At Spa like Verstappen on the Roarington Simulators

According to many drivers, the real racetracks are those carved from existing roads, where the layout isn't determined by computers but rather by the terrain's topography and the paths traced by humans and their activities. And that's precisely what Spa-Francorchamps represents, a fact Max Verstappen openly acknowledges. Its appeal stems from this unique characteristic, often intertwined with unpredictable weather, as happened in this year's Grand Prix, where the track oscillated between deluge and dryness, throwing off every team's strategic game.

Masters Historic Racing revives the golden age of Formula 1 with cars from 1966 to 1985

It all began a century ago, when three state roads were linked together, creating a 14-kilometre course. While today, the circuit has been reduced to seven kilometres, it remains the longest in the World Championship series, with breath-taking climbs and descents – a challenge befitting only the finest of champions. Take, for instance, the nerve-wracking plunge into the Eau Rouge compression, followed by an uphill curve at Raidillon, with drivers at full throttle, almost blind. It's undeniably the most demanding stretch of the entire Championship.

A great Spa tradition, the parade of competitors in the small towns of Spa, Malmedy and Stavelot surrounding the circuit

Apart from its formidable difficulty, Spa-Francorchamps has always been a very fast circuit, and only recently have run-off areas and safety measures been introduced, significantly reducing risks – though, sadly, not eliminating them entirely. This reality doesn't change when you get behind the wheel of a simulator. While drivers aren't putting their lives or cars on the line, it requires great effort to learn its "tricks" and choose the right gear and braking points. In particular, the cars tend to lock their wheels right before the chicane and the curve after the pit lane, which is even more risky when driving classic cars without any driver assistance. The circuit is located in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and, in addition to Formula 1, is famous for its 24 Hours races and important events with Classic cars during the Spa Classic.

The Eau Rouge - Raidillon, one of the most spectacular and challenging curves in the world

So, are you prepared to put on the reigning champion Verstappen's racing suit and get behind the wheel of the Roarington Simulators (two of them are available immediately at the magnificent MAUTO Museum in Turin)? After some training with a GT car, perhaps the Ferrari 250GTO, you’re ready to try your hand with the Lotus 25 Formula 1, the one that made Jim Clark World Champion. But that's not all: when you feel truly confident, take on the Maserati 250F driven by Manuel Fangio to truly understand what courage means. A dive into history with the magic of technology, brought to life by Roarington.

There are many categories of cars participating in the Spa Classic. Here the BMW M1 Pro-Car available to drive on the Roarington simulators.