6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps explained
The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (formerly the 1000 Kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps) is an endurance race for sports cars held at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
History
The Spa 24 Hours had been introduced in 1924, and other races followed. As on the Nürburgring, both a 24-hour race for touring cars and GTs is held, and an endurance race for sports cars and GTs. The 24 hour race counted towards the inaugural World Sports Car championship in 1953, the last time that race would be held until 1964, and the last time it was for sports cars for several decades. Earlier in 1953 a minor sports car race, the Coupe de Spa was the first race held in the lineage of the 1000 km (now 6 hour) race.[1] The first Spa Grand Prix was held in 1954,[2] and in 1963 joined the World Sportscar Championship and was extended to 500 km. Starting in 1966 the name Spa Grand Prix was no-longer used, and the race was run for 1000 km, following the 1000 km Nürburgring and 1000 km Monza. Due to safety problems on the traditional long and very fast 14 km track over public roads, the race was discontinued after 1975.
The 1000 km race was resumed in 1982 after the track was made safer by shortening it to 7 km. In 1989 and 1990, the race distance was lowered to 480 km. Due to the decline of the WSC, the "1000km" was discontinued after 1990 even before the WSC closed.
The race was revived in 1999, as a part of the SportsRacing World Cup (the predecessor to the FIA Sportscar Championship), running to a 2-hour, 30 minute time limit. In 2003, the 1000 km race was resumed as a joint event of the FIA SCC with the British GT Championship. In 2004, it was part of the Le Mans Series (LMS), and in 2011 was also part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. From 2012 onwards the race has been part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, albeit in the format of a six-hour race.
Jacky Ickx currently holds record of most wins, having won the race 5 times, in 1967, 1968, 1974, 1982, and 1983. He is also one of two drivers to win the 1000 km on both the original and current circuits, the other being Derek Bell.
Winners
| Year !Drivers | Team !Car | Time !Distance | Championship |
|---|
| 14.1km (08.8miles) circuit |
|---|
| 1953 |  Olivier Gendebien | | Ferrari 166 MM | | | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1954 | Hans Davids | Hans Davids | Jaguar C-Type | | 169km (105miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1955 | Paul Frère |  Aston Martin | Aston Martin DB3S | 1:37:33.900 | 282km (175miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1956 | Ninian Sanderson | Ecurie Ecosse | Jaguar D-Type | 0:57:34.800 | 169km (105miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1957 | Tony Brooks | | Aston Martin DBR1 | 1:15:56.000 | 211.8km (131.6miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1958 |  Masten Gregory | Ecurie Ecosse | Lister-Jaguar | 1:05:02.300 | 211.8km (131.6miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1959 | Carel Godin de Beaufort | Ecurie Maarsbergen | Porsche 718 RSK | 1:11:10.100 | 211.8km (131.6miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1960 | Paul Frère | | Porsche 718 RSK | 1:20:54.800 | 211.8km (131.6miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1961 | Willy Mairesse |  Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta | 1:05:33.800 | 211.8km (131.6miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1962 | Edgar Berney | Edgar Berney | Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta | 1:12:32.100 | 211.8km (131.6miles) | Non-championship |
|---|
| 1963 | Willy Mairesse | Ecurie Nationale Belge | Ferrari 250 GTO | 2:38:40:800 | 500km (300miles) | International Championship for GT Manufacturers |
|---|
| 1964 | Mike Parkes | Maranello Concessionaires | Ferrari 250 GTO | 2:32:05.200 | 500km (300miles) | International Championship for GT Manufacturers |
|---|
| 1965 | Willy Mairesse | Ecurie Francorchamps | Ferrari 250 LM | 2:29:45.700 | 500km (300miles) | International Championship for GT Manufacturers
International Trophy for GT Prototypes |
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| 1966 | | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 330 P3 | 4:43:24.000 | 1000km (1,000miles) | International Manufacturers' Championship
International Sports Car Championship |
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| 1967 | Jacky Ickx
Dick Thompson | J.W. Automotive Engineering | Mirage M1-Ford | 5:09:46.500 | 1000km (1,000miles) | International Championship for Sports-Prototypes
International Championship for Sports Cars |
|---|
| 1968 | Jacky Ickx
Brian Redman | J.W. Automotive Engineering | | 5:05:19:300 | 1000km (1,000miles) | International Championship for Makes
International Cup for GT Cars |
|---|
| 1969 | | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 908LH | 4:24:19.600 | 1000km (1,000miles) | International Championship for Makes
International Cup for GT Cars |
|---|
| 1970 | Jo Siffert
Brian Redman | J.W. Automotive Engineering | Porsche 917K | 4:09:47.800 | 1000km (1,000miles) | International Championship for Makes
International Cup for GT Cars |
|---|
| 1971 | | J.W. Automotive Engineering | Porsche 917K | 4:01:09.700 | 1000km (1,000miles) | International Championship for Makes
International Cup for GT Cars |
|---|
| 1972 | Arturo Merzario
Brian Redman | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 312 PB | 4:17:19.100 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Championship for Makes
International Grand Touring Trophy |
|---|
| 1973 | Derek Bell
Mike Hailwood | Gulf Research | Mirage M6-Ford | 4:05:43.500 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Championship for Makes
International Grand Touring Trophy |
|---|
| 1974 | Jacky Ickx
 Jean-Pierre Jarier | Equipe Gitanes | Matra-Simca MS670C | 4:12:15.600 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Championship for Makes
FIA Cup for GT Cars |
|---|
| 1975 | Henri Pescarolo
Derek Bell | Willi Kauhsen Racing Team | Alfa Romeo 33TT12 | 3:32:58.400 | 750km (470miles) | World Championship for Makes
FIA Cup for GT Cars
FIA Cup for 2-Litre Cars |
|---|
1976
to
1981 | No Races |
|---|
| 7km (04miles) circuit |
|---|
| 1982 | Jacky Ickx
Jochen Mass | Rothmans Porsche | Porsche 956 | 6:06:04.140 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 1983 | Jacky Ickx
Jochen Mass | Rothmans Porsche | Porsche 956 | 5:44:33.520 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Endurance Championship
European Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 1984 | Stefan Bellof
Derek Bell | Rothmans Porsche | Porsche 956B | 5:53:17.190 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Endurance Championship |
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| 1985 | Bob Wollek
Mauro Baldi | Martini Racing | Lancia LC2 | 5:00:23.420 | 848km (527miles) | World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 1986 | Thierry Boutsen
Frank Jelinski | Brun Motorsport | Porsche 962C | 5:35:54.540 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Sports Prototype Championship |
|---|
| 1987 |  Raul Boesel
Martin Brundle
Johnny Dumfries | Silk Cut Jaguar | Jaguar XJR-8 | 6:00:16.180 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Sports Prototype Championship |
|---|
| 1988 | | Team Sauber Mercedes | Sauber C9-Mercedes | 6:01:34.230 | 1000km (1,000miles) | World Sports Prototype Championship |
|---|
| 1989 | Mauro Baldi
Kenny Acheson | Team Sauber Mercedes | Sauber C9-Mercedes | 2:39:16.453 | 480km (300miles) | World Sports Prototype Championship |
|---|
| 1990 | Jochen Mass
 Karl Wendlinger | Team Sauber Mercedes | Mercedes-Benz C11 | 2:42:54.880 | 480km (300miles) | World Sports Prototype Championship |
|---|
1991
to
1998 | No Races |
|---|
| 1999 | | JB Giesse Team Ferrari | Ferrari 333 SP | 2:30:24.347 | 452.92km (281.43miles) | SportsRacing World Cup |
|---|
| 2000 | Filippo Francioni
Salvatore Ronca | Lucchini Engineering | Lucchini SR2000-Alfa Romeo | 2:31:17.377 | 355.368km (220.815miles) | SportsRacing World Cup |
|---|
| 2001 | Marco Zadra
Jean-Marc Gounon | BMS Scuderia Italia | Ferrari 333 SP | 2:31:27.898 | 445.952km (277.102miles) | FIA Sportscar Championship |
|---|
| 2002 | Sébastien Bourdais
Jean-Christophe Boullion | Pescarolo Sport | Courage C60 EVO-Peugeot | 2:03:16.089 | 376.272km (233.805miles) | FIA Sportscar Championship |
|---|
| 2003 | Tom Kristensen
 Seiji Ara | Audi Sport Japan | Audi R8 | 5:47:50.209 | 1000km (1,000miles) | FIA Sportscar Championship
British GT Championship |
|---|
| 2004 | Johnny Herbert
Jamie Davies | Audi Sport UK Veloqx | Audi R8 | 5:58:55.262 | 1000km (1,000miles) | Le Mans Endurance Series |
|---|
| 2005 | John Nielsen
Casper Elgaard
Hayanari Shimoda | Zytek Motorsport | Zytek 04S | 6:00:48.389 | 1000km (1,000miles) | Le Mans Endurance Series |
|---|
| 2006 | Emmanuel Collard
Jean-Christophe Boullion | Pescarolo Sport | Pescarolo C60-Judd | 6:01:06.782 | 1000km (1,000miles) | Le Mans Series |
|---|
| 2007 | Stéphane Sarrazin
Pedro Lamy | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) | 5:47:47.313 | 1000km (1,000miles) | Le Mans Series |
|---|
| 2008 |  Jacques Villeneuve
Nicolas Minassian
 Marc Gené | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) | 5:17:48.566 | 1000km (1,000miles) | Le Mans Series |
|---|
| 2009 | Nicolas Minassian
Simon Pagenaud
Christian Klien | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) | 5:45:35.429 | 1000km (1,000miles) | Le Mans Series |
|---|
| 2010 | Sébastien Bourdais
Simon Pagenaud
Pedro Lamy | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) | 6:00:39.012 | 975km (606miles) | Le Mans Series |
|---|
| 2011 | Alexander Wurz
Anthony Davidson
Marc Gené | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908
(Diesel) | 6:02:03.799 | 1127.633km (700.679miles) | Le Mans Series
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup |
|---|
| 2012 | Romain Dumas
Loïc Duval
Marc Gené |  Audi Sport Team Joest | Audi R18 ultra
(Diesel) | 6:00:22.708 | 1120.62km (696.32miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2013 | Benoît Tréluyer
André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler | Audi Sport Team Joest | Audi R18 e-tron quattro
(Diesel hybrid) | 6:00:55.971 | 1176.67km (731.15miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2014 | Nicolas Lapierre
 Sébastien Buemi
Anthony Davidson | Toyota Racing | Toyota TS040 Hybrid | 6:01:31.675 | 1197.68km (744.2miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2015 | Benoît Tréluyer
André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler | Audi Sport Team Joest | Audi R18 e-tron quattro
(Diesel hybrid) | 6:01:08.896 | 1232.704km (765.967miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2016 | Loïc Duval
Oliver Jarvis
Lucas di Grassi | Audi Sport Team Joest | Audi R18 e-tron quattro
(Diesel hybrid) | 6:00:32.112 | 1120.64km (696.33miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2017 | Sébastien Buemi
Kazuki Nakajima
Anthony Davidson | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota TS050 Hybrid | 6:00:11.490 | 1211.692km (752.911miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2018 | Fernando Alonso
Sébastien Buemi
Kazuki Nakajima | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota TS050 Hybrid | 6:00:50.702 | 1141.652km (709.39miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2019 | Fernando Alonso
Sébastien Buemi
Kazuki Nakajima | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota TS050 Hybrid | 5:44:41.101 | 931.532km (578.827miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2020 | Mike Conway
Kamui Kobayashi
 José María López | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota TS050 Hybrid | 6:00:02.534 | 1001.572km (622.348miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2021 | Sébastien Buemi
 Brendon Hartley
Kazuki Nakajima | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 Hybrid | 6:00:17.733 | 1134.648km (705.038miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2022 | José María López
Mike Conway
Kamui Kobayashi | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 Hybrid | 6:00:31.052 | 721.412km (448.265miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2023 | José María López
Mike Conway
Kamui Kobayashi | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 Hybrid | 6:00:24.798 | 1036.455km (644.023miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship |
|---|
| 2024 | Callum Ilott
Will Stevens
| Hertz Team Jota | Porsche 963 | 5:57:31.542 | 987.428km (613.559miles) | FIA World Endurance Championship | |
|---|
The 1975 event was originally scheduled for 1000 km, but was shortened to 750 km the day of the race due to an approaching storm.
The 1985 event was originally scheduled for 1000 km, but was shortened to five hours (848 km) after the ensuing 40-minute caution caused by the collision of the Bellof/Boutsen Brun Motorsport Porsche 956 with the Ickx/Jochen Mass Rothmans Porsche 962 at Eau Rouge. Bellof died in the hospital afterwards, and officials ended the race at the five-hour mark, after 122 of 145 laps.
The 2002 event was stopped early due to heavy rain.
The 2010 event was red flagged during the race due to electrical outages. The race covered approximately 975 km when it ended on a six hour time limit.
The 2019 event was stopped early because of snow.
Race record for distance covered.
Records
Wins by constructor
| Rank | Constructor | Wins | Years |
|---|
| 1 | | 10 | 1953, 1961–1966, 1972, 1999, 2001 |
|---|
| 1959, 1960, 1969–1971, 1982–1984, 1986, 2024 |
| 3 | | 8 | 2014, 2017–2023 |
|---|
| 4 | | 6 | 2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
|---|
| 5 | | 5 | 2007-2011 |
|---|
| 6 | | 3 | 1954, 1956, 1987 |
|---|
| 7 | | 2 | 1955, 1957 |
|---|
| 1967, 1973 |
| 1988, 1989 |
| 2002, 2006 |
| 11 | | 1 | 1958 |
|---|
| 1968 |
| 1974 |
| 1975 |
| 1985 |
| 1990 |
| 2000 |
| 2005 | |
Wins by engine manufacturer
| Rank | Manufacturer | Wins | Years |
|---|
| 1 | | 11 | 1953, 1961–1966, 1972, 1985, 1999, 2001 |
|---|
| 2 | | 10 | 1959, 1960, 1969-1971, 1982–1984, 1986, 2024 |
|---|
| 3 | | 8 | 2014, 2017–2023 |
|---|
| 4 | | 6 | 2002, 2007–2011 |
|---|
| 2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| 6 | | 4 | 1954, 1956, 1958, 1987 |
|---|
| 7 | | 3 | 1967, 1968, 1973 |
|---|
| 1988-1990 |
| 9 | | 2 | 1955, 1957 |
|---|
| 1975, 2000 |
| 11 | | 1 | 1974 |
|---|
| 2005 |
| 2006 | |
Drivers with multiple wins
| Rank | Driver | Wins | Years |
|---|
| 1 | | 5 | 1967, 1968, 1974, 1982, 1983 |
|---|
| 2014, 2017-2019, 2021 |
| 3 | | 4 | 1968–1970, 1972 |
|---|
| 1985, 1988, 1989, 1999 |
| 2017-2019, 2021 |
| 6 | | 3 | 1961, 1963, 1965 |
|---|
| 1973, 1975, 1984 |
| 1982, 1983, 1990 |
| 2008, 2011, 2012 |
| 2011, 2014, 2017 |
| 2020, 2022, 2023 |
| 2020, 2022, 2023 |
| 2020, 2022, 2023 |
| 14 | | 2 | 1955, 1960 |
|---|
| 1955, 1960 |
| 1969, 1970 |
| 2002, 2006 |
| 2002, 2010 |
| 2007, 2010 |
| 2008, 2009 |
| 2009, 2010 |
| 2012, 2016 |
| 2013, 2015 |
| 2013, 2015 |
| 2013, 2015 |
| 2018, 2019 | |
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Coupe de Spa 1953 . Racing Sports Cars . 10 October 2019.
- Book: Higham . Peter . The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing . 1995 . 0851126421.
