The 1000km Spa 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 24h race for touring cars and GTs is held, and an endurance race for sports cars and GTs. The 500km race at Spa counted towards the World Sportscar Championship from 1963 onwards. Since 1966, it is run for 1000km, following the 1000km Nürburgring and 1000km Monza. Due to safety problems on the traditional long and very fast 14km track over public roads, the race was shortened to 762km in 1974 and discontinued after 1975.
The 1000km race was resumed in 1982 after the track was made safer by shortening it to 7km. In 1989 and 1990, the race distance was lowered to 480km as a rule change required the use of Formula One-derived engines that last no longer. Due to the decline of the WSC, the "1000km" was discontinued after 1990 even before the WSC closed.
In 2003, the 1000km race was resumed. Since 2004 it is part of the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES), the Euro version of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
Winners
† - The 1975 event was originally scheduled for 1000km, but was shortened to 750km the day of the race due to an approaching storm.
@ - The 1985 event was originally scheduled for 1000km, but was shortened to 848km 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 waved the checkered flag with 23 laps remaining after 122 of 145 laps.
External links
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