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A lap of Spa with Kimi Raikkonen

As he fights to keep himself in with a chance of the drivers' championship, McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen describes a typical lap of the Spa Francorchamps circuit, which will host this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

"On the power along the short start-finish straight at Spa Francorchamps, you reach 280km/h in sixth gear as you approach the La Source Hairpin," Raikkonen explains. "The tight right-hander is taken at 56km/h. You accelerate downhill out of La Source, reaching some 290km/h in seventh gear before arriving at the renowned Eau Rouge. Taken flat out, the track drops before climbing steeply left, right then left again at speeds of up to 290km/h still in seventh gear."

"It is vital to maintain your speed through Eau Rouge as it leads onto the fastest section of the track, the Kemmell straight, which sees you reach 330km/h," Raikkonen adds. "You then brake hard for the right-hander of Les Combes, which is taken at 140km/h in third. The left-right flick of the third gear Malmedy chicane follows immediately and sees your speed increase slightly to some 177km/h through the corner."

"A quick burst of acceleration, reaching 265km/h, takes you to the Rivage hairpin. Braking hard you negotiate Rivage at 112km/h in second gear. The downhill right-hander is off-camber and you can experience understeer. Accelerating out of Rivage, you then dab the brakes for a 160km/h left hander, before once again getting on the power along the short straight that takes you to Pouhon. Entering the fast double apex left-hander at 215km/h in fourth, your speed increases to 272km/h through the corner."

"A short burst on the throttle takes you to the right-left chicane of Fagnes, entered at 140km/h in third gear, your speed increases slightly for the second section to 170km/h. Along another short straight, you reach 250km/h before braking slightly for the double apex right-hander of Stavelot. You enter the bumpy downhill bend at 152km/h in third before accelerating to 240km/h in fourth on the exit."

"This takes you onto the long sweeping left-hander of Blanchimont. Flicking up through the gears you reach 305km/h in seventh gear before braking hard for the bus stop chicane, which has again been modified prior to the Grand Prix, it flicks you right then left before taking you back onto the pit straight to start another lap."

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