F1 Fan Festival format returns for Belgian GP

Formula 1 has announced that the Fan Festival format that was launched at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this year will return for this weekend’s race in Belgium.

As part of Liberty Media’s drive to increase F1’s fan engagement and experience at grands prix, a new fan zone debuted in Spain by the sport’s new F1 Experiences arm.

The Fan Festival will return at Spa this weekend, with a special focus on the 50th running of the F1 race at Spa.

“The 2017 Pirelli Belgian Grand Prix will this weekend play host to an improved Fan Festival experience with interactive contests, new activities and live music for racegoers to sample,” a statement from F1 reads.

“Following the successful launch by F1 Experiences of the fan zone format earlier this year at the Spanish Grand Prix, Formula 1 has consulted extensively with fans to get their views on how circuit entertainment could be improved.

“In addition to the range of unique experiences already in place such as racing simulators, state-of-the-art pit stop challenges and live performances from local DJs, this grand prix will see the introduction of an interactive social wall and more show cars live on display, including one from Michael Schumacher’s collection.

“The interactive social wall is designed to connect fans at the race who can share their experience of practice, qualifying and the race via Formula 1’s social media channels. With two new fanzones being created around the Spa race circuit, the social wall will also keep fans updated with all of the activities taking place around them during the Pirelli Belgian Grand Prix.

“This year is the 50th Grand Prix organised in Spa-Francorchamps, and to celebrate this Formula 1 will also be displaying videos and pictures from the past half-a-century on screens around the fan zones.

“This weekend’s Fan Festival will also see the return of the dedicated fan television channel, first seen in Spain.

“Those attending will get the inside track on the race, live Formula 1 interviews, expert insights, and exclusive appearances by current drivers and legends of the sport.”

“We are very pleased to be able to expand the successful Fan Festival experience we showcased in Spain here at this weekend’s Pirelli Belgian Grand Prix,” Alexandre Molina, events management for Formula 1 said.

“We aim to make the entire race weekend experience an exciting one for fans, and the fan zone format enables us to celebrate the very best this sport has to offer.

“The return of the Fan Festival at Spa-Francorchamps is important because we have made changes as a result of direct feedback from our fans.

“The introduction of the interactive social wall is a good example of this: we have listened to a clear desire for more information at the race circuit about everything that is going on in real time. The use of this kind of technology also allows us to tap into our growing social media fanbase.”