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 CrowdStrike.

24 Hours of Spa
GT World Challenge Endurance
Intercontinental GT Challenge
VenueCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Corporate sponsorCrowdStrike
First race1924
Duration24 Hours
Most wins (driver)Eric van de Poele (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)BMW (25)

History edit

 
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.

During the 1975 race, Dutch driver Wim Boshuis and a track marshal were killed in two separate incidents. Boshuis was killed when his vehicle collided with other cars on the track, while the track marshal was killed 30 minutes later when Belgian driver Alain Peltier collided with a railing.[1]

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 GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS and Intercontinental GT Challenge 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 saw the race held behind closed doors for the first time.

The 2023 Belgian Grand Prix, which is part of the 2023 F1 calendar released by the FIA on 21 September 2022, was scheduled on the race weekend of 28 July to 30 July and clashed with the Spa 24 Hours. This forced the Spa 24 Hours in 2023 to reschedule from its traditional late July race weekend to the race weekend between 29 June to 2 July.

Coupe du Roi edit

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.[2] 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.[3]

List of winners edit

 
The original 15 km track layout (used from 1924 to 1949)
 
The quicker 14 km track layout (used from 1953 to 1978)
 
The slower 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 Jorjadze [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[4]
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. First use of 14km layout
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. First use of 7km layout
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[5]
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)[6]
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 LMS 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
2021   Côme Ledogar
  Nicklas Nielsen
  Alessandro Pier Guidi
  Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 3894.22 162.0 Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
2022   Jules Gounon
  Daniel Juncadella
  Raffaele Marciello
  AMG Team AKKodis ASP Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 3754.14 156.2 Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
2023   Philipp Eng
  Marco Wittmann
  Nick Yelloly
  ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 3761.14 156.7 Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

Multiple winners edit

By driver edit

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
  Philipp Eng 2016, 2018, 2023
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
  Laurens Vanthoor 2014, 2020
  Jules Gounon 2017, 2022

By manufacturer edit

Wins Manufacturer Years
25   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, 2023
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
  Ferrari 1949, 1953, 2004, 2021
  Mercedes-Benz 1931, 1964, 2013, 2022
3   Peugeot 1926, 1999, 2000
  Maserati 2005, 2006, 2008
2   Chrysler 2001, 2002
  Chevrolet 2007, 2009

See also edit

Notes edit

  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 edit

  1. ^ UPI (28 July 1975), "2 Killed at Spa", The New York Times
  2. ^ Vincent Wouters (27 July 2015), Spa Post-Race Notebook, SportsCar360
  3. ^ Gricey's King's Cup Story (Spa 1986)
  4. ^ "SPORTS CAR RACING". kolumbus.fi. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  5. ^ "1993 Spa 24 Hours". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  6. ^ "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.

External links edit