New Mettet circuit in Belgium gets its own 'Corkscrew'

This is the stunning new Corkscrew-alike chicane that will be the main feature of Belgium’s nearly-completed Mettet circuit.

Built on land close to the street circuit used for the Superbiker supermoto annual races, the new circuit has a 14 metre difference in height between the highest and lowest points on the circuit, with the most dramatic gradient change at the turn six – a 1:3.3 drop as the track flicks left then right. It’s a short lap – experts who have completed tentative laps among the ongoing building and landscaping reckon a 1:10 lap will be a quick lap.

The track looks fairly tight and is described as technical by the group responsible for its contruction, but it’s at least twelve metres wide all the way round – only three metres less than Silverstone, which is tailored to suit the needs of Formula 1 car racing.

Belgian track day company Aktief is organising five public bike track days when the track opens in 2010 – May 18, June 29, July 6, August 2 and September 7. Contact: 0032-936-931-71 or aktief@metamedia.be. The circuit is also scheduled to hold various club-level car and bike race meetings.