Pole position: Stuck in 3.49,1 = 221,876 kmh
Fastest lap: Amon in 3.49,4 = 221,586 kmh
Distance: 24 hours
Average speed: 184,290 kmh
Weather: cloudy, rainy, cool
Ruleset: Group 2/70
Car info: 1973 Cars
This years’ edition of Spa was more interesting than 1972 - but alas, far more tragic too. The winged BMWs were favourite, Muir’s Alpina car sandwiched between the works cars after practice. After the second Alpina car came the leading Capri (Mass/Fitzpatrick) followed by the second car of Heyer/Koinigg. Most BMWs had 3.3 engines for reliability reasons. Only a Spanish Escort tried to withhold Alfa Romeo for division 1 victory. After the start, a BMW quartet took the lead, the two-litre class was lead by Alfa Romeo, Group 1 by Opel. Most cars drove on intermediates since the weather looked unpredictable. Only Muir raced full tempo, the others seemed to hold back just a little. Amon came in to change a defective front wheel bearing. Then - drama at eleven. Roger Dubos, fiancé of “Christine”, led a sister car with Ballot-Lena when Hans-Peter Joisten overtook them at high speed. But Joisten was a tick too fast, touched the barriers and was thrown back at the track, just in front of Dubos, who braked but was rammed by Ballot-Lena, crashing into Joistens car. A freak accident which took the lives of Joisten and Dubos instantly. The second Alpina car was withdrawn immediately. A little later Larini crashed at les Combes and was badly injured. He died later from his injuries. The remaining three Autodelta entries were understandably withdrawn too. Half past one in the night, the rain started, sending cars spinning off one after the other. Fear set in; apart from the withdrawals, some drivers simply quit. The works BMW of Hezemans/Quester won this tragic race, the 5-cylinder Capri was second, a group 1 Commodore third, an inconsolable “Christine” with Nève and Vermeulen was classified seventh. But no one really cared. |
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Division 1 and 2
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| Pos | Pos in class | # | Team / Entrant Car- Engine |
Drivers, Nationality | Engine vol. (cc) |
Engine Type |
Group | Distance, time |
Qualifying position | Qualifying time | Fastest lap | Reason out, remarks |
| 1 | 1 | 10 | BMW Motorsport BMW 3.0 CSL |
Toine Hezemans, NL Dieter Quester, A |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | 313 laps, 4423 km | 3 | 3.52,5 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 1 | Ford Köln Ford Capri RS 2600 LW |
Jochen Mass, D John Fitzpatrick, GB |
2983 | V6 | Div. 2 | 298 laps, 4208 km | 5 | 3.57,6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 32 | Marabout Racing Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
René Tricot, B Jean-Louis Haxhe, B |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 290 laps, 4092 km | 16 | 4.31,4 | ||
| 4 | 4 | 16 | Racing Team Biral BMW 3.0 Si Gr. 1 |
Serge Laurent, B Noël Van Assche ("Pedro"), B |
2985 | L6 | Div. 2 | 286 laps, 4057 km | 25 | 4.38,8 | ||
| 5 | 5 | 27 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
Dany Wauters, B Francis Polak, B |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 286 laps, 4046 km | 20 | 4.35,2 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 31 | DNRT Marlboro Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
Jim Vermeulen, NL Jelle Hingst, NL (Rien Frankenhout, NL) |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 279 laps, 3938 km | 17 | 4.33,3 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 28 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
Christine Beckers ("Christine"), B Patrick Nève, B Huub Vermeulen, NL (Liane Engeman, NL) |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 275 laps, 3873 km | 18 | 4.34,7 | Engeman pregnant! | |
| 8 | 8 | 35 | Ford Capri 3000 GXL Gr. 1 |
Francois Goldstein, B Claude De Wael, B |
2993 | V6 | Div. 2 | 274 laps, 3866 km | 32 | 4.48,0 | ||
| 9 | 1 | 62 | Toyota Celica GT |
Ove Andersson, S Freddy Kottulinsky, S |
1958 | L4 | Div. 1 | 274 laps, 3865 km | 19 | 4.34,7 | ||
| 10 | 2 | 58 | Promoteam-GB Entreprises Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Roland Imbert, F Joost Byttebier, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 273 laps, 3854 km | 39 | 4.55,5 | ||
| 11 | 9 | 24 | Research Consultants Ltd. Chevrolet Camaro Z28 |
Mike Crabtree, GB Jonathan Buncombe, GB Terry Sanger, GB |
5736 | V8 | Div. 2 | 3784 km | 11 | 4.16,0 | ||
| 12 | 3 | 66 | Audi-NSU France Audi 100 coupé S |
Daniel Dupré, F Jean-Claude Boucher, F |
1871 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3754 km | 41 | 4.57,5 | ||
| 13 | 10 | 7 | Ford Capri 3000 GXL Gr. 1 |
Jeremy Walton, GB Nigel Clarkson, GB |
2993 | V6 | Div. 2 | 3739 km | 43 | 4.58,7 | ||
| 14 | 4 | 79 | DNRT Marlboro Team Opel Manta 19 SR |
Loek Vermeulen, NL Aloys Mattijssen, NL |
1900 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3727 km | 35 | 4.51,5 | ||
| 15 | 5 | 59 | Promoteam-GB Entreprises Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Eric Mandron, B Edgar Gillessen, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3727 km | 49 | 5.01,8 | ||
| 16 | 6 | 60 | Promoteam-GB Entreprises Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Eddy Joosen, B Etienne Stalpaert, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3885 km | 40 | 4.56,5 | Accident | |
| 17 | 7 | 57 | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Peter Brown, AUS Ray Gulson, AUS |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3674 km | 59 | 5.13,1 | ||
| 18 | 8 | 91 | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Lucien Guitteny, F A. Soulard, F |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3584 km | 47 | 5.00,8 | ||
| 19 | 9 | 61 | Euro Oil Racing Team Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
J. Beckers ("James"), B Claude Crespin, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3581 km | 45 | 5.00,4 | ||
| 20 | 10 | 72 | Simca Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Remy Marquet, B John Vanderheyden, B |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3527 km | 54 | 5.08,2 | ||
| 21 | 11 | 73 | Simca Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Jean-Louis Goblet, B Robert Laine, B |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3499 km | 55 | 5.08,5 | ||
| 22 | 12 | 74 | Simca Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Jean-Marie Herman, B Jacky Delhaes, B |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3483 km | 60 | 5.18,2 | ||
| 23 | 13 | 80 | Vauxhall Firenza SL |
Dennis Thorne, GB Holman “Les” Blackburn, GB |
1975 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3459 km | 51 | 5.05,6 | ||
| 24 | 14 | 77 | Racing Team Sigma Renault R 12 Gordini |
Paul Delbrouck, B Jean Degey, B |
1565 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3403 km | 58 | 5.10,0 | ||
| 25 | 15 | 90 | Trivellato Fiat 128 coupé 1300 |
Angelino Lepri, I Germano Prenol ("Willer"), I |
1290 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3390 km | 56 | 5.09,0 | ||
| 26 | 16 | 75 | Racing Team Sigma Renault R 12 Gordini |
"Geronimo", B Jeannot Sauvage, B |
1565 | L4 | Div. 1 | 3304 km | 57 | 5.09,5 | ||
| 27 | 11 | 8 | Chrysler Hemicuda Gr.1 |
Yves Deprez, B Pierre-Yves Bertinchamps, B |
7000 | V8 | Div. 2 | 3162 km | 15 | 4.30,3 | ||
| DNF | 78 | Scuderia Brescia Corse Ford Escort RS 1600 Broadspeed |
José Maria de Uriarte, E Rafael Barrios, E Emilio Rodriguez Zapico, E |
1840 | L4 | Div. 1 | 12 | 4.17,0 | Starter/Ignition | |||
| DNF | 65 | Ford Escort TC |
Ken Coffey, GB Ted Worswick, GB |
1594 | L4 | Div. 1 | 50 | 5.02,9 | Engine | |||
| DNF | 30 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
Bernard De Dryver, B Bernard De St. Hubert, B |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 23 | 4.36,5 | Head gasket | |||
| DNF | 3 | Ford Köln Ford Capri RS 2600 LW |
Hans Heyer, D Helmut Koinigg, A |
2983 | V6 | Div. 2 | ca. 180 laps | 6 | 4.00,7 | Valve gear | ||
| DNF | 11 | BMW Motorsport BMW 3.0 CSL |
Hans-Joachim Stuck, D Chris Amon, NZ |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | 1 | 3.49,1 | 3.49,4 | Valve | ||
| DNF | 26 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
Roger Berndtson, B Jean-Louis Ravenel, F |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 21 | 4.35,4 | Accident | |||
| DNF | 68 | BMW 2002 |
Jean-Paul Rieu, B Roger Vanderschrick, B |
1990 | L4 | Div. 1 | 53 | 5.07,6 | Piston ring | |||
| DNF | 5 | Pepsi-Cola Ford Capri RS 2600 |
Jaime Mesia, E Alberto Ruiz Giménez, E |
2983? | V6 | Div. 2 | 10 | 4.14,1 | Engine | |||
| DNF | 51 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTAm |
Spartaco Dini ("Paco"), I Walter Dona, I |
1999 | L4 | Div. 1 | 14 | 4.25,2 | Withdrawn | |||
| DNF | 52 | Autodelta-Jolly Club Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Philippe Toussaint, B Michel Noé, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 37 | 4.52,3 | Withdrawn | |||
| DNF | 53 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Umberto Grano, I Vincenzo Cazzago ("Pooky"), I |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 30 | 4.47,5 | Withdrawn | |||
| DNF | 82 | BMW 2002 |
Raymond Raus, B Jean-Marie Detrin, B |
1990 | L4 | Div. 1 | 42 | 4.58,1 | Accident | |||
| DNF | 15 | BMW-Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL |
Alain Peltier, B Harald Menzel, D |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | ca. 105 | 4 | 3.54,8 | Withdrawn | ||
| DNF | 50 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTAm |
Massimo Larini, I Carlo Facetti, I |
1999 | L4 | Div. 1 | ca. 110 | 13 | 4.18,6 | Fatal accident (Larini) | ||
| DNF | 71 | BMW 2002 |
Heinrich Hirth, D Günther Mohrs, D |
1990 | L4 | Div. 1 | 33 | 4.48,8 | Engine | |||
| DNF | 29 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr. 1 |
Huub Vermeulen, NL Fred Frankenhout, NL |
2784 | L6 | Div. 2 | 22 | 4.35,5 | Accident, following Dubos/Joisten collision | |||
| DNF | 55 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Roger Dubos, F Jacques Berger, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 29 | 4.47,2 | Fatal accident (Dubos) | |||
| DNF | 56 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Claude Ballot-Léna, F Jean-Claude Lagniez, F |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 31 | 4.47,6 | Accident, following Dubos/Joisten collision | |||
| DNF | 96 | Simca Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Simon, B ? Roman Feitler, L |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | 61 | 5.10,4 (?) | 1st reserve, accident | |||
| DNF | 81 | BMW 2002 |
Jean-Jacques Feider, B Francois Haid, B |
1990 | L4 | Div. 1 | 38 | 4.53,7 | Head gasket | |||
| DNF | 6 | Wisharts Garages Ford Capri 3000 GXL Gr. 1 |
Gordon Spice, GB John Hine, GB |
2993 | V6 | Div. 2 | 27 | 4.46,4 | Engine | |||
| DNF | 21 | BMW-Alpina/Malcolm Gartlan BMW 3.0 CSL |
Hans-Peter Joisten, D Brian Muir, AUS |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | ca. 100 | 2 | 3.52,3 | Fatal accident (Joisten) | ||
| DNF | 64 | Norman Reeves Ltd. Ford Escort RS 1600 |
Yvette Fontaine, B Frans Lubin, NL |
1996 | L4 | Div. 1 | 28 | 4.46,9 | Engine | |||
| DNF | 9 | BMW 3.0 CSi Gr. 1 |
Francy Lacroix, B Henri Sonveau, B |
2985 | L6 | 36 | 4.51,6 | Rear axle | ||||
| DNF | 86 | BMW 2002 |
Fred Helsen, B Rudy Host ("MacIntosh"), B |
1990 | L4 | Div. 1 | 34 | 4.49,4 | Disqualified | |||
| DNF | 89 | East Belgian Racing Team Fiat 128 |
Emmanuel Remion, B Maurice Lenaif ("Alix"), B |
1290 | L4 | Div. 1 | 52 | 5.06,6 | Piston | |||
| DNF | 20 | BMW-Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL |
Walter Brun, CH Cox Kocher, CH |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | 9 | 4.08,3 | Valve | |||
| DNF | 69 | BMW 2002 |
Nicolas Koob, L John Lagodny, L |
1990 | L4 | Div. 1 | 26 | 4.42,9 | Valve | |||
| DNF | 76 | Racing Team Sigma Renault R 12 Gordini |
Charles Van Stalle ("Chavan"), B Charles Naveau, B |
1565 | L4 | Div. 1 | 44 | 4.59,9 | Piston | |||
| DNF | 93 | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gr. 1 |
Jean-Pierre Magalhaes, B Pierre Rubens, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 1 | 48 | 5.01,1 | Engine | |||
| DNF | 22 | Précision Liegeoise BMW 3.0 CSL |
Hughes de Fierlant, B Vincent Gaye, B |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | 7 | 4.04,4 | Valve | |||
| DNF | 23 | A.G. Rivers Racing Ltd. Chevrolet Camaro Z28 |
James Hunt, GB Richard Lloyd, GB |
5736 | V8 | Div. 2 | 24 | 4.38,1 | Clutch | |||
| DNF | 17 | Luigi/Racing Team Marabout BMW 3.0 CSL |
Jean Xhenceval, B Willy Braillard, B |
3303 | L6 | Div. 2 | 8 | 4.07,7 | Piston | |||
| DNQ/DSQ | Ford Capri 3000 GXL Gr. 1 |
Richard Jones, GB George "Welly" Potter, GB |
2993? | V6 | Div. 2 | 61 | Illegal start, car was not qualified | |||||
| DNS | 88 | Fiat 128 coupé 1300 |
Fernand Néri, B Fernand "Fifi" Néri Jr, B |
1290 | L4 | Div. 1 | (46) | (5.00,6) | ||||
| DNQ | 63 | Toyota AG Schweiz Toyota Celica GT |
D. Walker, GB Richard Scott, GB |
1588 | L4 | Div. 1 | ||||||
Remarks: King's cup: Alfa Romeo