6th running of the 3 Hours of Spa for Historic Endurance series
Starting grid with over seventy competitors
Some of the most iconic models of the automotive industry return to Belgium
On June 24-25, the Historic Endurance classic car competition heads to the Belgian Ardennes for the annual challenge on "Le plus beau Circuit du Monde" - the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
After the races held on the modern Barcelona circuit and the beautiful city course of Pau, Historic Endurance drivers and teams will be put to the test on the 7km dantesque circuit during the Spa Summer Classic.
The 6th edition of the 3 Hours of Spa will feature an extraordinary starting grid of seven dozen fascinating machines to be driven by drivers of 12 different nationalities, featuring some of the most iconic models of the automotive industry from the 1950s and 1960s.
Around L'Eau Rouge, Raidillon, Kemmel, Malmedy, Stavelot, Blanchimont or La Source, names that resonate in the heart of every motoring enthusiast, will be seen machines from prestigious automakers such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Lotus or Porsche, which will share the asphalt with other no less dazzling machines from small manufacturers such as Marcos, Reliant, Ginetta, Triumph or TVR.
Among the entries, highlights include the presence of the winners of the last two editions, the Shelby Cobra of Fred Bouvy/Christophe Van Riet, the first to cut the finish line last year, and the Lotus Elan of Wilson Graham/David Pittard, which triumphed in the 2019 edition.
For 2022, these teams will have strong competition from the four Shelby Cobra entries and the armada of nine Lotus Elan. Also in the H-1976 category, the seven Porsche 3.0 RS will have their say, although this model has never won the 3 Hours of Spa, a race where strategy and consistency play a key role.
In the Index of Performance trophy, the Austin Healey Sebring Sprite, winner in the past, is obviously one of the favourites, but the two Ginetta G4s under 1000cc will have their say in the fight, as will several Lotus Elan cars, which are always very effective. As part of the tradition, the winner of the Index of Performance will take home a Swiss Cuervo y Sobrinos watchmaker.
Everything to be a good show
The prestigious competition promoted by Race Ready is marked by the "Gentleman Driver" spirit, driven by the "No Crashing, No Cheating, No Complaining" motto, where the final result does not override the pleasure of driving a high-performance historic car against opponents who share the same values and passion for the sport.
On a circuit where the weather is always an unknown factor, the 45-minute qualifying session will take place late on Friday afternoon, while the three-hour race will be held late on Saturday, finishing exactly when the sun sets under the forest that surrounds the "toboggan des Ardennes".
For Diogo Ferrão, Race Ready's CEO, this race "has a huge meaning for our competition, as it is the only one not held in Southern Europe and the affirmation of Historic Endurance in a privileged stage of the world motorsport scene. To race on a circuit the size of Spa-Francorchamps is a dream for any driver and to do it at the wheel of these timeless classic cars, with radial tyres, is a unique experience. We have assembled a first-rate lineup of classic cars and drivers once again, and we have all the ingredients for another exciting race."
TIMETABLE (GMT+2)
Friday, June 24
19:45 - 20:30 Qualifying
Saturday, 25th June
18:50 - 21:50 Race
