Belgian Grand Prix

The Belgian Grand Prix is an automobile race.

The first national race of Belgium was held in 1925 at the Spa region's race course, an area of the country that had been associated with motor sport since the very early years of racing before the turn of the century. To accommodate Grand Prix motor racing, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps race course was built in 1921 but it was only used for motorcycle racing until 1924. After the 1923 success of the new 24 hours of Le Mans in France, the SPA 24 Hours, a similar 24 hour endurance race, was run at the Spa track.

Drivers and fans alike love the Belgian Grand Prix. Since inception, Spa-Francorchamps has been famous for its unpredictable weather. Frequently drivers confront a part of the course that is clear and bright while another stretch is rainy and slippery. Most drivers today say that the Spa course is the most challenging race track in the world.

The first Belgian Grand Prix was won by Antonio Ascari whose son Alberto would win the race in 1952 and 1953. Unfortunately, after winning the Belgian race, Antonio Ascari would be killed in his next outing at the French Grand Prix. In 1939, the race claimed the life of British driver Richard "Dick" Seaman while leading the race. During the 1960 race Chris Bristow and Alan Stacy lost their lives in separate incidents, the latter in a freak occurrence when hit in the face by a bird. In 1982, on the final qualifying lap at Zolder, Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve was killed.

World Champion Michael Schumacher, who made his debut at Spa in 1991 and won his first F1 race there in 1992, won his 52nd Grand Prix at Spa in 2001, surpassing Alain Prost's all-time record of 51 wins. Schumacher also won his seventh World Drivers' Championship title at Spa in 2004. There was no Belgian Grand Prix in 2003 because of the country's tobacco advertising laws but it returned to the schedule again in 2004.

Circuits used for the Belgian Grand Prix

In 1972 the race was shifted to Nivelles and to Zolder in 1973. It would be held at these different locales for several years until Spa-Francorchamps became its permanent home in 1985.

• Spa-Francorchamps 1925–70, 1983, 1985–2002, 2004-
• Nivelles 1972, 1974
• Zolder 1973, 1975–82, 1984

Winners of the Belgian Grand Prix