For many years, we have been visiting Spa Classic with Wheels-and-Things. One of the events organised by Peter Auto. The name Peter Auto is familiar and synonymous with quality.
Known recipe
The recipe of Spa Classic is known to regular visitors and this eleventh edition is no different. So why do we still come back every year? Well that is easy to answer. Here we are on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Just the difference in weather conditions is actually enough. Because different weather conditions give you a different spectacle anyway.
Variation in participants
Every year we see different cars and every year we say to each other ‘we’ve never seen those before’. Cars are often sold and used by their new owners in classic events such as Spa Classic. And a bit depending on the calendar, there are participants who go down to Spa and compete in another event another year.
Remarkably high number of Group C
Where some years the starting field of Group C cars is rather thin, this year it was party time. With 32 entries, to my knowledge this was the largest starting field we have ever seen. Perhaps we should not look too far for the cause. This year we are celebrating 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event where Group C cars played an important role between 1982 and 1993. You can find more about this in Joris’ report on the event.
Three days of action & atmosphere
On Friday, the engines will be warmed up for practice sessions in the morning and after noon the first qualifications will start.
On Saturday, the first real races start and this year the Endurance Racing Legends got to kick off. With 63 cars entered, they formed the third largest starting field. These are also the youngest entrants with cars from 1996 to 2010 and you can tell by the speeds.
The LMP1 & LMP2 machines, like most GT1 & GT2 cars, also have a Le Mans past. The great variety in cars a the competitive spirit attending the participants made for pure spectacle. Racing is usually at the cutting edge.
On Saturday night there is always a night race and for years we have been saying we would stay but this year it did not happen. So they are long and hard days and when you have been on your feet for 14 hours the fatigue starts to weigh on. Next year maybe?
Sunday is a shorter programme and this year the Classic Endurance Racing 1 closes the event around 17h45 and peace returns over the circuit.
Fringe entertainment
Every year, the necessary entertainment is provided on Saturday and Sunday. There will be a VW van with DJ who will tour the paddocks and be accompanied by ‘Race Girls’ dressed in vintage racing style who will be happy to take your picture.
Of course, there are plenty of stalls selling books, clothes, miniatures, timepieces and other curiosities. Even if you are shy of a new cap, you will definitely find your conveniences. There will even be a makeover caravan for the ladies and a real barber for the gentlemen.
Clubs
If you own a special classic car, chances are your club will be attending Spa Classic. BMW, Caterham, Corvette, Daimler, Datsun, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Martin, Morgan, Peugeot, Porsche and TVR. All had secured a place around or near the paddocks. Here too, gems are often attending, usually accompanied by their proud owner.
New! Demos with Formula 1 cars
A new category at Spa Classic are the Formula Legends 3.5 litres. Today, Formula 1 cars are powered by 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines. However, there was a period when there were no Turbos. Back then, displacement counted as well as the number of cylinders! So it was V8, V10 and V12 atmospheric engines that ruled the roost. The screams of these engines evoked the real F1 feeling, much more than today’s vacuums.
These cars ruled the circuits from 1987 to 1994 and the differences were mainly made by the ability of the drivers. Driver assistance systems simply did not exist yet. We hope for a bigger field of participants next year because with nine entries this was rather meagre. They were also exclusively demo runs so there too our hope to see maybe a race next edition.
The Programme
2.0L Cup
Exclusively Porsche 911 with a 2.0l engine. This means they are all from 1964 to 1966. In terms of racing, all 26 participants fight with exactly the same weapons. This fact makes this still an exciting race every time. This year, the win went to the Porsche with number 77 driven by British duo Seb Perez and George Gamble.
Classic Endurance Racing 1
A class where the Ford GT40, numerous Lolas, Corvettes, Porsche’s and Chevrons call the shots. Some rarer Porsche 908, Porsche 910 and a Matra complete the starting field. With 95 entries, this is the second-largest starting field. The cars date from 1966 to 1974. During this period, Endurance racing was one of the mainstays of motorsport. When this group started their engines you not only heard it but you felt it too. They held their race on Sunday evening and the McLaren M6B with Max and Andrew Banks at the wheel was able to claim the first podium spot after an hour of racing.
Classic Endurance Racing 2
With cars that are on average 10 years younger than the C.E.R.1 group, you also see the speeds going up again immediately. Yves Scemama’s Toj SC304 managed to take pole, he could not convert it into a win in the race, however. He had to let Maxime Guenat get ahead on Sunday and finished in a creditable second place. In this series, besides the winning Toj, you can also see the BMW M1, some Porsche 930 and 935 but also a Ferrari 512BBLM as well as an Aston Martin and even a single Ford Capri.
Endurance Racing Legends
The most modern cars of the weekend can be found here. Especially GTs and prototypes from the 1990s and 2000s fill the starting field. Surely, the Bentley Speed 8 and the Audi R8 LMP were the most eye-catching appearances. The emergence of Endurance racing legends is a real top priority for Peter Auto. The organiser has made a significant contribution to the history of these cars on the track. Both in the 1990s with the BPR (Barth – Peter – Ratel) and in 2000 with the Le Mans Series.
Fifties Legends
The Fifties Legends category was only started in 2020 and has since grown into a fine group. With 36 cars of all sorts entered, I think this is the most diverse group. For instance, you can see a Mini competing against an Aston Martin DB3S. Pole in this category went to the Lotus 15 driven by Michael Birch and Gareth Burnett. However, the win went to the 1954 Jaguar D-Type with Martin and Lukas Halusa at the wheel. The Fifties Legends is actually a tribute to the Brands World Championship, which was founded in 1953 as a competition between sports cars of the time. GTs were later added.
Group C Racing
Definitely the most impressive cars of the weekend. With 32 entries, this was for us one of the largest starting fields of recent years in this category. The Jaguars with Silk Cut’s cigarette adverts have been in every year. We also sometimes see the Peugeot 905 Evo during the practice sessions although it often does not make it to the start of the race. And unfortunately, this year was no different. Back on track was, among others, the ex Michael Schumacher Sauber Mercedes C11. Most of the competitors, however, were Porsche’s and Jaguars. First qualifying was in the name of Ivan Vercoutere and Ralf Kelleners with their Porsche 962C. However, the win of the first race was for Philip Kadoorie, also with a Porsche 962c.
Heritage Touring Cup
BMW & Ford, that was what we got to see. Clearly, then, the European Touring Car Championship that ran from 1966 to 1984 was dominated by these makes. A single Opel and an AMC Javelin were the only two exceptions. Not exciting then you think? Nothing could be further from the truth because whichever series you watch during Spa Classic they are all driven at the cutting edge. Pole was for the Ford Capri RS 3100 of Maxime Guenat who also managed to take the first race.
GoPro
This year, our GoPro got to drive the BMW 2002 TI of the duo Bart Blommaert and Rikkert Leeman. It never ceases to amaze that a car like this 1971 BMW still performs like this. Of course, these cars are perfectly maintained and tuned for racing but it is still a 52-year-old car.
Sixties Endurance
With 81 entries, the Sixties Endurance formed the largest starting field at Spa Classic 2023. There are actually two categories racing together. For one, you have the pre-63 sports cars and the pre-66 GTs. Think Shelby Cobras with their fat V8s, Jaguar E-Type’s, Alfa-Romeo Giulia GTA’s, Porsche 904/6 and a handful of Morgan’s. However, we also see the MG B and even the Lotus XI with its 4 cylinder of barely 1000cc in full contention for honours. Jon Minshaw’s Jaguar E-Type 3.8 snatched pole position. The race was won by the duo Mr John OF B / Soheil Ayari with a 1963 Shelby Cobra 289.
The Greatest’s Trophy
The Greatest’s Trophy replaced the Trofeo Nostro Rossa where mostly Italian thoroughbreds dominated the race. And actually, I kind of miss that. Not that the race isn’t worthwhile lol. Because the average price per car here will still be well above the average of other races with ‘normal’ cars. We’re not going to include Group C and Formula 1 cars here. Perhaps the decision here is purely rational because to get a nice starting field together with often extremely expensive Ferraris, you have to find enough owners willing to enter their toy in a race. Whichever way you look at it, there are always risks involved. We remember Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO that parked it in the side at Goodwood some years ago.
Pole went to the Bizzarini 5300 GT with Dirk and Leon Ebeling at the wheel. The Christian Gläsel / Gary Pearson duo won both races with their 1955 Jaguar D-Type.
Driving yourself at Spa Francorchamps
On the one hand, it will no doubt be part of Spa Classic’s revenue model but, on the other, mere mortals do not always get the chance to drive around the mythical Spa Francorchamps circuit without a racing licence. Peter Auto fully realises this and thus offers interested parties the chance to do some touring on the circuit. And no it’s not a train ride, you could see there was real driving. So if you want to do this next edition, keep an eye on the Peter Auto website and register in time.
Conclusion
Actually, I could copy last year’s conclusion. The absentees were wrong and I can only advise you to take your diary now and free up space in the month of May next year. The atmosphere in the pits, the luxury of being able to go and watch almost everywhere and be treated to one race after another. Trust me, it doesn’t get much better than that.
