This is one of the favourite circuits for drivers because they can showcase their talent on the variety of the track in the hilly landscape of the Belgian Ardennes. It is sometimes called "the toboggan of the Ardennes". Designed in 1921 by Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois Van Ophem, the original 14,981 km track essentially had the shape of a triangle connecting Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot and used public roads open to traffic at normal times.
Over the course of time, the speeds attained by cars made the track more and more dangerous for the safety of competitors. Thus, Jackie Stewart became a committed opponent following his accident at Burnenville in 1966. Dan Gurney used to say of this circuit that it "separated the men from the boys".
