Trickyd, Autopia is the new track being built in South Korea that is slated to host a round of the 2013 AsLMS. It is also known as Inj(a)e, owing to the name of that region of Korea. The track is an Alan Wilson design, but doesn't look like a conventional Alan Wilson design, and is definitely one of his best efforts. Autopia has some quite dramatic elevation changes around its 2.61-mile lap. Also, unlike Wilson's regular designs there is actually an infield, as the paddock and pit lane are inside the track perimeter. The track seems to be more open in layout than quite a few of his others as well.
Here's one piece on the track, but someone else will have to translate the Korean symbols.
http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?b...No=40143395549
(Note that the first course diagram in the link is the original proposal for the layout. The two below it show a modified layout, which I would imagine is what they are building. This modification opens some sections up, and addresses a few possible trouble spots from the original plan.)
As for Spa 1979-80, that was the original shortened layout coming from the old 8.762-mile circuit. The Bus Stop had not been added, so they were using the old Clubhouse bend. The new pits (where F1 is now) had not been built yet (so still the old start line after La Source), and Eau Rouge had not yet been reprofiled, as happened following the 1994 season. Blanchimont through Clubhouse to La Source had the old alignment of the road. It was the old curved stretches to and from La Source, and the narrower roads with the cambered corners throughout the lap. The forest still encroached right up by the track around much of the course.
Yes, it would be faster than the present layout. Then again, probably not as much faster as some are thinking. The removal of a few slower turns, and the cambers in the road, would speed things up by several seconds. On the other hand, the narrower track, narrower curbs, and NO paved run-offs would add some seconds back on to the total. For instance, the amount of short-cutting and running wide (which gains you time, obviously) that can be done at Eau Rouge now is ridiculous. The running wide part also certainly applies to La Source, Pouhon, Stavelot, and Blanchimont, not to mention the parking lot they have set up now at the final two turns.