The FIA WEC TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps showcased a thrilling race featuring the latest hypercars for 2024, as well as newcomers in the LMGT3 class. Following an exciting second round at Imola, the third round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship brought us to Spa-Francorchamps, where we witnessed a grid of 37 racers from the Hypercar and LMGT3 class battling it out for victory ahead of the upcoming Le Mans race next month.
Despite the fantastic weather conditions, the race was filled with action, including a serious incident involving the Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac V-Series.R and a BMW M4 GT3 on the Kemmel Straight with less than two hours remaining. Fortunately, both drivers emerged unscathed, but the necessary barrier repairs and track cleanup led to a red flag situation that extended the race duration.
Initially, Ferrari held the top two positions before the red flag, but the final outcome saw the #12 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963, driven by Will Stevens and Callum Ilot, clinch the overall victory. The factory #6 Porsche 963 secured the second spot, followed by the #50 Ferrari 499P hypercar in third place. Moreover, Porsche continued to dominate the LMGT3 class, with the #91 and #92 911 GT3 Rs claiming the top two positions.
As the third round of eight in the 2024 WEC calendar and the race preceding the highly anticipated 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours event, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps set the stage for an intense and challenging competition in the world of motorsport.
The Hypercar class featured a total of 19 cars from nine manufacturers, with an additional 18 cars from the LMGT3 class, including newcomers like the Ford Mustang LMGT3, participating in the race. The event attracted renowned names such as Jenson Button, Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, Nyck de Vries, and Mick Schumacher, competing at the highest level of motorsport.
The diversity in the LMGT3 class was evident with the presence of cars like the Ford Mustang LMGT3, Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R, Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3, and Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3. The competition showcased the evolution of racing technology and the skills of the drivers as they navigated the challenging 20 turns of the iconic Belgian circuit in front of a crowd of 70,000 spectators.
In addition to the thrilling race action, the event highlighted the technological advancements in racing, such as the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4, a hydrogen-powered racing prototype that signifies a potential future direction for race-bred models. The race at Spa-Francorchamps served as a platform for innovation and showcased the cutting-edge developments in the world of motorsport.
Overall, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was a testament to the passion, skill, and dedication of the drivers, teams, and manufacturers involved in the FIA World Endurance Championship. With Le Mans on the horizon, the competition is set to intensify as the quest for victory continues in the world’s most prestigious endurance race.