The Kemmel Straight is 1.05 kilometres long. It climbs uphill the entire way — 35 metres of elevation, a gradient between 2% and 6%, with a slight right-hand kink that F1 cars take without lifting. Cars exit Raidillon at the top of Eau Rouge and immediately hit this straight, already doing well over 300km/h, DRS open, accelerating. The speed record stands at 359.4km/h, set by Charles Leclerc in 2020. That is 223mph on an uphill road through a forest.
This is where the Belgian Grand Prix is won and lost. The DRS zone — adjusted in recent years after the move was deemed too easy — now activates 305 metres after the Raidillon corner and runs to the Les Combes braking zone at the far end. When a driver gets a run on the car ahead coming out of Eau Rouge, you can see the move developing from the moment they crest the hill. A kilometre of anticipation, then the braking zone, then either a clean pass or a lunge into Les Combes. Repeat for 44 laps.
The experience here is entirely general admission — Bronze ticket, no assigned seat, bring your own chair. A paved spectator path runs the full length of the straight from Raidillon's exit to Les Combes, elevated slightly above the catch fence. The bank between the path and the fence is rocky and steep. The mound roughly mid-straight is the best position: high enough to look over the barrier rather than through it, with two large screens visible for timing and replays.
The closer you are to the Raidillon end, the faster the cars look. The closer you are to Les Combes, the more overtaking action you see. Neither is wrong. Most regulars pick a spot mid-straight and commit to it early — fence-side positions are gone before 7am on race Sunday.
General admission means exactly that: no cover, no fixed seat, and a 15-minute walk from the main entrance through forest tracks. The terrain is uneven. July in the Ardennes brings unpredictable weather — the same afternoon can be 28 degrees and then a downpour within the hour. A fold-up chair, waterproof jacket, and ear defenders are not optional extras here.
What general admission gives you that grandstands cannot is freedom of movement. You can walk the straight during support races, find your spot for qualifying, change ends between sessions. The circuit is 7km long and a single Bronze ticket unlocks most of it. Many experienced Spa visitors spend Friday exploring, Saturday morning at the Kemmel for qualifying, and Sunday at Eau Rouge for the race — treating the weekend as a roaming experience rather than one fixed vantage point.
Why it's special
