Spa Classic: An exciting weekend of classic car racing in the Ardennes

It's been tradition now for a few years that in the middle of May, Peter Auto strikes down at Spa-Francorchamps for the annual Spa-Classic weekend. An event reviving the glorious legacy of racing at the Belgian track with a stunning amount of legendary racing cars returning to the iconic circuit. 

Spa-Francorchamps is one the last remaining real driver-tracks, shaped by its environment and surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Belgian Ardennes.  A track with a rich history; back in the old days with the mythical Masta kink, outrageous speeds on public roads, the banking on the way to Stavelot (it's still there, waiting for you to drive over it) to the most known and feared corners in the world: Eau Rouge & Raidillon and the tantalizing high speed section of Blanchimont. 

The Spa-Classic, created in 2011, has now grown to one of the major European events for historic cars, attracting some very impressive starting grids in 8 different classes over the weekend.  It brings back some of the most legendary endurance GT cars and Prototypes that have raced over the track in its most glorious era's. 

With open paddocks all weekend, free grandstand acces, an exhibitor's village and several attractions, the Spa Classic is just  another event not to miss for the real petrolhead.  The weather forecast seems rather nice too, so no excuse not to drop by for a day or the weekend if you're near the Ardennes. 

In this preview we'll give you a rundown of all 8 grids who will race at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend; from the 2.0L Porsches over Classic Endurance Racing and the mighty Group C monsters.

Classic Endurance Racing

The biggest grid over the weekend will be the Classic Endurance Racing which is celebrates its 15th season.  Since 2004 Classic Endurance Racing has been the retrospective of endurance races held between 1966 and 1981, an epoch when this branch of the sport topped the bill in world motor racing. It was the glorious era of the Ford GT40s, Porsche 910s and 917s, Ferraris 512Ss and Ms, BMW M1s, etc. driven by Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo Gérard Larrousse and Derek Bell among others, whose playing fields were not limited to the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. 

They also raced on the most famous European circuits in the context of the Sports Car World Championship. Classic Endurance Racing is much more than a simple historic commemoration. With grids of 50 cars and drivers determined to pay homage to the glorious past of their vehicles, the on-track spectacle is quite simply awesome!  The field will be split into two: CER 1 for GT cars from 1966 to 1974 & prototypes from 1966/1971 and CER2 for GT cars from 1975 to 1981 and prototypes from 1972 ot 1981. 

Watch out for these cars in their night qualifying (Friday) and night races on Saturday. 

Entry list Classic Endurance Racing 1

Entry List Classic Endurance Racing 2

Group C Racing

Group C Racing is probably the grid where most endurance fans are looking forward to again this year.  With a mouthwathering grid of 33 cars, this will be one of the highlights of this year's Spa-Classic. The Group C regulations in force between 1982 and 1993 led to the production of legendary cars that wrote some of the most glorious pages in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Sports Car World Endurance Championship.

The Group Cs are still quite modern looking with their fighter pilot-like cockpits, doors in elytron and their huge rear wings, and they still exert an incredible fascination on all generations of fans with performances that still would be very competitive and top speeds way north of 300 km/h! 2 Peugeot 905, 5 Jaguars from the XJR 8 to the XJR14, Porsche's 956 and 962, they will all be thundering through the Ardennes again.  Add a mix of Nissan, Spice, Tiga, March and other Group C machinery and we're sure this will be three great 45 minute sessions over the weekend. 

Entry List Group C

Heritage Touring Cup 

The Heritage Touring Cup has formed the backbone of the Spa-Classic endurance event since 2013. Since then the Heritage Touring Cup has gone from strength to strength among the owners and drivers of these saloons, which provided excitement in the one of the biggest era's of the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) between 1966 and 1984. The pinnacle of the season was the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours that became the favourite playing field of the majority of the best-known manufacturers and drivers. 

During this long era of touring car racing, a number of manufacturers won the event with their flagship makes. BMW was one of the most loyal participants as over three decades the Bavarian manufacturer entered a whole string of models ranging from the T1800 Ti in the 60s to the famous M3 in the 90s. It holds the record for the number of victories (21) in the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours. The cars from Munich had several rivals over their long reign with Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Ford Mustangs and Capri RSs, Porsche 911s, Jaguar XJSs ... 

The Heritage Touring Cup will be out 5 times on track this weekend, including a night practice and night race of 1 hour. 

Entry List Heritage Touring Cup

Sixties Endurance Racing

Sixties' Endurance racing is in it's ninth season in 2018 and has attracted a large following among spectators over the years thanks to its allencompassing quality field. Top pre-63 sports cars are joined with pre-66 GTs that used to race in the world endurance championship of the era. On track will be cars like the AC Cobra, Ferrari 250 GT, Lotus 15, Jaguar E-Type, etc. 

A very diversified grid gives will be out for a 2 1 hour races on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.   During these hour long races the pre-66 sports and GT cars revive the battles of that bygone era. A classification based on an Index of Performance which, in addition to the scratch classification, gives an advantage to the small capacity cars and the oldest warriors faced with their more powerful and more modern rivals like the very quick AC Cobras that have racked up victories on many circuits. 

Entry List Sixties Endurance

Formula 2 challenge

The Formula 2 Challenge has been created by Peter Auto for the 2017 season and is open to Formula 2 cars that forged the reputation of the European Championship between 1967 and 1978. At the time F2 was considered as the key to the door of Formula 1, and over a decade it trained drivers who left their mark on the history of motor racing. Between 1967 and 1978 the champions were: Jacky Ickx, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Johnny Servoz-Gavin, Clay Regazzoni, Ronnie Peterson, Mike Hailwood, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Patrick Depailler, Jacques Laffite, Jean-Pierre Jabouille, René Arnoux and Bruno Giacomelli. The grid at Spa will see several March chassis, Lotus, Chevron and Ralt. 

Entry List F2 Euro Classic 

The Greatest Trophy

The Greatest Trophy, formerly known as the Trofeo Nastro Rosso is now open to more than just Italian built cars. By accepting beautiful models built by other famous makes  like the Aston Martin DB4 GT, Mercedes-Benz 300 S and Porsche 550, the trophy is even more attractive. In 2018 it will be open to the exceptional cars that marked the major endurance events of the 50s and 60s. 

A grid full of some extremely rare and valuable cars applies rules based on sporting ethics and strict respect of the cars taking part in this championship to guarantee that risks are reduced to the absolute minimum. Respect and fair-play are now the key words for these gentlemen racers who are taking part in the new Greatest’s Trophy.  

Entry List The Greatest Trophy

2.0L Cup

After the creation of Euro F2 Classic in 2017 and the takeover of Group C Racing in 2016, Peter Auto is continuing to enlarge and develop its grid offer in historic racing by introducing The 2.0L Cup in 2018. This single-make grid will be reserved for 2-litre short chassis early Porsche 911s prepared in accordance with FIA pre-66 regulations. 

The 2.0L Cup has been created in association with Britons Lee Maxted-Page (Porsche Classic & Racing specialist) and James Turner (Director of the 2L Racing Group). It is expected to attract around 40 cars and the aim is to see the make’s former drivers at the wheel of some of these.

Entry List 2.0L Cup

Global Endurance Legends

There's one guest grid this year at Spa-Francorchamps: the Global Endurance Legends.  Global Endurance Legends is a club for owners of GT and sports prototype racing cars of a type that raced during the 1990s and 2000s and organises events at leading historic meetings and iconic circuits.  Expect some very exciting cars on track with a selection of the best and fastest GT's and Prototypes from the era. You can expect everything from and Aston Martin DBR 9, Mercedes CLK GTR, Porsche GT1, Lister Storm, Audi R8, Dallara SP1 to a Ferrari 333SP and a Pescarolo P60.  Rumours are going round that a Bentley Speed 8 might be in Francorchamps this weekend ... that car alone is worth the trip ! 

Clubs and open paddocks

Meeting up at Spa-Classic has become a habit for the clubs that are joined by owners of individual cars. This is an honour for the organisers among whose objectives is to bring together at one of the world’s iconic circuits all sports car lovers.  After around 1200 cars at the previous event, this year’s aim is to attract even more collector cars. They will have seven 25-minute runs during the weekend to enable them to enjoy and take full advantage of the famous track. 

Weekend's Timetable

Live timing

Kristof Vermeulen. 

The Amelia Concours d'élégance, our pick of the 10 best cars on show this year.

In its 23rd year, the Amelia Island Concours d'élégance has become one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world.  Every year, Bill Warner who founded the event in 1996, manages to invite a selection of glorious automobiles, unique in its kind. 

This year's guest of honor was racing legend double Formula 1 World Champion and two time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi.  The Brazilian won his fifth race in Formula 1 and became the youngest F1 champion in 1972, at the age of 25, a record that stood for 33 years.  In 1974 he won his second world title, and retired in 1980. A few years later Fittipaldi came back out of retirement to race in the Indycar series, adding two Indy 500's on his palmares in 1989 and 1993. More on Fittipaldi's cars at Amelia and other collections showed will follow later on. 

More than 300 cars featured this year on the greens of the Amelia Island Golf club, next to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton hotel.  The one more exclusive than the other, including some who haven't been shown in public for many years. To make a selection out of this massive amount of car culture is almost impossible, but we gave it a try.  Next to both concours winners, we've selected 8 other cars who stood out from the crowd. Off course we've looked at some Le Mans heritage in some of those, but also a few very unique cars have made our little shortlist.

Best in show, Concours d'élégance
1929  Duesenberg J/SJ Convertible 

The Duesenberg J was advertised as 'The World's Finest Motor Car". The list of Duesenberg owners was a Who's Who of Hollywood elite along with captains of industry. No wonder since a bare chassis cost $7,500 and coachwork added another $10,000 to $15,000.  Duesenbergs were built from 1913 thru 1937. Industrialist E.L. Cord purchased the Indianapolis, IN, company in 1926 and hired Fred Duesenberg to design a chassis and an engine that would be the best in the world. 

The Model J was introduced at the New York Car Show of 1928. In unsupercharged form, the J produces 276 horsepower from a straight-8 engine with dual overhead camshafts and was capable of a top speed of 119 mph. The supercharged version, the SJ, could do 135-140 mph in third gear; and at a time when the best cars could rarely reach 100 mph.  
This car has a Murphy roadster-style coachwork that was restyled in period by Bohman & Schwartz of Pasadena, California. Styling changes included a lengthened hood, slotted fenders and more modern bumpers. One of the early owners of this car was Edward Beale McLean, who owned the Hope Diamond and whose family owned The Washington Post.


Best in show, concours de sport
1963 Ferrari 250/275P 

To contest the new World Prototype Championship in 1963 Ferrari introduced its first of many mid-engine V12 powered prototypes, the 250P.  Four cars were constructed with three liter engines. All were factory team cars and immediately successful.  Ferrari entered two cars in the Sebring 12 hour race and finished first and second overall.  They went on to overall wins at the ADAC Nurburgring 1,000Kms and the 24 Hours of LeMans that year taking the 1963 World Prototype Championship. The cars were updated with larger 3.3 liter engines in 1964, now called a 275P and went on to overall wins at Sebring and LeMans again.


This particular car won the 1963 ADAC Nurburgring 1,000Kms with John Surtees and Willy Mairesse and the 1964 Sebring 12 Hours with Mike Parkes and Umberto Maglioli at the wheel.  It finished second at the 1963 Sebring event and won the first race at Mont Tremblant as a NART entry with Pedro Rodriguez driving. The car was campaigned as a NART entry in 1964 and 1965.


1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4

This Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona is a one-of-a-kind built by Panther Westwinds in Surrey, UK. Working to a design by Luigi “Coco” Chinetti Jr. and designer Gene Garfinkle, Panther Westwinds modified this Daytona into a striking and unique station wagon. 

Inspiration for this one off Daytona came from the 1961 250GT SWB Breadvan, but this would be a car fit for daily usage. The whole back part of the car has been redesigned  not featuring a rear hatch on the car, instead the curved side windows open in a gullwing style. The boot has been finished with leather and wallnut.  Even the dashboard has been overhauled, relocating the dials to the middle of the dashboard.  The car has done fewer dan 4000 miles up to today and features a 4.4 V12 engine, developing 352 horsepower. 

1964 Alpine M64 Le Mans prototype 

This Alpine M64 with chassis n° 1711 is the third and final M64 which has been built by the French manufacturer. It's powered by a 1.149 cc, 4-cylinder engine with double overhead camshafts, producing 115 bhp. Chassis 1711 debuted on the world stage at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964, driven by Henry Morrogh and Roger Delagenestre. Starting 36th on the grid, it crossed the finish line on 17th position, winning its class and finished first in the “thermal efficiency” class, for the most fuel efficient car during the race (21 mpg).  A few weeks later, the car also won the 12 hours of Reims and has been driven by Juan Manuel Fangio during a “lap of honour' after the race. 

In 1965 it returned to Le Mans, after being fitted with an Allinquant oleo-pneumatic suspension system. It sadly didn't finish the race, dropping out in the 15th hour with mechanical problems. After Le Mans 1965 it raced in Reims again (finishing 4th) and at the Cognac Grand Prix before being retired from racing. After its racing life, Alpine retained the car as a prototype for the A210, modifying the rear section of its bodywork. The major adjustments were the addition of its rail fins at the back which allowed aerodynamic testing.  It's with this additions that the car has been preserved and wonderfully restored. 

1934 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio

Standing “face to face” with a Bugatti is always a treat.  The timeless state of art design, incredible eye for detail and craftsmanship just shows a demonstration of Bugatti's genius. Stumbling upon a  rare and unique Type 57 in an almost completely original, unrestored condition, just makes your day worth it. 

This 1934 Bugatti is an incredibly original and early example, which has been in single family ownership since 1964.  This Type 57 survived the second world war only because it has been hidden in a barn under a hay stack in France until the end of the war by its original owners.  Eventually the car was sold to the United States, and came into posession of John Risch Sr, who has kept in the family for the last 25 years. 

It's not a surprise this car won the FIVA award for the 'most well preserved and regularly driven vehicle'.

1948 Cadillac Series 62 Saoutchik Cabriolet

Another unique car, of which only two have been built. Carrosserie J. Saoutchik was one of France's greatest coachbuilders after the second world war. Jacques Saoutchik was born in Russia before moving to France and becoming one of the icons of French coachwork. Saoutchik was known for his extravagant designs taking many risks with sweeping shapes and copious amounts of chrome.

This car is one of Saoutchik's final designs, built to order for New York furrier, hotel developer, and art collector Louis Ritter, and one of only 2 cars built on an American chassis by the French carrossier. Ritter was so impressed by Saoutchik's work that he ordered a second car, based on a Talbot-Lago chassis with a near identical design. It has been restored in the late eighties in its current astonishing black and violet color scheme and kept in a pristine overall condition. 

1965 Renault R8 Gordini

The “cars of Fittipaldi” display showed some impressive race cars, including the black and gold JPS 1970 Lotus 72/5, 1974 McLaren M23/8 and his Penske Mercedes Indycar winner.  One car stood out though: that bright yellow Willy's Team Renault R8 Gordini. In fact, this was the car in which Emerson Fittipaldi won his first ever career race.  This car is fitted with a 1310 cc overhead-valve 4-cylinder engine developing 103 horsepower.  Coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission it was capable of 112 mph.

It was November 7th, when Fittipaldi won the 4th stage of the Carioca Championship near Rio de Janeiro. This R8 Gordini ran until 1967 and underwent several modifications over the years.  It eventually returned to being a street car until it was bought by collector Mauricio Marx. When he heard Fittipaldi would be the guest of honour at Amelia this year, the car has been restored to its original state in a ver short time.  

1971 PORSCHE  917K (white)

This 917K has been brought over from the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen and is the winning car of the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours.  Driven by Gijs Van Lennep and Helmut Marko it covered a distance of 5.335,16 km with an average speed of 222,3 km/h, two records that would last for 39 years. 

Flying the Martini Racing colors, this Porsche featured new "shark fins" at the rear, seen for the first time at pre-race tests in April of that year.  These gave the 600 hp race car more directional stability and reduced drag.  In true Porsche style, it won the "Index of Performance", an award for the most economical ratio of fuel consumption to displacement.  However, even the drivers were not aware that their 917 was the first Porsche to race with a magnesium space frame.  The material is considerably lighter than aluminum.  This 917 is so light that the engineers fit a 55-liter oil tank and only then did reach the 800 kilogram minimum weight.  

The car's race career was brief and meteoric. Completed on June 5, it ran 552 practice kilometers at Le Mans.  Victory marked the end of its race life.


1929  Auburn Cabin Speedster

Auburn was an American premium automotive brand that existed from 1900 to 1937.  Production ended in 1937, following the great depression after which the cars became too expensive for the market. 


This 1929 Auburn Cabin Speedster was recreated in 1983-85.  The original one-off  prototype was destroyed in the Los Angeles Automobile Show fire on March 5, 1929.  The chassis is constructed just as the original  using components from production 1929 Auburn Automobiles.  It is cleverly constructed from the rear portions of two frames with the rear portion inverted.  The result is a six inch drop compared to the standard 1929 Auburn. 




The unique body is built with an ash frame covered in aluminum, using the original full size body drawings saved by Auburn Historian Randy Ema.  The Cabin Speedster accomplished Auburn's goals for marketing aerodynamic cars, even if the aero was more about form than function.  The glamour and excitement of the period can still be felt in the design, even 90 years later. 

1968 Shelby Lonestar

The sole Shelby Lonestar was created in secrecy a half-century ago as a a replacement for the legendary 427 Shelby Cobra. Based on a modified Ford GT40 chassis the Ford V-8-powered mid-engine coupe was assembled in England during 1968 and wore the name  "Cobra III" in internal Shelby documents. The aluminium body had the same drag coëfficient of a modern Ford GT and performed strong with its 289 V8 engine. 


The Cobra was a very hard act to follow but the Lonestar checked all the right boxes and Shelby had a potent plan.  But there  were considerable obstacles: Ford had acquired the Cobra name a year earlier.  So Shelby, a Texan by birth named his third-generation "Cobra" after his home state and the Shelby Lonestar was born. In the end U.S. safety legislation halted the budding project, the car not passing some of the crash and smog standards for smaller manufacturerst.  A disgruntled Shelby left for the wilds of South Africa.  The Lonestar was advertised for the then princely sum of $15,000 and was eventually sold. After a sensitive and complex ten-year plus restoration, Shelby's only Lonestar made its international debut at Amelia.       

Kristof Vermeulen.
Pictures: Jellybaby.Media

Amelia Island Concours d'élégeance: 1929 Duesenberg and 1963 Ferrari win best of show

A 1929 Duesenberg J.SJ Convertible and 1963 Ferrari 250/275P have won the best of show awards on Saturday at  the 23rd annual Amelia Island Concours d'élégeance. 

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As in 2017, the Amelia Island Concours d'élégance was moved one day earlier, due to bad weather forecasts for Sunday. That late day change didn't scare off any visitors, with thousands of car enthousiasts attending the concours under sunny skies. 

© JellyBaby.media

Guest of honour this year was Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, double Formula 1 World Champion and two-time winner of the Indy 500. The concours showcased some impressive racecars of Fittipaldi, including a 1970 Lotus 72/5, 1974 McLaren M23/5, 1974 Porsche 911 RSR IROC, Renault Dauphine "Gordini"and 1977 Chevrolet IROC Camaro Z28.

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More than 300 cars and motorcycles, split up into 35 classes were presented at the Amelia golf club. Highlights next to Fittipaldi's race cars was an impressive line-up of "Martini race cars", N.A.R.T Ferrari's, several one-off and unique automobiles, Steve McQueens original "Bullit" Mustang and an almost complete collection of Auburns. 

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The highly valuated Best in Show Concours d’Elegance Trophy was presented to a 1929 Duesenberg J/SJ Convertible owned by Harry Yeaggy from Cincinnati, Ohio. This Duesenberg J/SJ Convertible has Murphy roadster-style coachwork that was restyled in period by Bohman & Schwartz of Pasadena, California. Styling changes included a lengthened hood, slotted fenders and more modern bumpers. One of the early owners of this car was Edward Beale McLean, who owned the Hope Diamond and whose family owned The Washington Post.

© JellyBaby.Media

A 1963 Ferrari 250/275P from The JSL Motorsports Collection in Redwood City, California, took home the prestigious Best in Show Concours de Sport Trophy. The winning Ferrari 250/275P won the overall at the 1963 ADAC Nurburgring 1,000Kms with John Surtees and Willy Mairesse and the 1964 Sebring 12 Hours with Mike Parkes and Umberto Maglioli driving.  This car finished second at the 1963 Sebring event and won the first race at Mont Tremblant as a NART entry with Pedro Rodriguez driving. The car was campaigned as a NART entry in 1964 and 1965.

“I could not be more pleased with the judges’ decisions for the 2018 Amelia Island Concours winners,” said Bill Warner, Chairman and Founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “We are overjoyed to present the Duesenberg and Ferrari with these honors. These cars are prime examples of automotive prestige and we are proud to recognize them.”

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In the power-driven age, a special class of electric horseless carriages highlighted the renewed enthusiasm for the 120 year old technology.  IMSA GTP celebrated its GTP -- Grand Touring Prototype -- racers from the 1981 through the 1993 IMSA Championships. A quarter century has passed since IMSA’s GTPs last raced in anger. They were the spiritual descendants of the mighty, unlimited Can-Am racers of the 1960s and 1970s and the vanguard of a new generation of automotive performance and technology. By the end of the GTP era in 1993 they had eclipsed every major record the fabled Can-Am racers set.  Another spectacular display was the collection of Martini race cars, including 2 Porsche 917's. 

A few further impressions of this years concours at Amelia and an overview of some class winners and a rundown of Le Mans cars will be published in the upcoming days. 

Kristof Vermeulen.