The 499P at Spa, Fuoco describes the Belgian track

The third act of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place in Belgium with the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Antonio Fuoco, official Ferrari driver competing alongside Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen in the number 50 499P, reveals the “secrets” of a lap around the famous track, renowned for its layout that combines fast sections with highly technical and demanding sectors. “Spa is one of the most iconic circuits in the world, as well as one of the most complex,” says the 1996-born driver. “It features unique, high-speed corners, like Eau Rouge, with its significant compression, and the Kemmel straight, where you reach really high speeds.”

A lap at Spa “pushes the driver to perform at their absolute best, leaving no room for even the smallest mistake,” says Fuoco. After the “heavy braking” at Turn 1, the cars enter “the most historic and beautiful part of Spa, Eau Rouge, climbing through a major compression towards the Kemmel straight, reaching speeds over 300 km/h,” explains the driver, winner of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the end of the Kemmel, you arrive at Turns 5, 6 and 7 “with tyres and brakes that have cooled after the straight, making it difficult to find the ideal rhythm in this sequence, known as Les Combes, especially during the race.”

In Spa’s second sector – famed for its continuous elevation changes – Turns 8 and 9 “force you into very tricky downhill braking zones where mistakes are easily made. One of the toughest points is Pouhon: you enter it at very high speed, maintain it mid-corner, and then prepare to tackle Turns 12 and 13, where making the most of the kerbs – the inside kerb at Turn 12 and the outside kerb at Turn 13 – is essential.”

Among the most complex sections of the Belgian track, Fuoco highlights Turn 14, “where you encounter a major bump” before entering the straight that leads to the final chicane, “the Bus Stop, famous as one of the best overtaking points. Braking here must be spot on to avoid losing ground as you rejoin the start-finish straight to complete the lap.”