Belgian GP 2013

WORRZELL

Hi, I'm thinking of heading over to this GP this year for the aul mans 60th. I have read a bit and looks like I might be better of staying in Brussels to let the girls shop and train it back and forward to SPA for practice etc. Is ryanair or aerlingus better or neither. Is brussels and train the right option or too much travel. any advise please on this and hotels please. thanks

Nertballs

I'm planning on something similar myself, just booked my tickets the other day.

we are looking at staying at liege currently! the rough breakdown is (travel wise):
return flights 85 for ryanair, 110 for aerlingus,
18 for return ticket brussels to liege
8 a day for train from liege to verviers
6 a day for shuttle bus to the track!

it's alot of travelling, but seems to work out cheaper!

WORRZELL

right, I seen there was 5 day travel passes which might be worth looking in to. As I'm not looking to travel from Brussels each day I might now look at arrive early Saturday and go back late Sunday night as last flight at the moment is 9pm which would easily make that and save on a nights accommodation. Thinking of getting Gold 6 tickets so might have to skimp elsewhere otherwise I may have to look at Silverstone which I dont want to do but might be the more cheaper viable option.

Carroller16

If you are going to Belguim fly to Brussels with Aer Lingus. It is worth the extra and you will pay the difference between Charleroi and Brussels on trains/buses

WORRZELL

flights booked from saturday to monday, I'm probably looking at staying in Brussels and putting up with the ****3 commute to the track as this way we can enjoy the city at night. Hopefully I can pick up a 3 or 5 day travel pass to ease the cost of all the travel!! any other advise or pointers for me.

lertsnim

Carroller16 wrote: »

If you are going to Belguim fly to Brussels with Aer Lingus. It is worth the extra and you will pay the difference between Charleroi and Brussels on trains/buses

+1000000 on this

WORRZELL

well I've booked everything now, Decided to fly in on saturday and go straight to the circut, then staying in Spa that night, back up and in early next day as I got a Bronze ticket (general admin) and back into brussels on Sunday after the GP for lashings of pints, staying in the centre of the city beside central station and back home monday. Can not wait, )))))))))))))))))))))

Where's the best place to buy tickets for the Belgian race? Straight through Formula1.com?

Sheeps

Deleted User wrote: »

Where's the best place to buy tickets for the Belgian race? Straight through Formula1.com?

Would like to know also? I was looking at buying them from the spa website itself last year.

WORRZELL

Sheeps wrote: »

Would like to know also? I was looking at buying them from the spa website itself last year.

I bought them from the f1 official website, I'm staying in spa on the Saturday as it means not losing hours on travelling.

recyclebin

I'm thinking of heading to Belgian Grand Prix in August.

I was looking up the fanvision website (formerly Kangaroo TV) and it looks like they are not suppying F1 in 2013. I had one of them in Silverstone in 2010 and it was great in qualifying for seeing sector times. The commentary was also very handy.

What other options are there now that fanvision is gone?

I was thinking of getting a belgian pre pay sim and maybe streaming the action on my phone. It looks like you can get a sim card and 2GB for €20 from proxmimus.

Yeah I was wondering about an alternative to that, would be handy.

I probably won't get a Belgian sim though, most of my trip won't be spent in Belgium :P

valleyoftheunos

WORRZELL wrote: »

well I've booked everything now, Decided to fly in on saturday and go straight to the circut, then staying in Spa that night, back up and in early next day as I got a Bronze ticket (general admin) and back into brussels on Sunday after the GP for lashings of pints, staying in the centre of the city beside central station and back home monday. Can not wait, )))))))))))))))))))))

Definately the best option, one night in Brux is plenty, mind yourself around the station, its a bit of a seedy area.

Friend described Spa s a great place to watch a race, enjoy!

Anyone else camping over?

If there's no fanvision kind of thing an FM radio for the track commentator will do! :pac: I'm wondering how far into the 4 nights and 5 days of camping the adrenaline will wear off :pac:

recyclebin

Don't know if I'll camp but I have the race tickets and flights booked. Can't wait for the end of August now. This will be my third grand prix. Went to Montreal in 2006 and Silverstone in 2010. So far I have seen 7 world champions race - Villeneuve, Schumacher, Alonso, Raikonnen, Hamilton, Button and Vettel. Don't think there is anyone on the grid at the minute to add to that list in the future.

I would offer you a space in my tent but we're already overbooked :P I'm heading with a few mates and one of them doesn't like motorsport but even he went to the thing in Dublin last year. Can't wait to hear it

Sheeps

i too am heading to belgium

What are your plans?

Andrew76

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The adrenaline wont wear off! I was racing in SPA last month and it was some experience. Flying through Blanchimont at 140+ mph is something I wont ever forget!

Very nice! What were you driving?

Sheeps

Flying to Charleroi on 6pm flight on 23rd back same time Monday. Haven't dealt with accommodation or transport to the circuit yet.

Diarmuid1995

Camping outside the circuit, flying into charelroi airport thursday morning and flight back monday morning. Anyone know how best to get from the airport to francorchamps, ie. by bus or train?

recyclebin

Have everything booked now.

Flying to Eindhoven on Thursday, hiring a car for 5 days and flying back to Dublin on Monday. Staying in hotels in Aachen on Thursday to Saturday and then Eindhoven on Sunday night after the race. Parking the hire car in the Elephant campsite for €10 a day.

Flights €90
Car Hire €90
Dublin airport parking €29
General Admission Ticket €155
Elephant Campsite parking €30
Three nights in Aachen €180 (same price as camping in spa)
One night in Eindhoven €55
Total €630
+ food + petrol

Can't bloody wait. Leaving next Tuesday, having a bit of a road trip with a few of my mates for it.

Jordan 199

Deleted User wrote: »

Can't bloody wait. Leaving next Tuesday, having a bit of a road trip with a few of my mates for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFALcvBmeds

christy c

Does anyone know if theres access to the pits on Thursday?

recyclebin

Pit walk is on Thursday. From what I heard you can get good access to the pits but there will be thousands of people there and not for those who are claustrophobic. I thinks it's on from 15:30-18:00 but the times are never set in stone so the advice is to be there early.

christy c

recyclebin wrote: »

Pit walk is on Thursday. From what I heard you can get good access to the pits but there will be thousands of people there and not for those who are claustrophobic. I thinks it's on from 15:30-18:00 but the times are never set in stone so the advice is to be there early.

Thanks, will probably go and see what's on offer

Jordan 191

Jordan 191 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFALcvBmeds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUwRtZzARJo

WORRZELL

right lads looks like i've made an error, I get in on saturday morning and I thuoght we'd make it to the track for qualifying. but it looks like its going to take me 4hours all in to get there with trains and bus. what time does qualifying fininsh as I'm looking at getting a taxi direct now from the airport on saturday morning which is going to cost 160(ouch) but will get there in 90 mins. Any thoughts or ideas on this? HELPPPP or if you know anybody who's looking to share the taxi and costs.

christy c

WORRZELL wrote: »

right lads looks like i've made an error, I get in on saturday morning and I thuoght we'd make it to the track for qualifying. but it looks like its going to take me 4hours all in to get there with trains and bus. what time does qualifying fininsh as I'm looking at getting a taxi direct now from the airport on saturday morning which is going to cost 160(ouch) but will get there in 90 mins. Any thoughts or ideas on this? HELPPPP or if you know anybody who's looking to share the taxi and costs.

What time do you get in? Qualifying finishes at 3. Also do you have a general admission ticket? Apparently you need to be in v early to get a decent spot.

WORRZELL

flight lands at 9:30 so I made an arse of me times. I thought we could get there by 11 but after looking at the train times and bus we would get there 2-3 which is no use. If i get a taxi i can be there in 90 mins which isnt that bad but 160 lids!!!!!

christy c

WORRZELL wrote: »

flight lands at 9:30 so I made an arse of me times. I thought we could get there by 11 but after looking at the train times and bus we would get there 2-3 which is no use. If i get a taxi i can be there in 90 mins which isnt that bad but 160 lids!!!!!

I think a taxi looks like the only option. You didn't say what kind of ticket you have, if its general admission you may not get a good place even if you get there at 11.

WORRZELL

ye it is general admission, and I have to pick it up when i get there. Its my first GP so i think once I hear them and see them will be enough and I can get there ealier on race day. Really **** that my only option is Taxi but nothing I can do were going over for my aul mans 60th!!!!!

valleyoftheunos

You need to be at the track by 8 am latest on Race day to get a decent spot. It'll all be worth it, enjoy!

WORRZELL

really 8am but how to people make it there from brussels for that time?

valleyoftheunos

WORRZELL wrote: »

really 8am but how to people make it there from brussels for that time?

8am Latest, presumably people coming from Brussels and the like leave 5am or so?

I went to Silverstone some years ago, we stayed not to far away, left our accommodation at 6:30 am got there around 7ish, carparks already filling up, track busy and the best spots were already bagged. I can only imagine that Spa will be much the same.

WORRZELL

ok thanks for that, I'm only staying in Spa so 8km away so I should get there early enough. jaysus i'll be hammered by 10am

valleyoftheunos

WORRZELL wrote: »

ok thanks for that, I'm only staying in Spa so 8km away so I should get there early enough. jaysus i'll be hammered by 10am

I had my first pint at 8:30 that morning out of sheer boredom waiting for the race to start!

christy c

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

You need to be at the track by 8 am latest on Race day to get a decent spot. It'll all be worth it, enjoy!

What time do you think I'd need to be there for on Sat?

valleyoftheunos

Ficus wrote: »

Taxi wont take you to the track and if you could find one mad enough to, its gonna cost a lot more than 160 as traffic from the motorway to the circuit will be at least and hour wait.
Hire car is the best and easiest and cheapest way.

Good sugestion, you could hire a car for 3 days for €160, probably less.

christy c wrote: »

What time do you think I'd need to be there for on Sat?

Couldn't say really, we got there late morning on the saturday and it was a lot less busy but Qually was less popular then.

Diarmuid1995

WORRZELL wrote: »

right lads looks like i've made an error, I get in on saturday morning and I thuoght we'd make it to the track for qualifying. but it looks like its going to take me 4hours all in to get there with trains and bus. what time does qualifying fininsh as I'm looking at getting a taxi direct now from the airport on saturday morning which is going to cost 160(ouch) but will get there in 90 mins. Any thoughts or ideas on this? HELPPPP or if you know anybody who's looking to share the taxi and costs.

Hey, would you mind giving me a point in the right direction as to how you found the bus or train timetables, I'm in Thursday morning round 11 and would like to be there for the pit walk starting at four.

WORRZELL

@diarmuid1995 try this

http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/access-train-bus.php

WORRZELL

AGH means i have to deal with driving parking and then not drinking, not really a holiday, I know its a big hit but its a set price and I really dont want to have to deal with a rental, going to be enjoying the local beers

Diarmuid1995

WORRZELL wrote: »

@diarmuid1995 try this

http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/access-train-bus.php

Thanks, one last thing, would it be better to buy the tickets online or to wait and buy them in the train/bus stations, do you think? Tickets are valid for the day by the looks of things so that makes it easier

WORRZELL

in your situation I'd wait until you get there and ask them as they may have another route or a 10 pass ticket or something which may be better value for you.

valleyoftheunos

WORRZELL wrote: »

AGH means i have to deal with driving parking and then not drinking, not really a holiday, I know its a big hit but its a set price and I really dont want to have to deal with a rental, going to be enjoying the local beers

We didn't do that much drinking at the track at all and because of the early starts we weren't out on mad ones either. You'd only use the Car to get to and from the track so plenty of opportunity to sample the beer in Spa in the evenings

EDIT: when in Belgium drink Jupiler and only Jupiler, fantastic beer. All that trappist stuff tastes of flowers and will blow the head off you.

WORRZELL

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

We didn't do that much drinking at the track at all and because of the early starts we weren't out on mad ones either. You'd only use the Car to get to and from the track so plenty of opportunity to sample the beer in Spa in the evenings

EDIT: when in Belgium drink Jupiler and only Jupiler, fantastic beer. All that trappist stuff tastes of flowers and will blow the head off you.

So drink jupiler abs drive ur

battushig

Hey WORRZELL, i am heading to spa this saturday and hiring a car to get to track from airport. I can give you a lift. If you want to join me send me PM.

promises

Could anyone please tell me if there is buses from spa into track...there was none for yesterday or today. Surely extra buses are put on sat and Sun. The bus to verviers was insane today. Last bus left at 6.50 and there was about 80 ppl squeezed onto it and still not everyone got on. Just starting to worry for the busier days so looking for other options. We are staying in aachen.

Mr Cumulonimbus

On Sky F1 at the moment (on till 12) a film of the 1955 Belgian GP. Fascinating to watch. They're racing on the 9 mile circuit.

flazio

Anyone here subscribed to the 5live podcast? Seriously cringe worthy questions and links from the presenter on the Belgian GP preview.