One of the calendar\u2019s more classic venues, the Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has produced plenty of fantastic racing, as well as some shocking moments. With 22 drivers taking on the challenging circuit this weekend, here are five of the most dramatic incidents from over the years\u2026<\/p>\n
1987 \u2013 Mansell and Senna collide<\/p>\n
Williams<\/a>\u2019 Nigel Mansell \u2013 the early leader of the Drivers\u2019 Championship \u2013 started on pole for the third round of 1987 and confidently stayed ahead of his rivals at the front of the field. However, numerous crashes further down the order caused mayhem on the track and prompted an extended delay to recover the wreckage.<\/p>\n The Briton\u2019s hopes of replicating his original start fell away as rising star Ayrton Senna charged past to take the lead, but Mansell wasn\u2019t prepared to give it up so easily. Heading into the Fagnes right-hander, he attempted an ambitious lunge around the outside of the yellow Lotus, which ended in disaster as the equally stubborn Senna refused to concede the place.<\/p>\n Their cars touched and spun rather elegantly off track, leaving Senna to retire on the spot whilst Mansell limped back into action. The damage was eventually deemed too great and his race ended in the pits, where the pair got stuck into a brief scuffle as neither wanted to take responsibility for the incident.<\/p>\n 1998 \u2013 Wet weather pile-up<\/p>\n Some race starts can be described as chaos, but the opening lap of the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix<\/a> was nothing short of pandemonium. Despite the heavy rainfall and extremely poor visibility, the race went ahead as usual without any extra precautions, which seemed to be a good decision for roughly 15 seconds.<\/p>\n Polesitter Mika Hakkinen, chasing down his first title, cautiously held onto his lead and headed up to Eau Rouge before his McLaren<\/a> team mate David Coulthard was seen facing the wrong way, crashing into the wall.<\/p>\n He was then flung back across the track into another barrier, taking out multiple drivers en route until a total of 13 cars were involved in the collision, which legendary commentator Murray Walker referred to at the time as \u201cthe worst start to a Grand Prix I have ever seen\u201d.<\/p>\n Naturally, that wasn\u2019t the end of the drama \u2013 Michael Schumacher built up a dominant lead after Hakkinen spun out on the restart, but the Ferrari<\/a> driver\u2019s race fell apart when he caught up to backmarker Coulthard.<\/p>\n The McLaren man slowed after hearing the order to let Schumacher past, but crucially remained on the racing line and was largely obscured by the spray. Unsurprisingly, the German didn\u2019t manage to avoid slamming into his car and tore off his own wheel and the McLaren\u2019s rear wing in the process, leading a furious Schumacher to subsequently storm down the pit lane to confront Coulthard.<\/p>\n Oh, and in the end, Damon Hill secured a remarkable maiden victory<\/a> for Jordan.<\/p>\n 2008 \u2013 A breathless final two laps<\/p>\n One driver who excels in wet conditions, and subsequently has a strong record at Spa-Francorchamps, is Lewis Hamilton<\/a>, who demonstrated in just his second season that he was never to be ruled out of contention.<\/p>\n With a high chance of rain predicted, the then-McLaren driver lost his race lead to Kimi Raikkonen after spinning at La Source two laps in, and the Finn continued to extend his advantage throughout the pit stops.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Hamilton had gradually chipped away at that lead when the rain finally arrived on Lap 41 of 44, allowing him to stage a fierce challenge that began with an attempted overtake at the Bus Stop. He cut the chicane to avoid a collision and returned to the track in first place, but returned the position to Raikkonen before using his superior speed to pass him at La Source.<\/p>\n After making some minor contact, they were forced into evasive action as Nico Rosberg spun ahead, letting the Ferrari driver sail back into the lead once again. It wouldn\u2019t last for too long as he then completely lost control of his car and collided with the barrier, ending his race and handing victory to Hamilton on the final lap.<\/p>\n But that didn\u2019t last long either \u2013 the Briton controversially received a 25-second time penalty (equivalent to what would have been a drive-through) for cutting the chicane and gaining an advantage, demoting him to P3 and giving his title rival Felipe Massa the win.<\/p>\n 2011 \u2013 Webber\u2019s fearless overtake<\/p>\n Mark Webber\u2019s 2011 Belgian Grand Prix got off to a messy start when his Red Bull<\/a> went into anti-stall on the opening lap, leaving him to tumble down the order and watch his team mate Sebastian Vettel battle Rosberg for control of the race.<\/p>\n