Spa under threat of closure!!!!

[jason]

Charles....start panicking now!!!


FUTURE OF BELGIAN GP IN DOUBT

Spa's operating licence revoked until 2026


The future of the Belgian Grand Prix looks to be in serious doubt after the Belgian government suspended the circuit's operating licence - with immediate effect - until 2026.

The decision has been taken by Belgium's Council of State after a noise complaint was made against the circuit by nearby residents in 2007.

The result of that complaint was that Spa's operator's were ordered to undertake an environmental impact study, which the Belgian government has slammed as "seriously inadequate and incomplete".

"It's quite a shock" circuit boss Pierre-Alain Thibaut told Belgium's Le Soir website. "Since the complaint was made, the whole situation has changed. The circuit has worked hard to reduce noise pollution and our relationship with local residents has been much improved."

Thibaut also said that is was a critical situation for Spa, and would call the "whole viability of the circuit into question,"

It seems Spa will not go down without a fight, however. Thibaut is already planning to appeal against the ruling.

Even if the historic circuit gets its licence back, it may struggle to keep staging a Grand Prix - it was revealed on Sunday that this year's event made a £2.6 million loss.

UPDATE:
PH spies have reported that transporters, cars and crew have been trying to get into the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for this weekend's Spa Six Hours to find the gates locked.

UPDATE 2:
The circuit organisers have lost their appeal, but may yet be granted a reprieve by government. The case has gone to Brussels, so expect a ruling this evening, or possibly tomorrow. Either way there is unlikely to be any Thursday testing, while the Six Hour race weekend itself is in serious doubt.

 

[Melv]

Perlease no!! []

But how short sighted, as per usual -just how much income does the track generate for the locals.............[&:]

 

[chfs911]

They were boarding the place up when I left last week.

All good things come to an end!

Bet you all wish you'd joined me on the 16th!

Roll on 2026 for the next PCF Days. Electric Porsche only!

 

[ChrisW]

Incredible.

But, where were the noise restrictions ?

Should they be doing more to control the noise ?

Is this the real argument ?

 

[chfs911]

Last one out put out the lights!

 

[sawood12]

This is ridiculous. The track was there long before most of these complaining residents. If they don't like the noise then they shouldn't have moved there in the first place. This would set a pretty serious precedent - no circuit would be safe.

 

[carreraboy]

I would imagine a bunger in the right direction together with Bernie Power will surface ....

 

[vic cohen]

There must be at least 20 Hoteliers and a good many Bistros competing to donate to the fund Des ...............just unbelievable state of affairs , no notice etc etc................if this carries on how sad is this pc world ?
Mortified

 

[h_____]

I've a feeling this one will get resolved. I'm sure it will hurt the 6 hrs, and the days of no noise testing are gone, but I'm hopeful it will sort itself out. Not a good sign though is it.

 

[h_____]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78806 looks like 6hrs might be OK, Caterhams are there next weekend, they are running around working out where they stand. I chose to have my engine rebuilt instead of going this year! May turn out to be a good chocie!

 

[vic cohen]

Hve read categorically 6 hrs runnung ................but if Charles is nt kidding about the Auctioneers does nt bode well

 

[cherrington]

This kind of problem has beset airfields for many years and the problem is always noise.
The flying fraternity have compounded the problem over the years by failing to understand the simple truth that quiet aeroplanes cause no offence. Solving this hasn't been helped by the burocracy imposed by the CAA in approving even simple modifications to aircraft ie silencers. These are mandatory in many countries including Germany.This doesn't apply to cars however and it may come down to a simple choice drive quieter cars on circuits or lose the circuits.
Experience has shown it is always worth fighting back however as weight of numbers supporting the retention of airfields and circuits has political significance and often wins the day.

John

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

You have to admit that living next to a racetrack or airfield must be a miserable experience, on a nice summers day your besieged by noise of cars droning by. But most race tracks and air fields were built on land that was miles away from anywhere or anyone. The houses and the complaints came later . No doubt with a belief that if they complain loudly enough (pun intended) they will get the places shut. Sadly it's working.
I just wish there was some counter ruling. Am I so wrong in believing we should have a right to make "reasonable noise" at a venue that was designed for and always used for such a purpose ? Not that many years ago cars ran at these venues with open exhausts. Surely if anything noise has reduced ? I could well understand if someone went and built a race track in the middle of a housing estate but this is just ridiculous.

 

[carreraboy]

I ran 118db year before because it was Spa! They have an alleged 110db Track Day PCF Weekend limit, but never seen it enforced ...... maybe now we will see UK limits imposed, at least I can tell the kids what it was like.....[&o]

 

[h_____]

Issue now sorted, as stated 6hrs on, and organisors for next weekend have been told its resolved. (for now at least).

 

[blaine54]

I must admit I've been surprised at the DB levels that you can run with on many circuits. I race motocross and our DB levels on 4 strokes are now down to 94-96, from 101+ only a few years ago . We learnt the hard way though, with many historic circuits closing due to complaints about noise pollution before manufacturers woke up to the fact that things had to change. One of the most interesting/galling opponents to the noise was Murry Walker, who lived near a circuit in Matchams and was pretty vocal about the noise nuisance even though the circuit and his house was slap bang next to Bournemouth International Airport?!? More unbelievable as the circuit had been there for many years and that his early commentating career started with motocross! On most occasions it took one local to complain to shut a circuit down and unfortunately you're going to see more & more under threat as the urban sprawl encroaches onto motor sports hallowed grounds. I'm sure Spa, will have a lot of backing and will come to some form of agreement, I hope so as I've got plans to visit next year. But like it or not I can see we're all going to have to lower the noise over the next few years, both in the UK and mainland Europe. So any one produce inserts for my stock, 102db GT3? as I know from the Silversone presentation that the Germans aren't planning on making them quieter anytime soon.

 

[RSL]

It's the ******* PC world we now live in , makes me want to scream.
I think i was born in the wrong era.!!

 

[65 mat]

At least we won't have to endure all those stickies now will we Melv?[] []
[][][]

 

[Jamie Summers]

ORIGINAL: 65 mat

At least we won't have to endure all those stickies now will we Melv?[] []
[][][]

"Every cloud ..............." hey Matt !

 

[chfs911]

ORIGINAL: vic cohen

Hve read categorically 6 hrs runnung ................but if Charles is nt kidding about the Auctioneers does nt bode well

You know me too well Vic.