Max Verstappen brings the crowds to Spa

If he holds both Belgian and Dutch nationalities, Max Verstappen preferred to choose his father’s nationality for competition. However, the managers of Spa-Francorchamps do not have much to complain about since they will still benefit from the presence of many Dutch fans for their race, as confirmed by André Maes, the director of the circuit, to La Dernière Heure: “We expect between 15,000 and 20,000 Dutch people.”

Such a turnout is obviously welcome, allowing the circuit to close its online sales site and only have general admission tickets available for sale directly on-site: “We are 25% ahead compared to last year. All grandstands are sold out. Only bronze general admission tickets are left, available for purchase at the booth set up since Monday, August 15 at the La Source gate.”

If this surplus of spectators allows for an increase in revenue, it does not necessarily mean that the finances of the event will improve, considering that between 2007 and 2014, the event recorded a deficit of 47 million euros. Indeed, the increase in revenue might barely be sufficient to cover the rise in expenses, particularly those related to security: « Like all major popular events gathering tens of thousands of people, we have received strict instructions related to alert level 3 and the recent unfortunate events in our country and elsewhere. Following what happened in Nice, we must maximize the separation of pedestrian areas from vehicle traffic lanes. »

The leader’s objective is therefore clearly to present a face of calm and security so that the thousands of spectators will indeed make the trip. But they will need to be patient at the entrance gates as they undergo the expected searches.

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr