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SPA" simply the mention of the word conjures up excitement and emotion. The Grand Prix of Belgium is always one of the most dramatic of the season. The roaring sound of Formula One engines screaming through the beautiful Valley of the Ardennes.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is situated near the borders of Belgium, Germany and Holland, most drivers consider this race track to be their favourite with one of the most challenging corners in all of Formula 1 – Eau Rouge!

The circuit was first used in 1921, to host the Belgium Motorcycle Grand Prix, using public roads twisting and turning through the Ardennes hills, producing a beautiful majestic 8-mile road course which is both respected and feared by all who drive on it. The circuit was redeveloped in 1983 and although the new track is only half its original length, it retains much of its previous character and charm.

Considered by many drivers to be the best circuit on the F1 calendar, Spa boasts the longest lap length of all, and is certainly one of the most scenically situated, surrounded by wooded hillsides and small farms. It is well renowned for its changeable weather and it is not unknown for one half of the track to be streaming wet and the other half to be covered by hot, blue skies. Despite using public roads for half its length, Spa is used most weekends and on many weekdays for practice and testing. As well as the Belgian Grand Prix, it also famously hosts a 24 Hour Saloon car race. There are some doubts hanging over its future as a GP track due to internal governmental problems and the question of tobacco sponsorship.

Friday's 2 practice sessions were really an overall success for Ferrari as Felipe Massa was fastest in the dry conditions of the first session followed by being second fastest in the later rain affected second period behind Fernando Alonso. Drivers' championship leader Lewis Hamilton had held the fastest time for the second period until very late in the session when the Spaniard came out and beat his time as did both Massa and Kovalainen leaving Hamilton in fourth fastest spot.

Saturday's two sessions should be quite lively!!

Saturday:- In the very dying seconds of the qualifying period this afternoon Lewis Hamilton edged out his main championship rival Felipe Massa to gain pole position for tomorrows race. Heikki Kovalainen beat the other Ferrari driven by Kimi Raikonen to get third place with Nick Heidfeld in fifth.

Today's qualifying period stayed dry but if rain appears tomorrow it could upset some drivers. Hamilton will also know that he will have to start from the grid like a demon as he's been caught before the first crucial bend before by his main rival.

Previous Winners of the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix During The Last 10 Years

Year Driver Car Engine Time km/h

2007 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2007 Ferrari 2.4 V8 1:20'39.066 229.174

2005 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren MP4-20 Mercedes 3.0 V10 1:30'01.295 204.568

2004 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren MP4-19B Mercedes 3.0 V10 1:32'35.274 198.898

2002 Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2002 Ferrari 3.0 V10 1:21'20.634 225.970

2001 Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2001 Ferrari 3.0 V10 1:08'05.002 221.050

2000 Mika Häkkinen McLaren MP4-15 Mercedes 3.0 V10 1:28'14.494 208.467

1999 David Coulthard McLaren MP4-14 Mercedes 3.0 V10 1:25'43.057 214.595

1998 Damon Hill Jordan 198 Mugen-Honda 3.0 V10 1:43'47.407 177.229