Pole position: Rubens in 4.23,2 = 193,131 kmh
Fastest lap: Rubens, avg. 192,181
Distance: 24 hours
Average speed: 172,804 kmh
Weather: unknown
Ruleset: Group 1 "Francorchamps"
Car info: 1974 Cars
“Formula Francorchamps” was the new format for touring car racing at the Ardennes. Good bye to group 2, Spa would go its own way. Cost reduction was the word - and lower speeds were welcome too, after last years’ tragedy. A few Belgians, of course, like tuner Luigi who built two CS coupés, heavy but reliable, 255 HP, less than it had in 1970. And two Capri II works cars, British this time, 200 HP. And the Belgian importer sent an Opel Commodore, 195 HP, prepared in Rüsselheim. The last potent car was a four-year old Ford Mustang (400 HP!) of Rubens/Delhar which claimed pole. And that was about it, Autodelta sent a bunch of Group 1 Alfa Romeo GTV’s, and the rest of the field consisted of the normal gang of Group 1 cars and a few exotics like the Ligier-entered Citroën SM and a Renault 17. The Mustang took the lead after the start, and after the first lap he still lead, claiming the drivers’ weight in Bonbons Napoleon, a full 82 kg. The car was expected to blow up soon, but held on after the first hour, claiming another 82 kg. After the second hour, and the third, and the fourth - more bonbons Napoleon. After the kingpin broke, the car was retired, enabling Rubens to open a candy store. Eight o’clock in the evening, the order was: Tricot-Nève (Opel), Xhenceval/Peltier (BMW), de Fierlant/Dieudonné (BMW), Chasseuil/Migault (Citroën) and Deprez/Bertinchamps (Plymouth). Some unusual names on the leader bord! The Plymouth had to retire when one of the drivers became ill, the organisers unwilling to allow a replacement driver. The Luigi BMWs had as foreseen trouble with the differential, having to change oil each hour. But BMW still lead, with a Capri in second, until in the morning the Capri had to retire with a holed piston. While Triumph and Alfa Romeo battled for the Kings’ cup, Vermeulen and Frankenhout with a Group 1 Commodore were second but lost ground when they hit gearbox troubles. BMW secured another victory in front of two Alfa Romeo GTV’s with the Dutch Commodore in fourth. The Kings’ cup was for Alfa Romeo once again. |
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Division 1, 2 and 3
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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 | 12 | Luigi Racing BMW 3.0 CSi |
Jean Xhenceval, B Alain Peltier, B Pierre Dieudonné, B |
2985 | L6 | Div. 4 | 294 | 8 | 4.34,0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 33 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Claude Ballot-Léna, F Bernard Béguin, F (Vincenzo Cazzago ("Pooky"), I) |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 291 | 17 | 4.49,9 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 30 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Teodoro Zeccoli, I Walter Dona, I (Vincenzo Cazzago ("Pooky"), I) |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 289 | 19 | 4.50,5 | ||
| 4 | 2 | 24 | DNRT Marlboro Team Opel Commodore GS/E Gr.1 |
Huub Vermeulen, NL Fred Frankenhout, NL |
2784 | L6 | Div. 4 | 282 | 16 | 4.49,6 | ||
| 5 | 3 | 48 | Team Butch Broadspeed Triumph Dolomite Sprint |
Andy Rouse, GB Tony Dron, GB |
1998 | L4 | Div. 3 | 280 | 28 | 4.57,4 | ||
| 6 | 4 | 39 | Promoteam Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Jean-Claude Chamaillard, F Joost Byttebier, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 279 | 26 | 4.56,6 | ||
| 7 | 5 | 40 | Promoteam Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Eric Mandron, B Edgar Gillessen, B "Tin Tin", B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 277 | 30 | 4.59,3 | ||
| 8 | 3 | 18 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E |
Dany Wauters, B Francis Polak, B Patrick Nève, B |
2784 | L6 | Div. 4 | 275 | 14 | 4.49,3 | ||
| 9 | 6 | 45 | Team Butch Broadspeed Triumph Dolomite Sprint |
John Hine, GB Freddy Grainal, B (John Handley, GB) |
1998 | L4 | Div. 3 | 274 | 24 | 4.55,2 | ||
| 10 | 4 | 14 | Luigi Racing BMW 3.0 CSi |
Pierre Dieudonné, B Hughes de Fierlant, B Marc Demol, B |
2985 | L6 | Div. 4 | 274 | 3 | 4.29,1 | ||
| 11 | 7 | 34 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Arcadio Pezzali, I Maurizio Possumato, I Franco Stefenelli, I |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 273 | 36 | 5.08,6 | ||
| 12 | 8 | 44 | DNRT Marlboro Team Opel Manta 19 SR |
Loek Vermeulen, NL Wim Boshuis, NL |
1897 | L4 | Div. 3 | 270 | 34 | 5.07,6 | ||
| 13 | 9 | 38 | Promoteam Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
J. Beckers ("James"), B J.P. Wielemans ("Steve"), B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 269 | 23 | 4.54,6 | ||
| 14 | 10 | 37 | Promoteam Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Guy Deschamps, F Jeannot Sauvage, B ? "Tin Tin", B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 269 | 29 | 4.56,6 | ||
| 15 | 11 | 36 | Scuderia Mille Miglia Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Richard Mattozza, B Jean Degey, B |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 267 | 32 | 5.05,8 | ||
| 16 | 1 | 50 | Audi NSU Angers Audi 80 GT |
Lucien Guitteny, F Jean-Claude Boucher, F |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | 264 | 33 | 5.07,1 | ||
| 17 | 5 | 10 | G. Decoster BMW 3.0 CSi |
Jean-Jacques Feider, B Jean-Marie Detrin, B Michel Delcourt, B |
2985 | L6 | Div. 4 | 263 | 7 | 4.34,0 | ||
| 18 | 2 | 57 | Duckhams Remco Team Renault R 17 TS |
Freddy Vandecaveye, B Nico van Kerkhoven, B |
1565 | L4 | Div. 2 | 261 | 40 | 5.18,4 | ||
| 19 | 3 | 52 | Audi NSU Angers Audi 80 GT |
A. Beziat, F A. Charrier, F |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | 259 | 38 | 5.12,9 | ||
| 20 | 12 | 43 | Ford Escort Mk.I RS 2000 |
Ken Coffey, GB Nigel Moores ("Paul Kelly"), GB |
1993 | L4 | Div. 3 | 256 | 45 | 5.17,5 | ||
| 21 | 4 | 66 | Audi Total Racing Audi 80 GT |
Jean-Louis Hecq, B R. Landeloos, B Jeannot Laurent, B |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | 254 | 44 | 5.17,0 | ||
| 22 | 5 | 67 | Astree Shagrila RT Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior |
Jean-Michel Martin, B Roland De Jamblinne, B |
1570 | L4 | Div. 2 | 252 | 46 | 5.17,5 | ||
| 23 | 1 | 85 | East Belgian Racing Team Fiat 128 |
René Laplume, B Tony di Stefano, B |
1290? | L4 | Div. 1 | 252 | 49 | 5.25,1 | ||
| 24 | 2 | 79 | Racing Team Amil Datsun Cherry 120A |
Pierre Laffeach, F Serge Zeppelini, B Jean-Daniel Raulet, F (Henry Miroux, B) |
ca. 1300 | L4 | Div. 1 | 248 | 53 | 5.26,6 | ||
| 25 | 3 | 84 | Gert Visé Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior |
Heinz Gerckens, B Hubert Szameit, D |
1290 | L4 | Div. 1 | 245 | 50 | 5.25,3 | ||
| 26 | 4 | 82 | Racing Team Amil Datsun Cherry 120A |
J.P. Gonay, B Jean Delvenne, B Jean-Daniel Raulet, F |
ca. 1300 | L4 | Div. 1 | 244 | 57 | 5.31,2 | ||
| 27 | 6 | 17 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E |
Jean-Louis Ravenel, F Marcel Grué, F Eddy Joosen, B |
2784 | L6 | Div. 4 | 235 | 15 | 4.49,5 | ||
| 28 | 5 | 80 | Racing Team Amil Datsun Cherry 120A |
Charles Van Stalle ("Chavan"), B Henri Sonveau, B Henry Miroux, B Jean-Daniel Raulet, F (Pierre Laffeach, F) |
ca. 1300 | L4 | Div. 1 | 234 | 55 | 5.30,8 | ||
| 29 | 6 | 51 | Audi NSU Angers Audi 80 GT |
Daniel Dupré, F A. Soulard, F |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | 232 | 41 | 5.15,5 | ||
| 30 | 6 | 71 | Simca Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Remy Marquet, B Robert Laine, B |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | Retired 7th hour | 47 | 5.18,2 | ||
| DNF | 2 | Inotage Mobel Alvisse Ford Mustang |
Nicolas Koob, L Aloyse Kridel, L |
5689 | V8 | Div. 4 | Retired 7th hour | 35 | 5.08,0 | Head gasket | ||
| DNF | 31 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Carlo Facetti, I Spartaco Dini ("Paco"), I (Vincenzo Cazzago ("Pooky"), I) |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 13 | 4.47,2 | ||||
| DNF | 41 | Promoteam Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Roland Imbert, F Alain Serpaggi, F |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | Retired 15th hour | 18 | 4.50,2 | Out of fuel | ||
| DNF | 68 | Kent Racing International Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior |
Michel Lauria, B Nello Brunetti, B |
1570 | L4 | Div. 2 | Retired 20th-22nd hour | 52 | 5.28,2 | |||
| DNF | 56 | Toyota Celica GT |
Claude Holvoet, B Marcel Engels, B |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | Retired 15th-19th hour | 39 | 5.14,3 | |||
| DNF | 32 | Autodelta S.p.A. Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Jean-Louis Haxhe, B Jacques Berger, B Vincenzo Cazzago ("Pooky"), I |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | 20 | 4.51,2 | Accident | |||
| DNF | 54 | Audi Total Racing Audi 80 GT |
Francis Hollebecq, B Jeannot Laurent, B |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | Retired 23rd-24th hour | 43 | 5.17,0 | |||
| DNF | 64 | Audi NSU Angers Audi 80 S |
A. Gaudin, F Bernier |
1470? | L4 | Div. 2 | Retired 9th hour | 48 | 5.20,2 | |||
| DNF | 42 | Kent Racing International BMW 2002 TI |
Van der Elst, B Rudy Host ("MacIntosh"), B |
1990 | L4 | Div. 3 | Retired 7th hour | 31 | 5.03,2 | Accident | ||
| DNF | 11 | Racing Team De Wit BMW 3.0 CS |
Jean-Paul Rieu, B Michel Beviaire, B Jean Wansart, B |
2985 | L6 | Div. 4 | 21 | 4.53,5 | ||||
| DNF | 15 | Racing Team Atlas BMW 3.0 CSi |
Noël Van Assche ("Pedro"), B Serge Laurent, B |
2985 | L6 | Div. 4 | Retired 7th hour | 12 | 4.43,9 | |||
| DNF | 25 | Automobiles Ligier Maserati Citroën SM |
Guy Chasseuil, F François Migault, F |
2670 | V6 | Div. 4 | Retired 15th hour | 10 | 4.40,8 | Accident | ||
| DNF | 81 | Racing Team Amil Datsun Cherry 120A |
Philippe Stevens, B Charles Touchard, F |
ca. 1300 | L4 | Div. 1 | Retired 9th hour | 54 | 5.30,1 | |||
| DNF | 75 | Haribo Racing Team Fiat 128 coupé 1300 |
Lothar Moll, D Bodo Eichner, D |
1290 | L4 | Div. 1 | 56 | 5.31,0 | ||||
| DNF | 20 | Ford UK/Hermetite Ford Capri II 3.0 |
John Fitzpatrick, GB Tom Walkinshaw, GB |
2993 | V6 | Div. 4 | 2 | 4.27,9 | Rear suspension, wheel | |||
| DNF | 21 | Ford BP Racing Team Ford Capri II 3.0 |
Claude Bourgoignie, B Yvette Fontaine, B |
2993 | V6 | Div. 4 | Retired 3rd hour | 6 | 4.30,9 | Head gasket | ||
| DNF | 22 | Hermetite Products Ford Capri 3000 GT |
Holman “Les” Blackburn, GB Mike Crabtree, GB |
2993 | V6 | Div. 4 | Retired 15th-19th hour | 9 | 4.40,2 | Piston | ||
| DNF | 1 | Claude Dubois Ford Mustang |
Pierre Rubens, B Hermès Delbar, B |
7100 | V8 | Div. 4 | 1 | 4.23,2 | Kingpin | |||
| DNF | 19 | Opel Gulf Racing Team/Marabout Opel Commodore GS/E |
Willy Braillard, B Bernard De St. Hubert, B (René Tricot, B) |
2784 | L6 | Div. 4 | Retired 7th hour | 11 | 4.43,4 | |||
| DNF | 16 | Opel Gulf Racing Team Opel Commodore GS/E |
René Tricot, B Patrick Nève, B |
2784 | L6 | Div. 4 | 5 | 4.30,3 | Gearbox | |||
| DNF | 3 | Wolf Aperol Racing Team Chrysler Hemicuda |
Yves Deprez, B Pierre-Yves Bertinchamps, B |
7000 | V8 | Div. 4 | Retired 10th hour | 4 | 4.29,3 | Driver unwell | ||
| DNF | 86 | DNRT Marlboro Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Jim Vermeulen, NL Arthur van Dedem, NL |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | 42 | 5.16,9 | Accident | |||
| DNF | 70 | Simca Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
"Marco", B Jacky Delhaes, B |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | Retired 20th-22nd hour | 51 | 5.26,2 | Engine | ||
| DNF | 47 | Team Butch Broadspeed Triumph Dolomite Sprint |
Julien Vernaeve, B John Handley, GB (Etienne Stalpaert, B) |
1998 | L4 | Div. 3 | Retired 12th hour | 27 | 4.56,7 | |||
| DNF | 46 | Team Butch Broadspeed Triumph Dolomite Sprint |
Claude De Wael, B Etienne Stalpaert, B John Handley, GB (Freddy Grainal, B) |
1998 | L4 | Div. 3 | Retired 23rd-24th hour | 22 | 4.53,5 | Suspension | ||
| DNF | 26 | Renstal Excelsior Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 |
Dennis Thorne, GB Patrick Leeson, B |
2279 | L4 | Div. 4? | Retired 2nd hour | 25 | 4.55,5 | |||
| DNF | 53 | Audi Total Racing Audi 80 GT |
Johann Abt, D Hans-Joachim Nowak, D Weber |
1588 | L4 | Div. 2 | Retired 9th hour | 37 | 5.09,3 | Accident? | ||
| DNF | 77 | East Belgian Racing Team Fiat 128 |
Emmanuel Remion, B Pascal Witmeur, B |
1290? | L4 | Div. 1 | Retired 1st hour | 58 | Started as reserve | |||
| DNS | 35 | NMB Racing Team Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Hans Deen, NL Han Akersloot, NL Han Tjan, NL |
1962 | L4 | Div. 3 | (31) | 5.00,7 | Accident | |||
| DNQ | 76 | Renstal Excelsior Fiat 128 |
Ugo Meloni, B Wilfried Van Dijck, B |
1290? | L4 | Div. 1 | ||||||
| DNQ | 73 | Marabout Racing Team Simca Rallye 2 |
Jean-Marie Herman, B |
1294 | L4 | Div. 1 | ||||||
| DNQ | 60 | Ecurie Pays Noir Opel Ascona 16 S |
Jean Caufriez, B P. Francken, B |
1584 | L4 | Div. 2 | ||||||
| DNQ | 61 | Ecurie Pays Noir Opel Ascona 16 S |
Albin Navaux ("Clayes"), B Bernard Vandresse, B |
1584 | L4 | Div. 2 | ||||||
| DNQ | 69 | Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior |
Charles Naveau, B Jeannot Sauvage, B |
1570 | L4 | Div. 2 | ||||||
Remarks: King's cup: Alfa Romeo