Endurance racing event for cars held annually in Belgium
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 .
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 ] References [ edit ] External links [ edit ]
24 hours 12 hours 10 hours 9 hours 8 hours 6 hours 1000 miles 1000 km 4 Hours Other Defunct races are indicated in italics