The weather couldn't have been better, it was dry throughout and when the sun shone, it was also quite warm. Ideal conditions for drivers and spectators to enjoy the Spa Six Hours, which took place from September 12 to 16, 2018, to the full. Over 650 racing cars were in the various paddocks, and many spectators traveled to experience this racing spectacle, which has been held since 1993 and is certainly unique in Europe.
Highlight 6-hour race with 17 GT40s
At most historic motorsport events, the individual racing fields only run for an hour at most, and even the giant "Le Mans Classic" or the Goodwood spectacle cannot offer more. However, the real endurance feeling only really comes into its own when longer race intervals are run. The six hours of the Spa Six Hours are therefore truly unique and last from 16:00 to 22:00, meaning that two full hours of racing take place in absolute darkness.
What you normally only see in large numbers at Goodwood is also at the start of the Spa Six Hours. A sensational 17 Ford GT40s out of a total of 114 race participants took on the tough task of completing the 6 hours. The candidates for a trophy could already be seen in the practice sessions, for example the #30 GT40 of Marcus Graf von Oeynhausen and the Belgian Nico Verdonck.
From the very first lap, it was full speed ahead and the spectators couldn't wait to watch the four-way battle at the front between #30, #7 (Davies-Young-Newall), #8 (Hart-Hart-Pastorelli) and #37 (Walker-Griffith-Shedden). These four GT40s were all fast, so it was a case of finding the perfect strategy, which Oeynhausen/Verdonck were able to implement in the #30 GT40. They secured overall victory with a good three-second lead over #7 and #37. For the first time since 1994, a Belgian, Nico Verdonck, stood on the podium at the Spa Six Hours!
The fascination of a race at night is particularly great at a circuit like Spa because the track itself is not illuminated, apart from the start/finish area. So the only thing you can see are the lavishly equipped front headlights and, when you're about to take a corner, the glowing brake disks.
The performance of American Jim Farley in the #21 GT40 was also impressive. Shortly before the start of the last hour of the race, he had to retire from the race due to a broken cable on the accelerator pedal.
The fastest car outside the GT40 armada was the brute-sounding Lotus Elan 26R #13 of Pittard-Balfe-Stirling. They at least secured seventh place, one lap down.
Spa offers a lot of variety
Visitors to the Spa Six Hours enjoy a great deal of variety. On the one hand, you can walk the entire circuit on foot and find exciting perspectives at many points, while on the other hand you can enjoy plenty of space in the paddock, no crowds, no hectic pace. Of course, the restaurant on the roof terrace of the new pit lane with its breathtaking view over the entire circuit provides culinary delights for visitors. If you walk towards "Les Combes" via Eau Rouge, you can fill up on beer again at the start of the "Kemmel Straight".
The area around the 180-degree "Bruxelles" bend offers great views and varied perspectives. At night, the racing action looks like a neatly staged ballet with spotlights.
Anyone planning dinner in Francorchamps should be warned, however, as there was only one restaurant to choose from (Acqua Rossa). However, the butcher's shop with local products is also open on Sundays, so you should definitely treat yourself to the homemade mini salametti.
Always up to date thanks to the app and WiFi
The quality of the free WiFi around the entire route was really commendable! With the SpaSixHours app, it was possible to view the lap times of the cars and check their current location at any time. However, when the 114 race cars were on the track for the 6-hour race, the location view no longer helped, but that wasn't what it was intended for.
Censorship also at historic events
Just a quick side note: what goes without saying in modern motorsport apparently also applies to historic motorsport events. While the Australian in the Holden Commodore was still driving with the original Malboro livery last year, he was apparently banned from doing so this year.
P. Eaton in his Holden Commodore finished 3rd in his class in the Historic Sports Car Club race.
An unusual number of Belgian victories
The 2018 edition of the Spa Six Hours was undeniably characterized by Belgian victories. In addition to Nico Verdonck, who won the 6-hour race, Christophe D'Asembourg was also the man of the weekend. In the Masters Endurance Legends race, he was the fastest in his Gulf-colored Aston Martin prototype with a lead of 1.8 seconds. And in the historic Formula 1, he secured victory in the ex-Reutemann Williams FW07C. Unfortunately, the well-known Peugeot 908 had no chance of setting the fastest time.
Lola pack beaten this time
The field of the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship, where the many Lola T70s usually set the tone, is also a real battle. This weekend, however, the Banks brothers came out on top in the extraordinary ex-Jo Bonnier McLaren M6B.
Further racing events
The combined race of the "Woodcote and Stirling Moss Trophy" featured more wonderful racing cars than ever before. Chris Ward on Lister Knobbly secured victory in this field of 60 racing cars.
In the V8-influenced field of "Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66" GT racing cars, victory went to David and Oliver Hart in a Shelby Cobra #76, while Nolte-Funke surprisingly took fourth place overall in a Bizzarrini 5300 GT.
On the touring car front in the "Masters Pre-66" field, four Ford Mustangs battled it out for first place. The Mustang dominance was only interrupted by the Falcon sprint of Gardiner/Wolfe, with victory going to McInerney/Keen. The one-hour "U2TC" touring car race was won by the Alfa Romeo GTA of 19-year-old Olivier Hart.
The Formula Junior races are always very close. This time, Chris Goodwin came out on top in the Lotus 22. In the two half-hour races of the "Historic Grand Prix Cars Association", Rudi Friedrichs (Cooper T53) and the Swiss Michael Gans (Cooper T79) emerged victorious. The latter crossed the finishing straight with a huge cloud of smoke, as the mechanics of his car went up in smoke right then!
