What an event. Simply marvellous. PETER AUTO always manages to organise the most impressive motorsport events for historic racing cars.
The starting fields were absolutely unique, with an incredible 53 classic racing cars and sports prototypes competing in the Classic Endurance 1 race alone, a Ferrari 512M, countless Lola T70 MK3s, two Porsche 906s, a Porsche 908/3 and the Ferrari 312P, perhaps the most beautiful sports prototype of all time. When the race started on Sunday, I stood with my camera on the grandstand above the Eau Rouge bends and was able to follow the start very well. Absolutely impressive.
In the name of tradition, the starts – rolling starts, of course, as is customary in historic motorsport – were also carried out on the old, steeply sloping straight in front of Eau Rouge. The driver changes and any repair work for this one-hour race also took place in the old pit lane. It really was a wonderful journey back in time to the great 1000 kilometre races of the sixties and seventies in which the heroes of the time fought impressive battles with their racing cars. In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the track announcer had mentioned names like Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodriquez, Jo Bonnier, Vic Elford or even Ronnie Peterson.
The Spa Classic by Peter Auto was actually being held for the twelfth time, and I myself was there for the ninth time. This event gets better and bigger every year. All races and racing series are characterised by long-distance racing, or rather endurance racing. The famous 1000 kilometre races in Monza, Spa Francorchamps or the Nürburgring and of course the 24 Hours of Le Mans are celebrated in an impressive way and brought back to life. The sound, the lifestyle, the race track in the Ardennes – everything is just right here.
Every detail has been thought of; for years, the entry tickets have been small metal and enamel medallions, and accredited photographers are given a beautifully designed armband with the word ‘Press’ instead of a safety waistcoat. Just as the mechanics and helpers all receive such armbands in different colours with various inscriptions.
In addition, the Spa Classic Grid Girls, dressed in contemporary attire, enriched the Starting Grid with their grace. Of course, the organisation was perfect as always and the extremely large paddock, spread over 3 ‘floors’, was packed with the best and most expensive classic racing cars. Four Ferrari 250 GT SWBs and other very rare Gran Tourisme cars from the fifties and sixties started in the Gentleman Challenge race.
The fastest of the weekend were of course the Endurance Legends, the Le Mans racing cars from the turn of the millennium, such as two beautiful Bentley Speed 8s and other LMP1 and LMP2 racing cars.
The historic Group C racing cars were also at the start here, Mercedes Benz C11 from 1990, Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-11, Nissan R90CK both also from 1990 and some other exciting racing cars from the golden era of Group C from the mid-eighties to the early nineties. Of course, Porsche was also represented with the Group C racing car par excellence, the 962C.
Another highlight was the large display in the paddock to mark the 55th birthday of the Porsche 917, which was set up like a classic bumper car from the 1960s. Five Porsche 917s were on display there. Three of them were also driven on the racetrack for demo laps.
I could write more inspiring stories, but I’d rather let the pictures do the talking. One thing is for sure, the Spa Classic by Peter Auto is the best annual historic motorsport event on the European continent. And one of my absolute favourites.
You have to see it, you have to be there, even if the weather in the Ardennes in May can be rainy, as it was on Friday. But that doesn’t detract from the fascination, on the contrary, racing cars in the rain are very beautiful motifs.
For information about the participants and the results of the races, I recommend the following website: https://www.peterauto.fr/en/events/spa-classic
