Racing Shows: Exhibition 100 years Spa Francorchamps at Autoworld Brussels
Racing Shows: Exhibition 100 years Spa Francorchamps at Autoworld Brussels
The circuit of Spa Francorchamps is exactly 100 years old this year. In the context of this anniversary, the Brussels Autoworld is organizing an exhibition on September 3, shortly after the Belgian Grand Prix opened. The exhibition is open until November 28. Francorchamps, one of the most beautiful circuits in the world, who among us has not been active or passive. Autosport.nl recently started taking a behavior in the Brussels Cinquantenaire Park.
A beautiful Formula 1 collection of cars that came into action during the F1 competitions at Spa Francorchamps.
Text and Photos: Willem J. Staat
Exhibition 100 years Spa Francorchamps in Autoworld Brussels
Besides the Nürburgring Nordschleife and Bathurst (The Mountain), the circuit of Spa Francorchamps is one of the most beautiful and legendary circuits in the world. Circuits with many have a love/hate relationship. Neither Spa-Francorchamps nor the Nordschleife allow any margins for error after their renovations. Jobs that still require you to have “Big Balls” horses. The Raidillon is still taking its toll as we saw recently in the W-Series and the 24H of Spa Francorchamps.
Plans for the future develop in the various desk drawers. Shortly before the death of Circuit Director Nathalie Maillet, various media reported that the plans were at a far advanced stage. The circuit was inaugurated on August 12, 1921. The first event was a motorcycle race. The cars did not run until a year later. The old Spa-Francorchamps is known for the beautiful Porsche 917 duel between Pedro Rodriguez and Jo Siffert who did not give in to each other in the 917 dinosaurs. The Formula 1, Formula 2 and 24 Urs races what a pleasure.
The 24H of Spa-Francorchamps is clearly in the foreground in Brussels. The Heyer/Hahne/Joosen combination wins the 1982 24H.
In 1981 I came for the first time as a media representative at the renewed Spa-Francorchamps and saw Geoff Lees win with the screeching Ralt Honda RH6. One year later I made my first reports about the 1000 KM and the 24H.
Last Friday, the winning Ferrari F488 was one of the showpieces at the exhibition.
The combination Ickx/Mass won the 1000 KM of Francorchamps with the legendary Porsche 956 Group C under the leading Group 6 Lancia of Michele Alboreto in La Source a few hundred meters before the finish came to a standstill in the leading position. The Heyer/Hahne/Joosen combination won that year with a JUMA BMW 528i. The Schnitzer BMW victories of Ravaglia/Berger/Surer and Kox/Winkelhock/Soper were the best experiences for me personally. This year the 24H of Spa Francorchamps won by the Ferrari F488 of the Lynx Team and until last Friday this car was also a guest in Brussels for a few weeks. In addition to the touring cars, there are also a number of F1 cars that raced at Spa Francorchamps.
The Gitanes BMW 528i of the combination Jean Pierre Jarier, Jean Louis Trintignant and Thierry Tassin.
The same car now 39 years later in the Brussels Autoworld.
The back of the Waterloo Motors BMW 528i. Only the TV camera on the trunk is missing.
It was also the great battle between the tobacco companies. Belga, Bastos and Gitanes. both last notices to the Seita Group only.