Originally Posted by Mountain Man
I posted this elsewhere for a similar question....
What not to miss? The view from the inside of Bruxelles both the corner itself and the view to the pits straight across the valley. The East Belgian Racing club bar at Radaillion is worth a stop at, cheaper beer and the atmosphere on race night at 4am is brilliant
In terms of locations, most places will quiet on Thursday / Friday, and you want to experience Eau Rouge on those days, thats the best time as you can get to one of the viewing windows. On race day, even at 4am you'll get people with their seats there.
In terms of round the circuit. The old grandstands on the downhill post La Source are good, old, but really atmospheric. I was sat in the old uncovered one last year as it got light and it was amazing. You can get in all the grandstands, all race long, no special tickets needed. If you want to get in the grandstand for the start (opposite the old pits not the F1) you probably want to be there 90 mins or so in advance.
Going round, Eau Rouge is Eau Rouge.
The Kemmel straight is a great place to watch as straights go, its up hill so the engines are pushing it, you get a lot of overtaking and the bank gives you long unobstructed views. There are a lot of "seats" where people have dug into the bank you can get quite comfy. I like it in the evening as its starting to get dark, it stays lighter than most of the circuit and if it isnt raining (which it will at some point) then its great to watch.
Les Combes is a good spot, but quite busy. There is a big boulder people climb post the chicane and thats great for seeing cars as they come down to Malmedy.
Bruxelles is my favourite spot on the entire circuit, possibly my favourite spot to watch motorsport at any circuit in the world. On the inside (accessed via a footpath (until this point you walk the circuit on the outside, then you have to go the inside)) you get really close to the cars coming downhill, often side by side. As you go round the corner, the views open up and you can see all the way to La Source and the pits, its a stunning view. Likewise you can view from the outside of the corner if you walk through the campsite, there is a viewing window you are looking straight at the cars coming down into the corner. Its the easiest spot in the world to get good photos.
From Bruxelles the circuit drops steeply to Pouhon, at points you are virtually looking down on the roofs of the cars which is a crazy perspective. The hill is seriously step, personally I think its easier to climb it in terms of direction as opposed to the long slog walking up the Kemmel
Pouhon the barrier is further away than a lot of spots, but still good view. Last year like a lot of people it seemed I just curled up and fell asleep on the bank at something o'clock in the morning.
Then it become poorer viewing for a bit, you can an ok view of Fagnes, albeit standing in a car pack.
I'm told you can view from the outside of Fagnes and Paul Frere but I dont know where?
As far I am aware you have to cut from Fagnes down the bank along a path and under the circuit at the start of Blanchimont. The speed at that point is insane, especially at night as you are standing in the trees.
You then reach the bus stop which is great to watch from. On the F1 start finish straight there is the one modern grandstand, its a bit souless but you do see cars out the chicane. One word of advice, use earplugs in the stand, the noise bounces around the roof. My ears were ringing for 2 hours after being in there for night quali a few years ago.
You cant get great views of La Source as its the one place they have multiple layers of fence (for sensible reasons). But there is a good spot if you walk along from the grandstand up to the ramp out the car park. You get a pretty clear view over the fence of cars braking into the hairpin. Also you can get a bit of a view from inside the paddock (the cars use a long pit lane covering both pits, regardless where their box is, they have to enter at the bus stop run all the way through and exit at Raidllon (which makes all the drive throughs for track limits bewildering))
A few other good spots are:
Above the F1 pits, you can access it via the Paddock, its kinda the same view but better from the Le Mans pits grandstand. In the same place is the restaurant which is stunning views of the run up to and includng final chicane from the outside balcony (and you can also see a strange angle of Eau Rouge across the valley). To get in, you need to buy tokens (e2.50 a drink last year), its not cheap, but if you always have a drink they seem content. The food in there is good, its buffet arrangement for e18 or so, so not cheap, but its nice occaisionly to have non stody burger food.
2 other spots worth noting, you can get up on the old pits roof, its busier than the F1 pits but worth a view for a bit. Also at the bottom of the Eau Rouge next to the pits entrance if you have a Paddock ticket you can watch cars leave the pits through a gate, also its where the support races enter the circuit, so if you want to see them lining up its worth going down. Great for photos.
Non viewing related, but make sure you watch the Super Trofeo races, those are crazy with so many Lamborginis. Also at about 11pm they have a big fire work display at Bruxelles, which is watchable from a lot of the circuit.
In terms of driving, it's better to walk. I guess you could drive to avoid walking up the Kemmel straight, but I suspect by the time you park you'll be walking at far anyway
This year there are additional temporary grandstands, during the Bronze test I enjoyed the one on the inside of Eau Rouge, it's relatively shaded and a good view as they can down the hill
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