Spa 24 Hours

The 24 Hours of Spa is an endurance racing event for cars held annually since 1924 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium. It is currently sponsored by Total S.A..

24 Hours of Spa
Blancpain Endurance Series
Intercontinental GT Challenge
VenueCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Corporate sponsorTotal S.A.
First race1924
Duration25 Hours (2020 only)
Most wins (driver)Eric van de Poele (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)BMW (24)

History

Alfa Romeos after triple win in 1930

The Spa 24 Hours was conceived by Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem just one year after the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans was run. It debuted in 1924 over a 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) circuit on public roads between the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot, under the auspices of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB). The present 7.004 kilometres (4.352 mi) circuit was inaugurated in 1979 with only slight variations since then.

The Spa 24 Hours was part of the European Touring Car Championship from 1966 to 1973, again in 1976 and from 1982 to 1988 (with the exception of 1987 when it was part of the inaugural World Touring Car Championship). The event also counted towards the World Sportscar Championship in 1953 and the World Endurance Championship in 1981. As on the Nürburgring, both a 24h and a 1000 km race is held at Spa, as the 1000 km Spa for sports car racing were introduced in 1966.

Cars entered have spanned from the Russian Moskvitch and models with sub-1 liter engines such as the NSU Prinz TT to the luxurious V8-powered Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. Tuned by Mercedes-AMG, the 6834 cc and 420 hp (313 kW) so-called "Red pig" finished as high as second in 1971.

With the participation of Swiss Lilian Bryner on the victorious Ferrari 550 of the BMS Scuderia Italia team, the 2004 race marked the first time in history that a female driver was part of the winning team of a 24-hour endurance race in a Gran Turismo with more than 500 hp (370 kW).

The current version of the Spa 24 Hours is an event under the Blancpain Endurance Series calendar, although it was previously run as part of the FIA GT Championship featuring GT1 and GT2 machinery, and by various touring car series. Currently, the cars run fall under the FIA GT3 and GT3 Cup classifications. It has also been a round of the SRO Group's Intercontinental GT Challenge since its inaugural season in 2016.

2020 will see the race held behind closed doors for the first time.

Coupe du Roi

The best manufacturer wins the Coupe du Roi (King's Cup), which is not necessarily the race winners. The cup is won by the manufacturer with the most points, accrued by cars that are made by the same manufacturer.[1] For example, Australian car manufacturer Holden won the Coupe du Roi in 1986 despite their cars finishing the race in 18th, 22nd and 23rd positions outright.[2]

List of winners

The original 15 km track layout (used from 1924 to 1949)
The quicker 14 km track layout (used from 1953 to 1978)
7km modern track (used from 1979 onwards)
ROWE Racing BMW after win in 2016
Year Drivers Team Car Layout Distance (km) Average (km/h) Notes
1924 Henri Springuel
Maurice Becquet
Bignan 2L 15 km
1925 André Lagache
René Léonard
Chenard-Walcker
1926 André Boillot
Louis Rigal
Peugeot 174S
1927 Robert Sénéchal
Nicolas Caerels
Excelsior
1928 Boris Ivanowski[NB 1]
Attilio Marinoni
Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 S
1929 Robert Benoist
Attilio Marinoni
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750SS
1930 Attilio Marinoni
Pietro Ghersi
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750GS
1931 Dimitri Djordjadze[NB 2]
Goffredo Zehender
Mercedes-Benz SSK
1932 Antonio Brivio
Eugenio Siena
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300LM
1933 Louis Chiron
Luigi Chinetti
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300LM
1934 Jean Desvignes
Norbert Mahé
Bugatti Type 44 Reduced to 10 hours[3]
1935 Not held
1936 Francesco Severi
Raymond Sommer
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A 15 km
1937 Not held
1938 Carlo Pintacuda
Francesco Severi
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B 15 km
1939

1947
Not held
1948 St. John Horsfall
Leslie Johnson
Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports 15 km
1949 Luigi Chinetti
Jean Lucas
Ferrari 166 MM
1950

1952
Not held
1953 Giuseppe Farina
Mike Hawthorn
Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina 14 km World Sportscar Championship
1954

1963
Not held
1964 Robert Crevits
Gustave Gosselin
Mercedes-Benz 300SE 14 km 3962,100 164,825
1965 Pascal Ickx
Gérard Langlois van Ophem
BMW 1800 Ti/SA 3812,591 158,855
1966 Hubert Hahne
Jacky Ickx
BMW 2000ti 4048,368 168,681 European Touring Car Championship
1967 Jean-Pierre Gaban
Noël Van Assche
Porsche 911 4052,883 168,867 European Touring Car Championship
1968 Erwin Kremer
Willi Kauhsen
Helmut Kelleners
Porsche 911 4004,827 166,867 European Touring Car Championship
1969 Guy Chasseuil
Claude Ballot-Léna
Porsche 911 4272,231 187,006 European Touring Car Championship
1970 Günther Huber
Helmut Kelleners
BMW 2800CS 4252,407 177,183 European Touring Car Championship
1971 Dieter Glemser
Alex Soler-Roig
Ford Capri RS 4385,100 182,690 European Touring Car Championship
1972 Jochen Mass
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Ford Capri RS 2600 4498,436 187,431 European Touring Car Championship
1973 Toine Hezemans
Dieter Quester
BMW 3.0 CSL 4422,980 184,290 European Touring Car Championship
1974 Jean Xhenceval
Alain Peltier
Pierre Dieudonné
BMW 3.0 CSi 4147,289 172,804 Trophée de l'Avenir
1975 Pierre Dieudonné
Jean Xhenceval
Hughes de Fierlandt
BMW 3.0 CSi 4249,270 177,053 Trophée de l'Avenir
1976 Jean-Marie Detrin
Nico Demuth
Charles Van Stalle
BMW 3.0 CSL 4087,904 170,329 European Touring Car Championship
1977 Eddy Joosen
Jean-Claude Andruet
BMW 530i 4083,835 170,159 Trophée de l'Avenir
1978 Gordon Spice
Teddy Pilette
Ford Capri III 3.0S 4315,594 179,816 Trophée de l'Avenir
1979 Jean-Michel Martin
Philippe Martin
Ford Capri III 3.0S 7 km 3083,632 128,485 Trophée de l'Avenir
1980 Jean-Michel Martin
Philippe Martin
Ford Capri III 3.0S 2952,318 123,013
1981 Pierre Dieudonné
Tom Walkinshaw
Mazda RX-7 3183,952 132,737 World Endurance Championship
Trophée de l'Avenir
1982 Hans Heyer
Armin Hahne
Eddy Joosen
BMW 528i 3132,224 130,808 European Touring Car Championship
1983 Thierry Tassin
Hans Heyer
Armin Hahne
BMW 635 CSi 3333,726 130,808 European Touring Car Championship
1984 Hans Heyer
Tom Walkinshaw
Win Percy
Jaguar XJS 3055,485 131,091 European Touring Car Championship
1985 Roberto Ravaglia
Marc Surer
Gerhard Berger
BMW 635 CSi 3470,000 144,344 European Touring Car Championship
1986 Dieter Quester
Altfrid Heger
Thierry Tassin
BMW 635 CSi 3463,060 144,232 European Touring Car Championship
1987 Jean-Michel Martin
Didier Theys
Eric van de Poele
BMW M3 3338,140 139,908 World Touring Car Championship
1988 Altfrid Heger
Dieter Quester
Roberto Ravaglia
BMW M3 3532,460 146,929 European Touring Car Championship
1989 Gianfranco Brancatelli
Win Percy
Bernd Schneider
Ford Sierra RS500 3338,140 139,130
1990 Markus Oestreich
Fabien Giroix
Johnny Cecotto
BMW M3 Evolution 3247,920 135,330
1991 Anders Olofsson
David Brabham
Naoki Hattori
Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 3587,980 149,456
1992 Steve Soper
Jean-Michel Martin
Christian Danner
BMW M3 Evolution 3560,220 148,947
1993 Uwe Alzen
Christian Fittipaldi
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Porsche 911 RSR 2154,904 144,667 Race stopped after 15 hours due to the death of King Baudouin[4]
1994 Roberto Ravaglia
Thierry Tassin
Alexander Burgstaller
BMW 318is 3625,960 151,047
1995 Joachim Winkelhock
Steve Soper
Peter Kox
BMW 320i 3612,532 150,531
1996 Jörg Müller
Alexander Burgstaller
Thierry Tassin
BMW 320i 3507,821 145,956
1997 Didier de Radiguès
Marc Duez
Éric Hélary
BMW 320i 3372,680 140,252
1998 Alain Cudini
Marc Duez
Eric van de Poele
BMW 318i 3344,807 139,344
1999 Frédéric Bouvy
Emmanuel Collard
Anthony Beltoise
Peugeot 306 GTI 3428,427 142,588
2000 Didier Defourny
Frédéric Bouvy
Kurt Mollekens
Peugeot 306 GTI 3330,870 138,686 Last race for touring cars
2001 Marc Duez
Christophe Bouchut
Jean-Philippe Belloc
Larbre Compétition Chrysler Viper GTS-R 3679.104 152.999 FIA GT Championship
2002 Christophe Bouchut
Sébastien Bourdais
David Terrien
Vincent Vosse
Larbre Compétition Chrysler Viper GTS-R 3654.059 152.019 FIA GT Championship
2003 Romain Dumas
Stéphane Ortelli
Marc Lieb
Freisinger Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3-RS 3327.613 138.557 FIA GT Championship
2004 Luca Cappellari
Fabrizio Gollin
Lilian Bryner
Enzo Calderari
BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello 3888.144 161.974 FIA GT Championship
2005 Michael Bartels
Timo Scheider
Eric van de Poele
Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 4000.896 166.638 FIA GT Championship
2006 Eric van de Poele
Michael Bartels
Andrea Bertolini
Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 4092.961 171.034 FIA GT Championship
2007 Fabrizio Gollin
Mike Hezemans
Jean-Denis Délétraz
Marcel Fässler
Carsport Holland
Phoenix Racing
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 3726.660 155.241 FIA GT Championship
2008 Michael Bartels
Andrea Bertolini
Stéphane Sarrazin
Eric van de Poele
Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 4041.885 168.096 FIA GT Championship
2009 Anthony Kumpen
Kurt Mollekens
Mike Hezemans
Jos Menten
PK Carsport Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 3915.236 163.128 FIA GT Championship
2010 Romain Dumas
Martin Ragginger
Jörg Bergmeister
Wolf Henzler
BMS Scuderia Italia Porsche 997 GT3-RSR 3789.164 157.832
2011 Timo Scheider
Greg Franchi
Mattias Ekström
Audi Sport Team WRT Audi R8 LMS 3817.180 158.898 Blancpain Endurance Series
2012 Andrea Piccini
René Rast
Frank Stippler
Audi Sport Performance Team Audi R8 LMS ultra 3565.036 148.543 Blancpain Endurance Series
2013 Bernd Schneider
Maximilian Götz
Maximilian Buhk
HTP Motorsport Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 3950.256 164.594 Blancpain Endurance Series
2014 René Rast
Markus Winkelhock
Laurens Vanthoor
Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra 3691.108 153.732 Blancpain Endurance Series
Red flag (1 hour)[5]
2015 Nick Catsburg
Lucas Luhr
Markus Palttala
BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS BMW Z4 GT3 3754.144 156.423 Blancpain Endurance Series
2016 Philipp Eng
Maxime Martin
Alexander Sims
ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3 3719.403 154.975 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Intercontinental GT Challenge
2017 Jules Gounon
Christopher Haase
Markus Winkelhock
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc Audi R8 GT3 3824.184 159.341 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Intercontinental GT Challenge
2018 Tom Blomqvist
Philipp Eng
Christian Krognes
Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 3579.044 149.127 Intercontinental GT Challenge, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
2019 Kévin Estre
Richard Lietz
Michael Christensen
GPX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 2542.45 105.78 Intercontinental GT Challenge, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
18 hour race. Racing suspended from 4:00 AM to 11:30 AM (rain), initially by safety car, but red flag at 5:40 AM.
2020 Earl Bamber
Nick Tandy
Laurens Vanthoor
Rowe Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 3691.10 153.7 Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

Multiple winners

By driver

Wins Driver Years
5 Eric van de Poele 1987, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008
4 Jean-Michel Martin 1979, 1980, 1987, 1992
Thierry Tassin 1983, 1986, 1994, 1996
3 Attilio Marinoni 1928, 1929, 1930
Pierre Dieudonné 1974, 1975, 1981
Hans Heyer 1982, 1983, 1984
Dieter Quester 1973, 1986, 1988
Roberto Ravaglia 1985, 1988, 1994
Marc Duez 1997, 1998, 2001
Michael Bartels 2005, 2006, 2008
2 Francesco Severi 1936, 1938
Luigi Chinetti 1933, 1949
Helmut Kelleners 1968, 1970
Jean Xhenceval 1974, 1975
Philippe Martin 1979, 1980
Eddy Joosen 1977, 1982
Armin Hahne 1982, 1983
Tom Walkinshaw 1981, 1984
Altfrid Heger 1986, 1988
Win Percy 1984, 1989
Steve Soper 1992, 1995
Alexander Burgstaller 1994, 1996
Frédéric Bouvy 1999, 2000
Christophe Bouchut 2001, 2002
Fabrizio Gollin 2004, 2007
Andrea Bertolini 2006, 2008
Kurt Mollekens 2000, 2009
Mike Hezemans 2007, 2009
Romain Dumas 2003, 2010
Timo Scheider 2005, 2011
Bernd Schneider 1989, 2013
René Rast 2012, 2014
Markus Winkelhock 2014, 2017
Philipp Eng 2016, 2018
Laurens Vanthoor 2014, 2020

By manufacturer

Wins Manufacturer Years
24 BMW 1965, 1966, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2015, 2016, 2018
8 Porsche 1967, 1968, 1969, 1993, 2003, 2010, 2019, 2020
7 Alfa Romeo 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1938
6 Ford 1971, 1972, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1989
4 Audi 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017
3 Peugeot 1926, 1999, 2000
Ferrari 1949, 1953, 2004
Maserati 2005, 2006, 2008
Mercedes-Benz 1931, 1964, 2013
2 Chrysler 2001, 2002
Chevrolet 2007, 2009

See also

Notes

  1. Ivanowski was a Russian national, but in exile since the Russian Revolution
  2. Djordjadze was a Russian national, but in exile since the Russian Revolution

References

  1. Vincent Wouters (27 July 2015), Spa Post-Race Notebook, SportsCar360
  2. Gricey's King's Cup Story (Spa 1986)
  3. "SPORTS CAR RACING". kolumbus.fi. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  4. "1993 Spa 24 Hours". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  5. "28 Jul 2014 - Belgian Audi Club Team WRT takes home win after nail-biting finish". total24hours.com. 28 July 2014. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
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