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24 h Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

Date: 22/7/1978 to: 23/7/1978
Track length: 14.100 m
Attendance: unknown
Entries accepted: 80
Starters: 60
Finishers: unknown

Pole position: Loek Vermeulen in 4.21,3 = 194,535 kmh
Fastest lap: Loek Vermeulen in 4.19,0 = 196,262

Distance: 24 hours
Average speed: 179,816 kmh
Weather:
Ruleset: Group 1B
Car info: 1978 Cars

Pictures

The usual Ford versus BMW fight took place again at Spa in 1978.
On 10:30 Sunday morning, Claude Bourgoignie missed the oil pressure light on his dash; moments later, his engine blew, bringing the second-placed BMW coupé to a standstill - and now the Victory of Spice and Pilette in the Capri seemed no longer to be challenged, since Vermeersch/van Hove/Joosen were two laps adrift. An hour later, victory for Ford did not seem so certain now; a holed radiator had to be replaced, and now the Capri was 3 minutes behind the BMW! Pilette went 2-3 seconds per lap faster than Joosen, but this would not be enough - so Spice replaced the Belgian at the next stop, while the BMW was piloted by Vermeersch now. Spice trashed the lead of the young Belgian by up to 30 seconds a lap, and finally took the lead with 30 minutes to spare.

Group 1B
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 27 Belga Castrol Team
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Gordon Spice, GB
Teddy Pilette, B
(Richard Lloyd, GB)
 2993 V6 +2500 4315 km, 305 laps 2 4.21,6    
2 2 2 Juma BMW Castrol
BMW 530i		 Dirk Vermeersch, B
Raymond Van Hove, B
Eddy Joosen, B
 2985 L6 +2500 4311 km, 305 laps 12 4.28,0    
3 3 3 Serge Power BMW Castrol
BMW 530i		 Alain Peltier, B
Patrick Nève, B
(Hughes de Fierlant, B)
 2985 L6 +2500 296 22 4.32,3    
4 4 35 Racing City 7
Ford Capri II 3.0S		 André Lierneux, B
Peter Clark, GB
Stuart Rolt, GB
 2993 V6 +2500 295 20 4.30,4    
5 5 7 Luigi Racing Lotto
BMW 530i		 Willy Braillard, B
Umberto Grano, I
Spartaco Dini ("Paco"), I
(Jean Xhenceval, B)
(Pierre Dieudonné, B)
 2985 L6 +2500 292 13 4.28,1    
6 1 45 KWS Euro-Motor
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Hartmut Bauer, D
Rudolf Doetsch, D
Manfred Mohr, D
Wolfgang Wolf, D
 1993 L4 -2500 287 23 4.34,2    
7 6 5 Luigi Racing Lotto
BMW 530i		 Jean Xhenceval, B
Martino Finotto, I
André Gavage, B
(Willy Braillard, B)
(Pierre Dieudonné, B)
 2985 L6 +2500 285 15 4.29,1    
8 2 44 Team Benoit
BMW 323i		 Philippe Gurdjian, F
Roger Dorchy, F
? Henri Sonveau, B
? Daniel Benoit, F
 2291 L6 -2500 282        
9 7 8 Luigi Racing Lotto
BMW 530i		 Jo De Gheldere, B
J.P. Wielemans ("Steve"), B
Pierre Dieudonné, B
(Jean-Pierre Rouget, F)
 2985 L6 +2500 281 17 4.29,4    
10 3 57 Roland Imbert
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV		 Roland Imbert, F
Bernard Béguin, F
J.C. Martinez, F
 1962 L4 -2500 277        
11 4 64 International Motor Cy
Toyota 2000 GT		 Dirk Desoet, B
A. Savary, F
Boudoin Vanderrest, B
 ca. 2000 L4 -2500 271        
12 5 43 Allam Motor Services
Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300		 Jock Robertson, GB
Alan Major, GB
Richard Jones, GB
 2279 L4 -2500 271        
13 1 92 International Motor Cy
Toyota Trueno		 Claude Holvoet, B
L. Garcin, B
Rudolph Moortgat, B
 1588 L4 -1600 263        
14 2 85 J.M. Borderiou
VW Golf GTI		 J.-M. Borderiou, F
H. Migeo, F
Philippe Haezebrouck, B
 1588 L4 -1600 260        
15 3 83 Team Dinant
VW Golf GTI		 Roger Van Peteghem, B
R. Verbist, B
J.R. Ullens, B
Michel Dinant, B
 1588 L4 -1600 257        
16 8 17 Team Benoit
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Jean-Claude Depince ("Depnic"), F
Jean-Pierre Gabreau, F
Charles Van Stalle ("Chavan"), B
 2985 L6 +2500 246 19 4.30,3    
17 6 54 Team Brumar Holiday Club
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV		 Michel Chapel, B
Marc Donner, B
"Jihemde", F
 1962 L4 -2500 228        
18 4 75 Belgian VW Club
VW Scirocco GTI		 Bernard De St. Hubert, B
Jean-Charles Goris, B
(Jacky Ickx, B)
 1588 L4 -1600 225        
19 5 80 Veedol Racing Team
VW Scirocco GTI		 Pierre Jamin, B
Jean Degey, B
Pierre Vaillant, B
 1588 L4 -1600 222        
20 7 50 KWS Euro-Motor
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Pierre Bos, F
G. Somekh, F
Marcel Jominet, F
 1993 L4 -2500 221        
21 8 52 Jolly Club Milano
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV		 Michel Lauria, B
Federico Cipriani, I
Robert Heiderscheid, L
 1962 L4 -2500 199        
DNF   67 G. Jenny
Opel Kadett GT/E		 Gilbert Jenny, CH
? Franco Wipf, CH
? Paul Schmid, CH
 ca. 2000 L4 -2500 Ret. 06:00       Accident
DNF   51 Ford Castrol Team
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Philippe Van De Velde, B
Robert Hanon, B
 1993 L4 -2500          
DNF   71 Ford Berkenkamp Racing
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Matthias Schneider, D
Gunter Braumüller, D
(Bodo Jähn, D)
 1993 L4 -2500   29 4.39,7    
DNF   16 Team Benoit
BMW 530i		 Alain Cudini, F
Dany Snobeck, F
Roger Dorchy, F
(Jean-Pierre Gabreau, F)
 2985 L6 +2500 Ret. 16:30 21 4.31,7   Accident
DNF   33 Triplex Allam Motor Services
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Gerry Marshall, GB
Jeff Allam, GB
Stuart Patterson, GB
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 22:09 8 4.24,9   Clutch
DNF   29 Hermetite Veedol Team
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Jeremy Nightingale, GB
Les Delano, USA
Alain Beauchef, L
 2993 V6 +2500   28 4.39,3    
DNF   32 Fabergé Racing Ford Castrol
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Stuart Graham, GB
Brian Muir, AUS
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 07:23 5 4.23,5   Engine
DNF   78 Veedol Racing Team
VW Scirocco GTI		 Henri Sonveau, B
Pierre Laoureux, B
J.P. Devaux, B
 1588 L4 -1600          
DNF   84 Valvoline Racing
VW Golf GTI		 Michel De Deyne, B
? Didier Havaux, B
? Marc Demol, B
 1588 L4 -1600          
DNF   95 East Belgian Racing Team
Toyota Celica GT		 Emmanuel Remion, B
Leon Clohse, B
 1588 L4 -1600          
DNF   61 Guy Pirenne
Triumph Dolomite Sprint		 Guy Pirenne, B
René Metge, F
 1998 L4 -2500 Ret. 21:28 26 4.36,2   Suspension
DNF   28 Veedol Team
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Holman “Les” Blackburn, GB
John Fitzpatrick, GB
Stuart Rolt, GB
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 00:13 6 4.24,1   Accident
DNF   46 KWS Euro-Motor
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Aloyse Kridel, L
Romain Wolff, L
? Hartmut Bauer, D
 1993 L4 -2500   30?      
DNF   38 Business for Racing
Ford Capri II 3.0S		 Claude Lamine, B
Dany Swyssen, B
Thierry Carpentier, B
 2993 V6 +2500   25 4.34,4    
DNF   34 Equipe Esso
Ford Capri II 3.0S		 Vince Woodman, GB
Jonathan Buncombe, GB
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 20:31 3 4.22,2   Engine
DNF   76 Belgian VW Club
VW Scirocco GTI		 Francis Polak, B
Luc De Cock, B
(Jacky Ickx, B)
 1588 L4 -1600 Ret. 22:43       Clutch
DNF   77 Belgian VW Club
VW Scirocco GTI		 Daniël Herregods, B
Jacques Berger, B
(Jacky Ickx, B)
 1588 L4 -1600         Piston
DNF   14 Racing City 7
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Claude Bourgoignie, B
Reine Wisell, S
(Henri Nussbaum, L)
 2985 L6 +2500 Ret. 10:36 9 4.26,2   Blown engine
DNF   4 Serge Power BMW Castrol
BMW 530i		 Alain Peltier, B
Patrick Nève, B
(Albert Vanierschot, B)
(Jean-Claude Andruet, F)
 2985 L6 +2500 Ret. 23:34 27 4.37,6   Accident/ Handling
DNF   15 Eggenberger Motorsport
BMW 530i		 Hans-Jürg Dürig, CH
H. Egenter, CH
Rudi Gygax, CH
 2985 L6 +2500   18 4.30,2   Blown engine
DNF   70 Rob Slotemaker
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV		 Rob Slotemaker, NL
Job van Oostrum, NL
Hans Maasland, NL
 1962 L4 -2500         Accident
DNF   53 Racing Team Alfa Geleen
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV		 Hub Nijsten, NL
Christine Beckers ("Christine"), B
Daniël Rombaut, B
 1962 L4 -2500 Ret. 03:28       Head gasket
DNF   20 Eumig Film Racing Team
Chevrolet Camaro Z28		 Loek Vermeulen, NL
Henny Hemmes, NL
Hans Deen, NL
 5736 V8 +2500 Ret. 19:00 1 4.21,3   Driveshaft
DNF   21 Eumig Film Racing Team
Chevrolet Camaro Z28		 Huub Vermeulen, NL
Arthur van Dedem, NL
(Hans Deen, NL)
 5736 V8 +2500 Ret. 07:57 14 4.28,6   Rear axle
DNF   24 Belga Castrol Team
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Jean-Michel Martin, B
René Tricot, B
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 04:51 7 4.24,5   Engine
DNF   25 Belga Castrol Team
Ford Capri II 3.0S		 Philippe Martin, B
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, F
(Jean-Louis Dumont, B)
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 17:19 11 4.27,9   Engine
DNF   11 Veedol Team
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Erwin Van den Broeck, B
Jean-Paul Rieu, B
Kurt Van Maldeghem, B
 2985 L6 +2500   24 4.34,3    
DNF   6 Luigi Racing Lotto
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Michel Paulus, B
Claude De Wael, B
 2985 L6 +2500 Ret. 20:57 16 4.29,1   Head gasket
DNF   26 Belga Castrol Team
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Chris Craft, GB
Alain Corbisier, B
(Gordon Spice, GB)
 2993 V6 +2500 Ret. 18:37 4 4.23,3   Accident
DNF   1 Juma BMW Castrol
BMW 530i		 Eddy Joosen, B
Derek Bell, GB
(Hughes de Fierlant, B)
 2985 L6 +2500 26 10 4.27,3   Accident
DNF   91 Luigi Racing
Toyota Trueno		 Thierry Boutsen, B
Lella Lombardi, I
Marc Duez, B
 1588 L4 -1600 Ret. 16:20, 5 laps       Conrod
DNF   74 Belgian VW Club
VW Scirocco GTI		 Jacky Ickx, B
Brian Redman, GB
(Bernard De St. Hubert, B)
 1588 L4 -1600 Ret. 00:37       Accident
DNF   81 M. Cresson
VW Scirocco GTI		 Jean François Auboiron, F
Dominique Lacaud, F
 1588 L4 -1600 Ret. 07:19       Oil loss
DNF   82 M. Cresson
VW Golf GTI		 G. Pompidou, F
Reynald Martin, F
P. Galas, F
 1588 L4 -1600 Ret. 11:33       Engine
DNQ   12 Renstal Duindistel Sunoco Oil RT
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Michel Delcourt, B
Jean-Marie Baert, B
Philippe Sougné, B
 2985 L6 +2500   (32) 4.41,1    
DNQ   18 Team Benoit
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Xavier Lapeyre, F
Dominique Fornage, F
 2985 L6 +2500   (33) 4.41,3   Accident
DNQ   30 Hermetite Veedol Team
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Bernard Carlier, B
Nello Brunetti, B
 2993 V6 +2500          
DNQ   31 Fabergé Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Bernard Lagier, F
François Bichat, F
 2993 V6 +2500   (30) 4.40,0   Reserve
DNQ   37  
Ford Capri 3000 GT		 Jacques Cleutjens, NL
Man Bergsteijn, NL
Freddy Fruhauf, B
 2993 V6 +2500         Engines in practice
DNQ   55 Team Brumar Holiday Club
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV		 Eric Mandron, B
Alphonse Boschi, B
 1962 L4 -2500          
DNQ   65 Belgian VW Club
Audi 100 5E		 Philippe De Leener, B
Jean-Daniel Raulet, F
Hans-Joachim Nowak, D
 2145 L5 -2500          
DNQ   66 Valvoline Racing
Opel Kadett GT/E		 George Forotti, B
Charles Naveau, B
 ca. 2000 L4 -2500          
DNQ   86 Haribo Racing Team
Simca Rallye 3		 Hans-Günther Stoffel, D
Bodo Eichner, D
 1294 L4 -1600          
DNQ   89 International Motor Cy
Toyota Celica GT		 Georges Cremer, B
Oscar Kessler, B
 1588 L4 -1600          
DNQ   90 International Motor Cy
Toyota Celica GT		 Philippe Lambert, B
Pierre Laffeach, F
 1588 L4 -1600          

Remarks: King's cup: Luigi BMW