Trackside: FIA WEC 6 Hours Spa Francorchamps 2023

Trackside: FIA WEC 6 Hours Spa Francorchamps 2023 – Gallery and Video

Since Le Mans is sold out, we headed to Spa last weekend for the FIA WEC 6 hours of Spa. After a steady 2 years of Hypercar, the gloves have finally come off, and the class is now starting to deliver. Seeing so many cars in the top class brings back the giddy feeling we used to get watching Audi, Porsche, and Toyota battling in the LMP1 hybrid heyday. Add the fact this would be the last we saw the GTE’s battling in the WEC in person, it was an event we couldn’t miss.

Due to the massive delays in getting to the circuit and parked up (Thanks to Belgian police on that one), we only got trackside 5 minutes before the start of the race. It left us a little in the unknown as to what was happening in the build-up regarding what the teams were doing. When the race started we watched the 7 Toyota go into T1 in the lead, only for lap 2 to begin with the Ferrari’s 1 and 2. At first, we thought the 7 had crashed, only to find out later they were actually on slicks instead, on a wet greasy track.

It wasn’t long before Toyota’s strategy dice roll paid off and they were back in the lead. The teams who started on wet’s all pitted, and then the next new challenge presented itself, leaving the pits in 11c air temps, on stone-cold tyres. I don’t think the TV actually does the speed difference justice, it’s insane the difference hot vs cold tyres have in the corners. Watching the drivers struggle is at times painful, which was highlighted when the Ferrari 499P crashed in front of us.

That wasn’t the worst thing that happened though, as the Cadillac crashed going up Eau Rouge. We were in the back of the stand queueing for coffee when all we heard was a loud smash and the crowd reacting to something. It was obvious something big had gone down, but at first, we couldn’t get to see what had happened. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that the swarm of people trying to see thinned out. Only then were er presented with the above view. Thankfully Renger van der Zande walked out with no injury and his sense of humour still intact.

In LMP2 we kind of lost track of who was where, the field is so tightly contested, with multiple teams able to take the victory. It wasn’t till the final pitstop where we picked up it was an out-and-out battle between WRT and United Autosports. I still can’t quite get how United have not ended up running a Hypercar yet. But BMW picking WRT for next year will be a big win for them I suspect.

As always seeing the GTE’s dicing was a pleasure. As disappointing as it is that Northwest AMR and Paul Dalla Lana
have retired. We were happy to see The Heart of Racing take over the entry with Prodrive (AMR) still running the operation. To be honest, I don’t think a team was more deserving to get their chance in the WEC. It looked to be a baptism of fire, but they pulled off a great result for their first race in the championship.

The opening part of the race with GTE virtually flipping on its head was a great watch, even if D’Station were a little naughty with the Iron Dames. The end of the race was just as hotly contested, with Omar Racing/TF Sport reeling in the Chevy Corvette, for a fierce battle. But a huge congrats had to go to Lilou Wadoux in the Richard Mille AF Corse Ferarri 488, who became the woman to seal a victory in the FIA WEC, with a GTE AM win.

We are next at Silverstone for the British GT 3-hour race, the Silverstone 500. Enjoy the gallery below, and keep an eye out for our next trackside post.