The town of Spa takes its name from the mineral water that was discovered in the Ardennes hills by the Romans. The circuit was the idea of local man Jules de Thier and many of the corners bear the names of local villages or landmarks - Eau Rouge takes its name from a nearby stream, whilst Stavelot, Blanchimont and Malmedy are nearby towns or villages. The track hosted its first Belgian GP as early as 1925, early winners including Ascari and Nuvolari. Racing stopped during World War II, with the circuit actually part of the battlefield during the Battle of the Bulge. The 1960's saw four successive victories for the dominant Jim Clark, as well as the emergence of another showpiece event - the Spa 1000km, which would be won five times by local hero Jacky Ickx. The high speed at Spa eventually prompted safety concerns. Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart both suffered nasty accidents there, and three drivers lost their lives during the 1973 running of the Spa 24 hours. The Belgian GP was moved to the characterless Nivelles circuit near Brussels. F1 returned to Spa in 1983 and the track became once more an integral part of the World Championship. There were still accidents, notably the sportscar crash at Eau Rouge in 1985 which claimed the life of rising German star Stefan Bellof. Ayrton Senna was a five time winner at this track during the 1980's, whilst Schumacher took four wins in six races there during the 1990's. The German rates Spa as "without doubt the best circuit in the world." "The kind of atmosphere you get at Spa is something akin to the old Nurburgring" he says. Eau Rouge is widely acknowledged, by drivers and fans alike, as being the most thrilling corner in F1.