ©Sutton Motorsport Images, Winner Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F310B) takes the famous Eau Rouge corner during the 1997 Belgian Grand Prix. 0:00. Ref: 3130 - 30A. Itâs going to be flat-outâ¦â The Canadianâs words would come back to haunt him. You could literally confuse amphetamine with going fast, that’s just the effect that pushing down a… Search. The exit kerb at the top of the hill was also flattened, helping ensure drivers continued to take Eau Rouge at nerve-shredding speeds. EPA city/highway: 17/23 mpg, 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Is the Tucson as a Pickup, 2022 Kia Forte Could Change Its Name to K3, Our 2020 Kia Telluride Never Lost Its Luster, 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Revealed in Production Form, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Speed is a drug. In 24 hours, the car will cover a distance of over 1,553 miles. That meas, lefthand turn is the name of the river, righthand turn is the steep slope. © © Sutton Motorsport Images, Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull Racing RB11 at Formula One World Championship, Rd11, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday 22 August 2015. The drivetrain presents more challenges. "When you attack it flat out, when you get to the bottom of it, your insides drop. Alberto Ascari (Ferrari 500) leads the field up Eau Rouge at the start of the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 2021 Polaris Slingshot AutoDrive Gives You Control, 2021 Mustang Mach 1 Fills in a GT350-Sized Gap, 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS Drops the Superfast's Top, 1981 Toyota Corolla SR-5 Embraces Mediocrity, Yamaha WaveRunners and Sea-Doo Wake Ride the Wave, 2021 Land Rover Discovery P360 Excels on the Trail. WEST SUSSEX, England - From the INFINITI Q50 Eau Rouge powering up the Goodwood Hill to the latest models for visitors to enjoy, plus guest appearances by some very special VIPs, INFINITI's presence at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend was a resounding success.. With truly something for everyone, INFINITI was front-of-mind for many of the 50,000 car … Their argument states “Eau Rouge creates a 1.7G compression for drivers in a modern F1 car, throwing them out at the top of the hill — Raidillon — at breathtaking speeds.” "Eau Rouge is always the most exciting part of the circuit," Lewis Hamilton concurs. When I first saw the car, I thought it had some sort of police-style strobe lights behind the grille. Media. It turned out I was looking at the intercoolers, which are tucked right up front. The famous hill of Eau Rouge, 2007. VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan, ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection, Displacement: 232 cu in, 3799 ccPower: 560 hpTorque: 443 lb-ft, TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic with manual shifting mode, DIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 112.2 inLength: 189.1 inWidth: 72.6 in Height: 56.3 inCurb weight (C/D est): 4000 lb, PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
The tires are another area that might require some tinkering. ©Sutton Motorsport Images, As these pictures show, there were no major changes to Eau Rouge in the Sixties, save for the addition of advertising banners to the bridge. The track's inaugural race was planned for August 1921, but was cancelled when only one driver entered. "When you attack it flat out, when you get to the bottom of it, your insides drop. © LAT Photographic, Tony Brooks (Vanwall) 1st position, leads at the start of the race. Zero to 100 mph: 8.4 sec
The car has been fitted with a specially made limited-slip rear differential—the only thing on the Eau Rouge not from the corporate parts counter—since Infiniti quickly concluded that open diffs weren’t going to cut it with 560 horsepower, all-wheel drive or not. Senna S, Interlagos. Note the stone wall. 98% Upvoted. In an article published by ESPN , it ranked as the top corner in the sport. "When you attack it flat out, when you get to the bottom of it, your insides drop. Fullscreen. © LAT Photographic, The start: Jochen Rindt(AUT) Lotus 49C, leads from Chris Amon, Jackie Stewart, Jacky Ickx and Jack Brabham. And then when you get to the top they come back up and it feels like everything will come out of your … In 1993 Alex Zanardi was lucky to escape major injury when his Lotus suffered a mechanical issue and smashed into the wall midway up the hill. This section of track is not for the faint of heart and is very fast in all cars. Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps, 9 June 1963. And then when you get to the top they come back up and it feels like everything will come out of your mouth - which is quite exciting when you are going 200mph!" No matter how unholy fast this thing is in a straight line, sedan buyers probably don’t want their innards vibrated on the GT-R frequency. Infiniti asked that we use the paddle shifters to manually change gears, in the interest of transmission preservation. Eau Rouge: Renowned for Speed, Commitment and Courage For motor sport aficionados, Eau Rouge, the signature high-speed corner of the famed Spa-Francorchamps race circuit in Belgium, is synonymous with daring, commitment and speed. 1970 Belgian Grand Prix. © Sutton Motorsport Images. In 1955, during a private testing of the Ferrari 750 Monza, Ascari crashed at the Chicane complex and lost his life. However, not everyone was happy that an element of jeopardy had been removed. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Cars fly through the newly revised Eau Rouge flat out in 2002. Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge A rear torque bias seems like a must for a car such as this. Speed Comparison: GT vs. F1 through Eau Rouge - Video Jul 18, 2012, 6:38 PM Video comparison of Eau Rouge at Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most famous corners in motorsport shows us why F1 cars are the fastest when it comes down to laptime: the insane cornering speed. It was all I could do to stay out of the trees...", Eau Rouge was lined with Armco barriers for the 1970 race. Eau Rouge is unique in the world,” explains Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. On the legendary circuit nestled in the countryside of Belgium’s Ardennes region, a huge compression is combined with cornering at high speed. However, when cars first started racing there in the 1920s, Eau Rouge was a sharp left-hander which took the drivers off towards a hairpin in the direction of the German border. Concerns from the Grand Prix Drivers Association over rising speeds, dangerous road surfaces and inadequate safety barriers led to the cancellation of the 1969 race, but the event returned in 1970, by which time Eau Rouge had been lined with protective Armco. It also rarely loses grip in corners due to … Catch fencing - very popular at the time - had also been added at the bottom of the corner. 1986 Belgian Grand Prix. Gear: 3. hide. âThe challenge is not as it used to be, with the V10s we used to arrive there right on the edge, and in the tyre war days it was quick. It strikes a great balance between compliance and poise, which is appropriate for the four-door audience. And then when you get to the top they come back up and it feels like everything will come out of your mouth - which is quite exciting when you are going 200mph! 151 comments. 0:00. You certainly want your car to stay together through there, as it will be a massive shunt if you have any mechanical failures at any stage through that section. The Q70’s all-wheel-drive system isn’t exactly performance-oriented, so the Eau Rouge sends about 50 percent of its power to the front end. Named after the high-speed corner of Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Eau Rouge concept takes the standard Q50 sedan's lines and blends design cues from Red Bull Racing's RB9 race car. Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday 1 September 2012. Kaluzny, not wanting to use forced deceleration, went around the outside to keep his speed at 80 mph. Sort by. © Sutton Images, Mark Webber (right) completes a daring overtake on Fernando Alonso heading into Eau Rouge during the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix. Speaking in 2008, Mark Webber said he approved of the changes. Translation: This 4-door has the Nissan GT-R’s power plant with 15 more horsepower (but 20 fewer lb-ft). 1962 Belgian Grand Prix. ", Free and simple registration required to view this content, © 2003-2021 Formula One World Championship Limited. Take note of the ‘speed bump’ on the outside of the normal curb, it continues for a few hundred meters; Eau Rouge and Raidillon. 2011 Belgian Grand Prix. Or it could have just been that the diff didn’t work. The chicane was part of the initial layout of the track but has undergone some changes over the years. Standing ¼-mile: 12.0 sec
Its maximum speed stated is 290 km/h, which is 180 mph. Racing there was different, you had to be more skilled at car handling, because at some corners the car would be just 5cm from the guardrail. Eau Rouge was the scene of several major crashes in the Nineties. However, advances in aerodynamic performance meant that the following year many found that Eau Rouge could indeed be taken flat in top gear on low fuel. The section would return to its visceral best the following year, albeit with additional tyre barriers, gravel traps and run-off areas. January 2, 2014 INFINITI Reveals First Image of … 1987 Belgian Grand Prix. They’re 255s all the way around. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, 15th June 1958. 1985 Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. It was renamed as the Ascari chicane in honor of the two time Formula 1 World Champion and Ferrari driver Alberto Ascari. ©Sutton Motorsport Images, Gerhard Berger tackles Eau Rouge in 1990. Jack Brabham (Brabham BT33-Ford), retired, leads Jacky Ickx (Ferrari 312B), 8th position, through Eau Rouge, action. Settings. It launches from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds with no wheelspin and can top out speeds higher than 210 mph (338 km/h). © LAT Photographic, Pole sitter and race winner John Surtees (GBR) Ferrari 312 leads the field through Eau Rouge at the start of the race. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. ", Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG F1 W05) as seen through the Eau Rouge Armco. best. You can still go in hard there if you get it wrong, if the tyre pressures are out or the plank [on the floor of the car] touches. The track was shortened from 14.1 km to its current length in 1979, but it wasnât until 2000 that it became a dedicated race circuit. We may earn money from the links on this page. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F2007) tackles Eau Rouge at great speed. Here’s to hoping that, come the 2016 model year, Infiniti’s first real superstar is more than just a prototype. © Sutton Motorsport Images, The legendary Eau Rouge. Enjoy! So it’s … © Sutton Motorsport Images, Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W04 leads at the start of the race. So technically, all … It didn’t always seem to release full power—either due to traction control or maybe torque modulation in the name of transmission survival—but when it did, it scrolled the scenery as hard as you’d expect. The rest of the field followed through La Source. Play. ©Sutton Motorsport Images, The remains of Jacques Villeneuve's BAR after his qualifying accident at Eau Rouge in 1999. So, the track: The loop covers about three miles, and it’s designed not for enjoyment but to torment cars into revealing their weaknesses. Looking out over the hood, with its GT-R–style vents, you can fool yourself into thinking you’re in Nissan’s supercar rather than Infiniti’s possible flagship sedan. In its current guise, the Eau Rouge is running the seven-speed torque-converter automatic from the V-8–powered Q70, along with the Q70’s all-wheel-drive system. 2013 Belgian Grand Prix. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) battles with Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) through Eau Rouge. The Carlsson Aigner CK65 ”Eau Rouge“ Dark Edition with 756 hp offers a maximum speed of 335 km/h which is electronically regulated due to safety … In the dry, in 1962, Jim had won at an average of 133.98 mph – this on a lap that included a 40mph mid-corner speed at La Source hairpin. Weighing more than 2,645 pounds plus driver and fuel, the car's weight is also much higher than in qualifying. report. Infiniti’s Q50 Eau Rouge concept packs a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 that develops 560 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. ©Sutton Motorsport Images, Jacques Villeneuve (Sauber Petronas C24) gets crossed up at Eau Rouge during the 2005 Belgian Grand Prix. © LAT Photographic, Despite the poor weather, a group of spectators have an unparalleled view of the action at the top of Eau Rouge. "Eau Rouge is always the most exciting part of the circuit," Lewis Hamilton concurs. Therefore, the pole sitter Cook moved first and took the inside lane through La Source. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. The Eau Rouge / Raidillon combination is the most famous part of the circuit. Read about topics like Mid Night Club and underground street racing. And the section named “ski jump” is self-explanatory. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Nigel Mansell (Williams FW11 Honda) 1st position at Eau Rouge. View discussions in 2 other communities. In qualifying Villeneuve and BAR team mate Ricciardo Zonta dared one another to take the corner without lifting - and both suffered massive accidents. Hence the steering-system warning light on the dash. Ditto when you roll on the throttle and get a real taste of the 3.8’s talents; that signature intake whoosh paired with brutal acceleration tells your brain this is a GT-R. Designed in 1920 by Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois Van Ophem, the original course used public roads linking the Belgian towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. Safety precautions at the corner remained minimal at best, with an unforgiving stone wall lining the outside of the bend all the way from the bottom of the hill to Raidillon (the final left-hander at the crest of the hill). The GT-R, it seems, has a much longer nose than the Q50, so the Eau Rouge needed all new front bodywork to accommodate the cooling apparatus for the 560-hp furnace pushed against the firewall. It wouldn’t be a prototype without a few constantly illuminated warning lights. 2014 Belgian Grand Prix. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari F2005 goes through Eau Rouge. In 1999 the wall was moved back from the inside of the right hander, prompting Jacques Villeneuve to say: âThe cornerâs easier now - visually itâs not as impressive as it used to be. My takeaway: Please retain that agility but add some ultimate grip. F1 cars can take up to 300km/hr through Eau Rouge due to high downforce, one of the highest speeds recorded in motorsport. Zero to 60 mph: 3.8 sec
After eight successive races at the universally unpopular Zolder circuit, the drivers were delighted when the Belgian Grand Prix returned to Spa for a one-off race in 1983 (ahead of a permanent return in 1985). "The feeling of the sweep uphill through the corners is just awesome, every time," says Jenson Button. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Ayrton Senna (BRA) Lotus 98T, who finished the race in second position, sends the sparks flying as he climbs Eau Rouge. 2007 Belgian Grand Prix. From a visual point of view, the low-slung cars of the era made the legendary section practically pyrotechnic, with cars spewing out sparks as they hit the compression at the bottom of the hill. A direct comparison between the speed of GT cars and F1 machines. ©Sutton Motorsport Images. This is not intended to be the last word on Eau Rouge setup, although its makers would do well to keep the suspension—with new adjustable coil-overs up front—right where it is. The Eau Rouge engine is paired to a full-time AWD system and seven-speed transmission. As you can see the concept will be lower and wider than the production version Q50 and will include a very aggressive carb… This thread is archived. The speed these F1 cars take through Eau Rouge. © Sutton Motorsport Images, Eddie Cheever(USA) Arrows A10, 4th place at Eau Rouge corner The speed of the cars through Eau Rouge is a sight to behold and gives so much satisfaction to F1 fans all around the world.
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