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 sports car race began in 1953, and in 1963 joined the World Sportscar Championship and was extended to 500 km. Starting in 1966, it 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 14km Spa used by sportscars up until 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 as a rule change required the use of Formula One-derived engines that lasted longer. 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 |
| 14.1 km (8.8 mi) circuit |
| 1953 |
 Olivier Gendebien |
|
Ferrari 166 MM |
|
|
Non-championship |
| 1954 |
 Hans Davids |
Hans Davids |
Jaguar C-Type |
|
169 km (105 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1955 |
Paul Frère |
 Aston Martin |
Aston Martin DB3S |
1:37:33.900 |
282 km (175 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1956 |
Ninian Sanderson |
Ecurie Ecosse |
Jaguar D-Type |
0:57:34.800 |
169 km (105 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1957 |
Tony Brooks |
Aston Martin |
Aston Martin DBR1 |
1:15:56.000 |
211.8 km (131.6 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1958 |
 Masten Gregory |
Ecurie Ecosse |
Lister-Jaguar |
1:05:02.300 |
211.8 km (131.6 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1959 |
Carel Godin de Beaufort |
Ecurie Maarsbergen |
Porsche 718 RSK |
1:11:10.100 |
211.8 km (131.6 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1960 |
Paul Frère |
|
Porsche 718 RSK |
1:20:54.800 |
211.8 km (131.6 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1961 |
Willy Mairesse |
 Scuderia Ferrari |
Ferrari 250 GT SWB |
1:05:33.800 |
211.8 km (131.6 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1962 |
 Edgar Berney |
Edgar Berney |
Ferrari 250 GT SWB |
1:12:32.100 |
211.8 km (131.6 mi) |
Non-championship |
| 1963 |
Willy Mairesse |
Ecurie Nationale Belge |
Ferrari 250 GTO |
2:38:40:800 |
500 km (310 mi) |
World Sportscar Championship |
| 1964 |
Mike Parkes |
Maranello Concessionaires |
Ferrari 250 GTO |
2:32:05.200 |
500 km (310 mi) |
World Sportscar Championship |
| 1965 |
Willy Mairesse |
Ecurie Francorchamps |
Ferrari 250 LM |
2:29:45.700 |
500 km (310 mi) |
World Sportscar Championship |
| 1966 |
Mike Parkes
Ludovico Scarfiotti |
SpA Ferrari SEFAC |
Ferrari 330 P3 |
4:43:24.000 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Sportscar Championship |
| 1967 |
Dick Thompson
Jacky Ickx |
J.W. Automotive Engineering |
Mirage M1-Ford |
5:09:46.500 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Sportscar Championship |
| 1968 |
Brian Redman
Jacky Ickx |
J.W. Automotive Engineering |
Ford GT40 Mk.I |
5:05:19:300 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
International Championship for Makes |
| 1969 |
Brian Redman
Jo Siffert |
 Porsche System Engineering |
Porsche 908LH |
4:24:19.600 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
International Championship for Makes |
| 1970 |
Brian Redman
Jo Siffert |
J.W. Automotive Engineering |
Porsche 917K |
4:09:47.800 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
International Championship for Makes |
| 1971 |
Jackie Oliver
 Pedro Rodríguez |
J.W. Automotive Engineering |
Porsche 917K |
4:01:09.700 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
International Championship for Makes |
| 1972 |
Brian Redman
Arturo Merzario |
SpA Ferrari SEFAC |
Ferrari 312PB |
4:17:19.100 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Championship for Makes |
| 1973 |
Derek Bell
Mike Hailwood |
Gulf Research |
Mirage M6-Ford |
4:05:43.500 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Championship for Makes |
| 1974 |
Jacky Ickx
 Jean-Pierre Jarier |
Equipe Gitanes |
Matra-Simca MS670C |
4:12:15.600 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Championship for Makes |
| 1975 |
Henri Pescarolo
Derek Bell |
Willi Kauhsen Racing Team |
Alfa Romeo 33TT12 |
3:32:58.400 |
750 km (470 mi)A |
World Championship for Makes |
1976
to
1981 |
No Races |
| 7.0 km (4.3 mi) circuit |
| 1982 |
Jacky Ickx
Jochen Mass |
Rothmans Porsche |
Porsche 956 |
6:06:04.140 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Endurance Championship |
| 1983 |
Jacky Ickx
Jochen Mass |
Rothmans Porsche |
Porsche 956 |
5:44:33.520 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Endurance Championship |
| 1984 |
Stefan Bellof
Derek Bell |
Rothmans Porsche |
Porsche 956B |
5:53:17.190 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Endurance Championship |
| 1985 |
Bob Wollek
Mauro Baldi |
Martini Racing |
Lancia LC2 |
5:00:23.420 |
848 km (527 mi)B |
World Endurance Championship |
| 1986 |
Thierry Boutsen
Frank Jelinski |
Brun Motorsport |
Porsche 962C |
5:35:54.540 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1987 |
Martin Brundle
Johnny Dumfries
 Raul Boesel |
Silk Cut Jaguar |
Jaguar XJR-8 |
6:00:16.180 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1988 |
Mauro Baldi
 Stefan Johansson |
Team Sauber Mercedes |
Sauber C9-Mercedes |
6:01:34.230 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1989 |
Mauro Baldi
Kenny Acheson |
Team Sauber Mercedes |
Sauber C9-Mercedes |
2:39:16.453 |
480 km (300 mi) |
World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1990 |
Jochen Mass
 Karl Wendlinger |
Team Sauber Mercedes |
Mercedes-Benz C11 |
2:42:54.880 |
480 km (300 mi) |
World Sports Prototype Championship |
1991
to
1998 |
No Races |
| 1999 |
Mauro Baldi
Laurent Rédon |
JB Giesse Team Ferrari |
Ferrari 333 SP |
2:30:24.347 |
452.920 km (281.431 mi) |
SportsRacing World Cup |
| 2000 |
Filippo Francioni
Salvatore Ronca |
Lucchini Engineering |
Lucchini SR2000-Alfa Romeo |
2:31:17.377 |
355.368 km (220.815 mi) |
SportsRacing World Cup |
| 2001 |
Marco Zadra
Jean-Marc Gounon |
BMS Scuderia Italia |
Ferrari 333 SP |
2:31:27.898 |
445.952 km (277.102 mi) |
FIA Sportscar Championship |
| 2002 |
Sébastien Bourdais
Jean-Christophe Boullion |
Pescarolo Sport |
Courage C60 EVO-Peugeot |
2:03:16.089C |
376.272 km (233.805 mi) |
FIA Sportscar Championship |
| 2003 |
 Tom Kristensen
 Seiji Ara |
Audi Sport Japan |
Audi R8 |
5:47:50.209 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
FIA Sportscar Championship
British GT Championship |
| 2004 |
Johnny Herbert
Jamie Davies |
Audi Sport UK Veloqx |
Audi R8 |
5:58:55.262 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
Le Mans Endurance Series |
| 2005 |
John Nielsen
Casper Elgaard
Hayanari Shimoda |
Zytek Motorsport |
Zytek 04S |
6:00:48.389 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
Le Mans Endurance Series |
| 2006 |
Emmanuel Collard
Jean-Christophe Boullion |
Pescarolo Sport |
Pescarolo C60-Judd |
6:01:06.782 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
Le Mans Series |
| 2007 |
Stéphane Sarrazin
 Pedro Lamy |
Team Peugeot Total |
Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) |
5:47:47.313 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
Le Mans Series |
| 2008 |
Nicolas Minassian
 Marc Gené
 Jacques Villeneuve |
Team Peugeot Total |
Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) |
5:17:48.566 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
Le Mans Series |
| 2009 |
Nicolas Minassian
Simon Pagenaud
Christian Klien |
Team Peugeot Total |
Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) |
5:45:35.429 |
1,000 km (620 mi) |
Le Mans Series |
| 2010 |
Sébastien Bourdais
Simon Pagenaud
Pedro Lamy |
Team Peugeot Total |
Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
(Diesel) |
6:00:39.012 |
975 km (606 mi)D |
Le Mans Series |
| 2011 |
Alexander Wurz
Marc Gené
Anthony Davidson |
Team Peugeot Total |
Peugeot 908
(Diesel) |
6:02:03.799 |
1,127.633 km (700.679 mi) |
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 |
1,120.62 km (696.32 mi) |
FIA World Endurance Championship |
| 2013 |
André Lotterer
Benoît Tréluyer
Marcel Fässler |
Audi Sport Team Joest |
Audi R18 e-tron quattro
(Diesel hybrid) |
6:00:55.971 |
1,176.67 km (731.15 mi) |
FIA World Endurance Championship |
| 2014 |
Sébastien Buemi
Anthony Davidson
Nicolas Lapierre |
Toyota Racing |
Toyota TS040 Hybrid |
6:01:31.675 |
1,197.68 km (744.20 mi) |
FIA World Endurance Championship |
| 2015 |
André Lotterer
Benoît Tréluyer
Marcel Fässler |
Audi Sport Team Joest |
Audi R18 e-tron quattro
(Diesel hybrid) |
6:01:08.896 |
1,232.704 km (765.967 mi) |
FIA World Endurance Championship |
- ^A 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.
- ^B 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.
- ^C The 2002 event was stopped early due to heavy rain.
- ^D The 2010 event was red flagged during the race due to electrical outages. The race covered approximately 975 km when it on a six hour time limit.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1000km Spa. |
|
|
| 24 hours |
|
| 12 hours |
|
| 10 hours |
|
| 6 hours |
|
| 1000 miles |
|
| 1000 km |
|
| Other |
|
|
Defunct races are indicated in italics
|
