24h Le Mans
The WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was stunning and undecided all the way up to the finish! In the end, the #8 Toyota TS050 HYBRID driven by Anthony Davidson, Kazuki Nakajima and Sébastien Buemi won ahead of the #7 sister car.
- The green flag at the start of the race was waved by Tom Kristensen, nine-time winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1997, from 2000 to 2005, 2008 and 2013) and 2013 World Endurance Champion.
- The Rebellion Racing team's previously named R-One, newly called the Vaillante Rebellion, was on display in the paddock in the colors set to decorate the two Oreca LMP2s at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 17th and 18th. Next month, the new Michel Vaillant comic book entitled "Rébellion" will be released.
- Andreas Wirth was announced as a reserve driver for the CEFC Manor TRS Racing team entering two Oreca 07-Gibsons in the LMP2 class in the championship. The German driver took the wheel of SMP Racing's BR01 last year in the European Le Mans Series.
- Two Porsche Carrera Cup France and Benelux races took place at Spa, and Julien Andlauer (Martinet by Alméras) won both of them. This championship will serve as a curtain-raiser to the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. local time.
- Two previous 24 Hours of Le Mans winners were present in the paddock on Saturday. Hans Joachim Stuck (winner in 1985 and 1986 at the wheel of an official Porsche 962 along with Al Holbert and Derek Bell) and Martin Brundle (winner in 1990 with a Jaguar XJR12) came to support his son, Alex, driver of Jackie Chan DC Racing's #38 Oreca 07-Gibson.
- And another star was on the scene: Mark Webber. The Australian driver, who will serve as Grand Marshal at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, was at Spa to cheer on his former teammates.
- Olivier Pla, driver of Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK's #66 Ford GT, sported a new helmet for the Belgian race.
- The best in-race lap was clocked by Brendon Hartley (#2 Porsche 919 Hybrid) in 1’57.638.
- The fastest car during the race was the #4 ENSO CLM P1/01 entered by ByKOLLES Racing Team (James Rossiter, Dominik Kraihamer and Oliver Webb) with a top speed of 320.6 km/h.
- 28 cars passed under the checkerd flag out of 30 at the start. Only Tockwith Motorsports' #34 Ligier JS P217 (LMP2) and Porsche Gulf Racing's #86 (LMGTE Am) didn't make the finish line.
- 61,000 spectators attended the race.
Photo (Copyright - Laurent Cartalade/VSA): ByKOLLES Racing Team's ENSO CLM P1/01, the fastest car at Spa-Francorchamps.
