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The 6 hours of Spa – The teams view
 The last 10 years has seen the introduction of a number of prestigious historic racing festivals. Ask the spectators which one they prefer and you will probably get a range of answers. However if you talk to the drivers in the paddock, the event that most want to take part in and win is the 6 Hours of Spa in Belgium.
What is it that makes the teams and drivers all want to race there? Well for a start the circuit is 7 km (4.35 miles) long, which is 2 miles longer than Silverstone’s International circuit. Then there is its location. Most English race circuits were built on disused runways after the Second World War, and as result they are flat wide open spaces. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is built in the Ardennes Hills and contains a series of demanding fast corners and long straights that rise and fall through this spectacular courtside. Thanks to its F1 status, the facilities for both drivers and spectators are first rate, with an impressive new pit complex being constructed for the 2008 season. Combine this with grids of up to 98 cars racing at the same time, and you have a event that draws teams from all over Europe and drivers from even further afield.
 One of the major appeals of the 6 Hours of Spa is the sheer diversity of cars involved. There truly is something for everyone, with original Ford GT40 and Aston Martin DB4’s racing against Austin Mini Cooper and Lotus Cortina’s. Whilst only a handful of cars can seriously expect to compete for the overall win, there is close racing and fierce rivalry throughout the field. Nowhere is this better illustrated than with the MGB entires, which in 2008 saw 18 different cars fighting it out for the unofficial honour of being the first “B” home. All the cars in the race must conform to FIA standards, which ensures that the cars are kept close to the original specification in which they were raced in period. For the MGB’s this means old style crossply racing tyres, which results in cars sliding and drifting around corners and a race that is far more entertaining to watch.
One of the major appeals of Spa Six hour, is that it truly is a test of man and machine. Most historic races in the UK take place during the daytime and last for up to 45 minutes, or an hour if you are lucky. Driver changes are only done to add a bit of interest and refuelling is rarely required. Most teams running in the Spa 6 hour opt for 3 drivers, each putting in a 2 hour stint behind the wheel before handing over and refuelling. Racing for this long on such a fast circuit is physically demanding and requires a huge amount of effort and concentration from the drivers. It’s not just the drivers who work hard, as the race also requires teams to carry out pit-stops and running repairs throughout the 6 hours. As if this were not enough, the race does not start until late in the afternoon. So only the first couple of hours are held in daylight, with the rest being held in the dark. This makes it much harder for drivers, as very little of the circuit is floodlight. It also makes it very difficult for the teams to identify the cars when they speed past them on the pit wall. Most teams attempt to get round this problem by fitting brightly coloured lights to the fronts of the cars, with some cars looking distinctly and unintentionally festive!
 The race is one of attrition, with a steady stream of cars limping back to the pits to be patched up, repaired and refuelled. Spectators can have a great view the teams in the old pits working feverishly on the cars and the atmosphere is like no other race held today. But for the drivers, the sense of accomplishment when they finish the race is worth all the sweat and tears. It is a common sight to see entire teams, who have managed to keep their cars running for the whole race, hugging each other as if they had just won the world championship.
But the organisers understand that it is not just the drivers who go to enjoy themselves. There is a large and bustling paddock, to which spectators have access. This contains a variety to informal places to eat and drink, as well as a range to stalls selling everything from complete race suits to little toy cars. Spectators can also wander around looking at the cars and talking to the teams, in a very relaxed atmosphere that simply does not exist at many other races.
The weekend is not just about the 6 hours race. There is also a full schedule of supporting races throughout the weekend, with a verity of classic championships competing in a series of shorter races . Many drivers and cars compete in more than one race, with crews working against the clock to get cars ready for the next event whilst nervous drivers look on.
One thing is for certain for all those who are lucky enough to have taken part in this amazing event, and I’m one of them, we can’t wait to come back next year.
James Pitt
James is
part of the Surrey Sports & Classics Historic Motorsport Team
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