• The Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium is being upgraded to being MotoGP and EWC back.

• The circuit still holds the record for the fastest motorcycle GP race.

• The last motorcycle GP race held there was in 1987.

Belgium is working to upgrade the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for MotoGP and FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC).

The government of Wallonia region announced that the circuit had been granted a €29.5 million loan to make the circuit safe for motorcycle racing. The loan is part of an €80 million financial package to upgrade and modernize the track and bring international motorcycle racing back to Belgium.

The objective is to hold the WEC in 2022 and MotoGP in 2024.

According to sources, upgrading the track is a daunting task as the circuit winds through the Belgian Ardennes. The area is wooded and has steep hills. (The Battle of the Bulge in World War 2 happened in this vicinity.) As such, there isn’t much room for runoffs. Being a forest and highlands also means lots of rain. There is an average of 12 rainy days per month.

However, Spa-Francorchamps is famous for featuring high-speed racing. Eau Rouge, Radillon and Blanchimont are the fastest corners of all tracks. But there is little room for mistakes due to limited runoff areas.

In fact, Spa holds the fastest average speed in the history of Grand Prix racing. Barry Sheene lapped the circuit at an average of 220.721 km/h, when it was still 14.1 kilometres long.

The last time GP motorcycles raced at Spa was in 1987 after being held there for 40 times. The FIM deemed the track too dangerous after remedial works weren’t carried out. It has been a regular venue for Formula 1 since then.