2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
The 2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (formally known as the 2024 TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps[1]) was an endurance sportscar racing event held on 11 May 2024, as the third of eight rounds of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. It was the 58th running of the event, and the 13th running of the event as part of the World Endurance Championship.
Background[edit]
The event was announced on 9 June 2023, during the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend. With the Italian round being moved from July to April, there is only a three-week period between the round at Imola, and the round at Spa.[2]
Entry list[edit]
The entry list was revealed on 24 April 2024, with 37 entries: 19 in the Hypercar category, and 18 in the LMGT3 category. Multiple Hypercar crews ran only two drivers for the event: the No. 2 Cadillac Racing entry ran with the same two drivers as in Imola, whilst the No. 12 Hertz Team Jota, No. 93 Peugeot TotalEnergies, and No. 94 Peugeot TotalEnergies entries ran without Norman Nato, Jean-Éric Vergne, and Stoffel Vandoorne, respectively. All three drivers had duties at the 2024 Berlin ePrix.[3] Andrea Caldarelli replaced Edoardo Mortara in the No. 63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx entry, with Mortara also away on Formula E duties. Ferdinand Habsburg was initially set to make his return in the No. 35 Alpine Endurance Team entry, but was later replaced by Jules Gounon for an additional round since Habsburg was still recovering from his injury.[4][5] In LMGT3, Ritomo Miyata replaced Kelvin van der Linde in the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Team entry. Furthermore, Rahel Frey replaced Doriane Pin in the No. 85 Iron Dames entry, with Pin having duties in the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship.[4]
On a revised entry list, which was published on 6 May 2024, Harry Tincknell was dropped from the No. 99 Proton Competition crew, with Tincknell having duties in IMSA's Laguna Seca round.[5] Julien Andlauer and Neel Jani shared the car as a duo. Furthermore, Akkodis ASP Team announced on 8 May 2024 that Clemens Schmid replaced Timur Boguslavskiy in their No. 78 entry, with the latter falling ill.[6]
Schedule[edit]
| Date | Time (local: CEST) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 9 May | 11:30 | Free Practice 1 |
| 17:30 | Free Practice 2 | |
| Friday, 10 May | 11:00 | Free Practice 3 |
| 14:45 | Qualifying - LMGT3 | |
| 15:08 | Hyperpole - LMGT3 | |
| 15:30 | Qualifying - Hypercar | |
| 15:53 | Hyperpole - Hypercar | |
| Saturday, 11 May | 13:00 | Race |
| Source:[7] | ||
Practice[edit]
Three practice sessions were held: two on Thursday and one on Friday. The sessions on Thursday morning and Thursday afternoon lasted 90 minutes, and the session on Friday morning lasted 60 minutes.[7]
Practice 1[edit]
The first practice session started at 11:30 CEST on Thursday and ended with Antonio Fuoco on top, with a lap time of 2:05.690 in the No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse entry. He was 1.141 seconds quicker than team mate Antonio Giovinazzi in the sister No. 51 Ferrari, whilst Daniil Kvyat rounded out the top three in the No. 63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx entry.[8] LMGT3 was led by Daniel Juncadella in the No. 82 TF Sport Corvette, with a lap of 2:20.885. He was 0.335 seconds quicker than second-placed Davide Rigon in the No. 54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari, whilst Daniel Mancinelli rounded out the top three in the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin.[9]
| Class | No. | Entrant | Driver | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypercar | 50 |  Ferrari AF Corse
|
Antonio Fuoco
|
2:05.690 | |
| LMGT3 | 82 |  TF Sport
|
 Daniel Juncadella
|
2:20.885 | |
| Source:[10][11] | |||||
- Note: Only the fastest car in each class is shown.
Practice 2[edit]
The second practice session started at 17:30 CEST on Thursday. Kévin Estre topped the time sheets in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport entry, with a lap of 2:04.162. He was 0.121 seconds quicker than Fuoco in the No. 50 Ferrari in second, with Alex Lynn 0.179 seconds behind Estre in the No. 2 Cadillac Racing entry.[12] Clemens Schmid was quickest in LMGT3 in the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus, with a lap of 2:21.257. He was 0.115 seconds quicker than second-placed Sarah Bovy in the No. 85 Iron Dames Lamborghini. Valentino Rossi rounded out the top three in the No. 46 Team WRT BMW.[13]
| Class | No. | Entrant | Driver | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypercar | 6 |  Porsche Penske Motorsport
|
 Kévin Estre
|
2:04.162 | |
| LMGT3 | 78 | Akkodis ASP Team
|
 Clemens Schmid
|
2:21.257 | |
| Source:[14][15] | |||||
- Note: Only the fastest car in each class is shown.
Final practice[edit]
The third and final practice session started at 11:00 CEST on Friday. Estre was once again quickest in the No. 6 Porsche with a lap of 2:04.125, 0.215 seconds quicker than James Calado who set the second-fastest time in the No. 51 Ferrari. Mikkel Jensen was third-quickest in the No. 93 Peugeot TotalEnergies entry.[16] The No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche of Alex Malykhin topped LMGT3 with a lap of 2:20.947, ahead of Rahel Frey in the No. 85 Lamborghini, 0.261 seconds slower. Juncadella rounded out the top three in the No. 82 Corvette.[17]
| Class | No. | Entrant | Driver | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypercar | 6 | Porsche Penske Motorsport
|
Kévin Estre
|
2:04.125 | |
| LMGT3 | 92 |  Manthey PureRxcing
|
 Alex Malykhin
|
2:20.947 | |
| Source:[18][19] | |||||
- Note: Only the fastest car in each class is shown.
Qualifying[edit]
Qualifying started at 14:45 CEST on Friday. Matt Campbell in the No. 5 Porsche claimed pole position with a lap of 2:03.107, whilst Lynn was second-quickest in the No. 2 Cadillac, only 0.008 seconds slower than Campbell. Julien Andlauer in the No. 99 Proton Competition Porsche qualified third.[20] Fuoco originally claimed pole in the No. 50 Ferrari with a lap of 2:02.600, but was later disqualified as the car was found to be underweight.[21] Sarah Bovy claimed pole in LMGT3 with a lap of 2:20.755 in the No. 85 Lamborghini, 0.383 seconds quicker than Ahmad Al Harthy in the No. 46 Team WRT BMW.[22]
Qualifying results[edit]
Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.
| Pos | Class | No. | Entrant | Qualifying | Hyperpole | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hypercar | 5 | Porsche Penske Motorsport
|
2:02.675 | 2:03.107 | 1 |
| 2 | Hypercar | 2 |  Cadillac Racing
|
2:02.981 | 2:03.115 | 2 |
| 3 | Hypercar | 99 | Proton Competition
|
2:02.947 | 2:03.314 | 3 |
| 4 | Hypercar | 12 | Hertz Team Jota
|
2:02.941 | 2:03.384 | 4 |
| 5 | Hypercar | 6 | Porsche Penske Motorsport
|
2:02.947 | 2:03.448 | 5 |
| 6 | Hypercar | 8 |  Toyota Gazoo Racing
|
2:02.586 | 2:03.572 | 6 |
| 7 | Hypercar | 35 | Alpine Endurance Team
|
2:02.898 | 2:03.685 | 7 |
| 8 | Hypercar | 83 | AF Corse
|
2:02.876 | 2:04.048 | 8 |
| 9 | Hypercar | 20 |  BMW M Team WRT
|
2:02.917 | 2:04.062 | 9 |
| 10 | Hypercar | 50 | Ferrari AF Corse
|
No time[N 1] | No time[N 1] | 19 |
| 11 | Hypercar | 51 | Ferrari AF Corse
|
2:03.002 | 10 | |
| 12 | Hypercar | 36 | Alpine Endurance Team
|
2:03.186 | 11 | |
| 13 | Hypercar | 15 | BMW M Team WRT
|
2:03.408 | 12 | |
| 14 | Hypercar | 93 | Peugeot TotalEnergies
|
2:03.616 | 13 | |
| 15 | Hypercar | 7 | Toyota Gazoo Racing
|
2:03.738 | 14 | |
| 16 | Hypercar | 94 | Peugeot TotalEnergies
|
2:03.898 | 15 | |
| 17 | Hypercar | 63 | Lamborghini Iron Lynx
|
2:04.426 | 16 | |
| 18 | Hypercar | 38 | Hertz Team Jota
|
2:04.553 | 17 | |
| 19 | Hypercar | 11 | Isotta Fraschini
|
2:05.953 | 18 | |
| 20 | LMGT3 | 85 | Iron Dames
|
2:20.527 | 2:20.755 | 20 |
| 21 | LMGT3 | 46 | Team WRT
|
2:21.233 | 2:21.138 | 21 |
| 22 | LMGT3 | 91 | Manthey EMA
|
2:21.259 | 2:21.285 | 22 |
| 23 | LMGT3 | 59 | United Autosports
|
2:22.292 | 2:21.293 | 23 |
| 24 | LMGT3 | 27 | Heart of Racing Team
|
2:21.368 | 2:21.350 | 24 |
| 25 | LMGT3 | 54 | Vista AF Corse
|
2:22.307 | 2:21.583 | 25 |
| 26 | LMGT3 | 81 | TF Sport
|
2:21.766 | 2:22.215 | 26 |
| 27 | LMGT3 | 92 | Manthey PureRxcing
|
2:21.774 | No time[N 2] | 27 |
| 28 | LMGT3 | 78 | Akkodis ASP Team
|
2:21.377 | No time[N 3] | 28 |
| 29 | LMGT3 | 95 | United Autosports
|
No time[N 4] | No time[N 4] | 37 |
| 30 | LMGT3 | 88 | Proton Competition
|
2:22.485 | 29 | |
| 31 | LMGT3 | 77 | Proton Competition
|
2:22.558 | 30 | |
| 32 | LMGT3 | 31 | Team WRT
|
2:23.042 | 31 | |
| 33 | LMGT3 | 55 | Vista AF Corse
|
2:23.091 | 32 | |
| 34 | LMGT3 | 777 | D'station Racing
|
2:23.094 | 33 | |
| 35 | LMGT3 | 82 | TF Sport
|
2:23.527 | 34 | |
| 36 | LMGT3 | 87 | Akkodis ASP Team
|
2:25.021 | 35 | |
| 37 | LMGT3 | 60 | Iron Lynx
|
2:25.396 | 36 | |
| Source:[27][28] | ||||||
Race[edit]
The minimum number of laps for classification (70% of overall winning car's distance) was 98 laps. Class winners are in bold and ‡.
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b The No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse entry had all its lap times deleted after the car was found to be underweight and will start from the back of the Hypercar class. The car originally qualified on pole position.[23]
- ^ The No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing entry did not set a time in the LMGT3 Hyperpole session after driver Alex Malykhin suffered a big crash on his flying lap.[24]
- ^ The No. 78 Akkodis ASP Team entry did not set a time in the LMGT3 Hyperpole session after the engine of the car was unable to be fired up.[25]
- ^ a b The No. 95 United Autosports entry had all its lap times deleted after the car was found to be underweight and will start from the back of the LMGT3 class. The car originally qualified second in LMGT3.[26]
- ^ The No. 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing entry received a 5-second time penalty for causing a collision with the No. 85 Iron Dames entry. As a result, the car dropped from 6th to 7th overall.[29]
- ^ The No. 85 Iron Dames entry received a 5-second time penalty for causing a collision with the No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing entry. As a result, the car dropped from 4th to 5th in class, and from 18th to 19th overall.[30]
- ^ The No. 88 Proton Competition entry received a 5-second time penalty after an unsafe release in the pit lane.[31]
References[edit]
- ^ Cavers, Rachel (9 April 2024). "Belgian FIA WEC round presented to media at special press conference in Liège". fiawec.com. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Mitchell, Rory (9 June 2023). "WEC to visit Imola and Qatar for the first time in 2024". RacingNews365. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (24 April 2024). "Peugeot Settles on Two-Driver Lineups for Spa". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b Kilbey, Stephen (24 April 2024). "37 Car Provisional 6H Spa Entry Released". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b Euwema, Davey (6 May 2024). "Gounon to Replace Habsburg for 6H Spa". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (8 May 2024). "Schmid Gets Late AKKODIS Call Up". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ a b "2024 Spa-Francorchamps - FIA World Endurance Championship". fiawec.com. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (9 May 2024). "Ferrari Sets The Pace In Opening Spa Practice". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (9 May 2024). "Ferrari 1-2 in First Practice at Spa". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "03_Classification_Free Practice 1.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "07_FastestLapByDriver_Free Practice 1.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (9 May 2024). "Porsche To The Fore In FP2". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (9 May 2024). "Porsche's Estre Fastest on Thursday". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "03_Classification_Free Practice 2.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "07_FastestLapByDriver_Free Practice 2.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (10 May 2024). "Estre Leads Calado in Final Spa Practice". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Newbold, James (10 May 2024). "WEC Spa: Porsche remains ahead of Ferrari in final practice". Autosport. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "03_Classification_Free Practice 3.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "07_FastestLapByDriver_Free Practice 3.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (10 May 2024). "Porsche To Start On Pole After Ferrari Penalised". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Newbold, James (10 May 2024). "Ferrari stripped of WEC Spa pole, Porsche takes top spot". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (10 May 2024). "Fuoco Bags Second Straight Pole for Ferrari". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "063_Doc 63 - Decision No. 20 - Car 50.pdf" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (10 May 2024). "6H Spa: Friday Paddock Notes". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (10 May 2024). "Fuoco Delivers Ferrari Pole At Spa". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "062_Doc 62 - Decision No. 39 - Car 95.pdf" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "90_Classification_Qualifying.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "01_Grid_Race.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "113_Doc 113 - Decision No. 76 - Car 7.pdf" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "114_Doc 114 - Decision No. 77 - Car 85.pdf" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "116_Doc 116 - Decision No. 78 - Car 88.pdf" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "03_Classification_Race_Hour 6.PDF" (PDF). fiawec.alkamelsystems.com. Alkamel Systems. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.