Taking a look at Spa-Francorchamps 1967 in rFactor 2

[Xosé Estrada]

The 1967 version of Spa-Francorchamps has been available for quite some time to owners of the rFactor 2 beta. But the recent release of the Formula Two just gave me the perfect excuse to talk about this circuit on RaceDepartment.

The old Spa-Francorchamps

Although it wouldn't pose much of a challenge to modern Formula 1 cars, the old Spa-Francorchamps was particularly infamous for the Masta Kink, a chicane separating two long straights which were vital in order to achieve a decent lap time. I'll save you the gruesome story of 1972. But it was at that same place where Jackie Stewart suffered his infamous crash in 1966 (he would go on after that on a crusade to improve safety on the tracks). Throughout the decades, and despite its various redesigns, the circuit has remained as one of the fastest on the world.

The rFactor 2 recreation of the circuit also does a great job at showing what was considered "safety" back then. It was just terrible. It's not without reason that many of those drivers are highly regarded by racing fans around the world. Racing in the '50s and '60s didn't involve just talent, but we'll tackle this particular bit at the end of the article...

Racing Old Spa in rFactor 2

Spa-Francorchamps '67 in rFactor 2 is great fun, especially with the classic models. I'd go as far as saying it's a must-have experience to any sim racing fan. With a modern Formula Two (using the default setup), though, a lap around the track is done at top speed requiring only braking in La Source and Eau Rouge, in fact, you'll probably have a harder time keeping the car on track through all its bumps.

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Grand Prix: The Killer Years

Coincidentally, at the time of writing this article, there's a forum thread dedicated to the BBC documentary Grand Prix: The Killer Years, which narrates the story of Grand Prix racing in the '60s and '70s and how drivers back then had to live with the fact that death could be awaiting them at the next turn... If you haven't seen it yet, it's available to UK viewers on BBC's iPlayer.

If you're living outside the UK, it's also available at DailyMotion.

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[Lee Ross]

Very good read, enjoyed that, thanks! It's a great recreation IMO. Only thing for me that doesn't work is the inclusion of a modern F2 cars around the old SPA. Dunno it just doesn't work for me. I'm getting old maybe but i have never raced anything other than the classic Formula cars there in rF2. The track is amazing with the BT20

 

[Mike Coleman]

Very good read, enjoyed that, thanks! It's a great recreation IMO. Only thing for me that doesn't work is the inclusion of a modern F2 cars around the old SPA. Dunno it just doesn't work for me. I'm getting old maybe but i have never raced anything other than the classic Formula cars there in rF2. The track is amazing with the BT20

I agree Lee. Love the track, but I can't drive anything but the classics on it either.

 

[Xosé Estrada]

I've just seen the documentary, really worth watching.

The lap with a new F2 is a good example of how it's the combination of car / track what provides good racing and just not one of them

 

[Matt Horst]

I enjoyed the documentary very much.I never realized just how many drivers were being killed back then,they were true racing heroes with bravery most of us can't comprehend.

 

[Jamie Shorting]

This track is a sim racing classic IMO. Not meant for anything other than the '60s formula cars though.

 

[TUMIK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQgXhwEYS6M

 

[Alejandro Riveiro]

@Lee Ross, that's what I wanted to show with the article and the video and @Xosé Estrada explained it perfectly. I mention the Masta Kink on it, yet on the video I'd bet that someone that doesn't know the track would be unable to tell where it is.

A good classic track is not the same without classic cars

Glad you've enjoyed the article!

 

[Brian Duddy]

I appreciate the effort, but I think you could have showed the track a lot better if you had at least given the F2 a low-downforce/high-gear setup so it wouldn't just be 3 minutes of listening to the limiter...

 

[Kjell Eilertsen]

What a gutwrenching documentary
Very well worth seeing! I'm glad we've come this far in terms of safety nowadays.