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Read's Renault road trip

Formula 1, despite all the off-track wrangling, still holds a unique fascination for many and Spa on an F1 weekend is a special place, akin to Monaco as something to experience at least once in a lifetime.

The Spa-Francorchamps track in Belgium, the longest in F1 at over four miles, is of course still a real favorite with racing drivers worldwide (even if Eau Rouge, one of the most famous corners in motorsport, can now be taken flat in top gear by F1 cars), but the often moody atmosphere makes you think back to the days when the circuit was both longer and far more daunting. As Sir Stirling Moss once told me “You never really enjoyed racing at Spa and were always happy just to leave the place alive and uninjured”.

This classic circuit was first used in 1924 after being originated by Jules de Thier on the public roads through the forests south of Francorchamps village. The first Grand Prix there took place on 18 June 1950 in the inaugural year of the FIA’s new drivers championship, when the track was almost nine miles in length. Victory that day went to motor racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio in an Alfa Romeo 158. Sixteen years later dry/wet conditions led to Sir Jackie Stewart, in his second season of F1 racing, suffering a horrendous high-speed accident at the 150mph Masta Curve. Although he recovered remarkably quickly from his injuries the incident was to have a major impact on both JYS’s view of racing and the whole future of F1 in terms of safety.

These concerns due to the high speeds and variable weather conditions – even in summer there’s always the chance of mist and rain at Spa – subsequently led to the circuit being shortened, with a new link being built in 1978. The track has not been an ever-present on the F1 calendar, sometimes for financial reasons, but many fans and racers have a real passion for what the place offers. The F1 Grand Prix is a highlight on its calendar, but many other race meetings continue to take place there at international, national and club level, the annual Spa 24 Hours being a must-attend endurance event for many.

This year’s Grand Prix was a thrilling affair, with qualifying and the race itself turning the formbook on its head. It was fascinating to watch a rejuvenated Kimi Räikkönen prove that Ferrari had rediscovered winning form ahead of Force India’s surprise polesitter Giancarlo Fisichella. The fact that the F1 teams had not had a chance to test their 2009 specification cars at Spa prior to the race weekend may have had something to do with it, but equally so did KERS. The technology has been extremely expensive to develop for those choosing to use it, but, as evidenced by Räikkönen’s pass on Fisichella following the early safety car period, it can be highly effective in the right circumstances.

As I drove away from Spa to retrace our steps to Calais I couldn’t help but think back to the days when, if you timed it right and turned up on a non-race or test day, much of the circuit was still an open public road. How I remember driving round La Source and then plunging down the hill and up through Eau Rouge time and again. It would have been such fun to try something similar in the Renault Laguna Coupe GT I was driving, but sadly such opportunities no longer exist. Of course, the mighty Nürburgring Nordschleife is only a good hour’s drive away. A pity that our return to the UK beckoned, but next time maybe?

Getting there

A road trip to Spa seemed like an ideal opportunity too to test a road car with both sporting and grand touring aspirations, the Renault Laguna Coupe GT, produced by a manufacturer still committed to competing in F1 as well as supporting many lower levels of motorsport.

Being an as yet relatively unusual sight on European roads in comparison with its impressive if ubiquitous BMW 3 Series rival, the elegant Laguna Coupe attracted plenty of admiring glances as we left Calais. It has to be one of the best looking cars ever produced by the French manufacturer and even has a hint of Aston Martin and Maserati about it from certain angles.

So, full marks for its styling, but what is it like to drive? It’s brisk enough with 232bhp and 332 lb/ft of torque available from the refined 3-liter diesel power unit (0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 151mph), with 41mpg fuel economy too. As a result refueling stops can be over 600 miles apart. The handling inspires confidence, assisted by the four-wheel-steering system fitted as standard to GT models. This technology also improves slow speed maneuverability. There’s plenty of grip and the car has a balanced feel through quick bends, whilst being a relaxed, quiet cruiser on motorways.

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