Eupen, Belgium

The country of Belgium is located in the mid-western coast of Europe, and borders France, Luxembourg, Germany, and The Netherlands. England lays close, just across the English Channel. Belgium is a multi cultural society with distinct regions with Dutch, French, and German influence.

Eupen is a city located in the Belgian province of Liège, just 15 km from the German and Dutch borders. It is the capital city of the Eastern Cantons of Wallonia (the small German-speaking area in the far east of Belgium). Although Eupen is a small city with a population of about 18,000 people, its history dates back to the 1200's. Through time the region has seen many wars and battles. In the early 1900's, Eupen was actually located in Germany until the end of World War I, when it became part of Belgium through the Treaty of Versailles. The region was again annexed by Germany during World War II, only to become part of Belgium again after the war. The official language in Eupen is German. Eupen lies in the Vesdre River Valley, very near the German border and just downstream from the Gileppe Dam, which was installed to provide a reliable water supply to the town. It is a manufacturing center for soap, beer, and cables.

Eupen is beautifully situated on the edge of dense forests (the 'Hertogenwald' or 'Duke's Forest) and alongside the rivers Vesder and Gospert. The look of the city is defined by the numerous 17th and 18th century houses of the rich cloth traders. This lovely city can be described as lying in 'an area without frontiers', as Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, France are all only a few minutes away by car.

Belgium has a very strong racing tradition, and is home to one of the world's most venerated racetracks: Spa-Francorchamps. This legendary racetrack is located just a short drive south of Eupen. The original 15km (9.3miles) track dates back from the 1920s, and used public roads linking the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. It was a long fast lap, and soon became known as one of the most dangerous and challenging circuits in the world. Triumph and tragedy ran side by side at Spa. By 1971, Formula 1 drivers had deemed the track just way to dangerous, and the Belgian Grand Prix was dropped from the F1 Calendar. Although sportscar races continued at Spa on the original track through 1978, the Belgian Formula 1 GP would only return to Spa in 1983, on a new shortened track of safer design. The original track however, still lives in the public roads that link Malmedy, Stavelot, and Francorchamps.

The most traditional of all races in Belgian motorsport is the 24hrs of Spa Sportscar race. The endurance event was created just 1 year after the 24hr of Le Mans race, and continues to thrill racing fans to this day.

The passion for motorsport is very alive within Belgium. Perhaps no other form of motorport provides greater evidence of this than Indoor Karting. Belgium has produced 3 Indoor kart World Champion drivers and is the nation with most victorious drivers in World Champion competition. Belgian driver Kenny Geldhof is the current World Champion, BlueStar Racing Team Belgium is the current World Champion Team, Belgium holds the Nations Cup Title, and Belgian Driver Mathias Grooten has won more Indoor Kart World Championship races than any other, earning the reputation of best driver ever in the sport. Over the Internet, stats show Belgium as the nation with greatest number fans following Indoor kart World Championship races via online live timing, followed by Brazil, Austria, USA, and Netherlands. If the 1st IKWC in Belgium (2008) was any indication, the 2nd one in 2011 will be a competition not to be missed by any enthusiast of this sport, fan or driver!

To top it all off, the 2011 edition of the 24hrs of Spa is scheduled to start one day after the 2011 Indoor Kart World Championship ends, so... see you at Eupen and then at Spa!!