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24 h Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

Date: 21/7/1979 to: 22/7/1979
Track length: 6.947 m
Attendance: 100.000
Entries accepted: 65
Starters: 50
Finishers: 23, 20 classified

Pole position: Nève in 2.48,99 = 147,992 kmh
Fastest lap: Spice in 2.48,80 = 148,159 kmh

Distance: 24 hours
Average speed: 128,499 kmh
Weather: Rain showers
Ruleset: Group 1B
Car info: 1979 Cars

Pictures

The new, shortened track proved slower and a little less dangerous - but the outcome of the race was not unusual: a Spice Capri won with the Martin brothers behind the wheel.
Initially, the lead had been fought out between Pilette (Camaro) and Beltoise (BMW 530). Then the accidents came on the track which was partially flooded: a Dolomite, a Capri, then a BMW rolled. In the fog, two other cars crashed and then it was Beltoise’s turn: he landed spectacularly on top of the armco and burst into flames. Fortunately, no drivers were injured. 90 minutes behind the pace car followed.
After that, both Juma-BMW 530’s took the lead and it seemed that they would walk away with the race - but first Andruet came in with a broken belt and lost 30 minutes; and then the head gasket blew on the other car, which took an hour to repair. The Martin brothers took over and won the race, ahead of Joosen/Andruet with the Opel Monza of Weisheidinger/Hackner/Sonntag third.

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 2 Belga Castrol Team/ Gordon Spice Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Jean-Michel Martin, B
Philippe Martin, B
(Peter Clark, GB)
 2993 V6 +2500 444 laps, 24:06.14,206 24 2.53,69    
2 2 33 Joosen Racing/ Juma
BMW 530i		 Jean-Claude Andruet, F
Eddy Joosen, B
 2985 L6 +2500 442 11 2.51,64    
3 3 23 Abex Pagid Caramba Racing Team
Opel Monza 3.0E		 Dietmar Hackner, D
Johann Weisheidinger, A
Axel Sonntag, D
 2998 L6 +2500 435 33 2.55,43    
4 4 3 Belga Castrol Team/ Gordon Spice Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Chris Craft, GB
Jeff Allam, GB
(Philippe Martin, B)
 2993 V6 +2500 432 15 2.52,52    
5 5 1 Belga Castrol Team/ Gordon Spice Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Gordon Spice, GB
Alain Semoulin, B
(Jean-Michel Martin, B)
 2993 V6 +2500 431 7 2.49,98    
6 1 76 Abex Pagid Caramba Racing Team
Audi 80 GTE		 Peter Seikel, D
Hans-Joachim Nowak, D
Willi Bergmeister, D
 1596 L4 -1600 424 45 3.00,94    
7 1 52 Berkenkamp Ford
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Dieter Selzer, D
Alain Beauchef, L
Karl Mauer, D
 1993 L4 -2500 424 28 2.54,21    
8 2 51 P. Dunkel
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Aloyse Kridel, L
Nico Demuth, L
Daniël Rombaut, B
 1993 L4 -2500 414 42 2.58,79    
9 6 8 Serge Power Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Albert Vanierschot, B
Guy Pirenne, B
Dany Swyssen, B
 2993 V6 +2500 413 13 2.51,96    
10 7 37 Écurie Bernoise Suisse
BMW 530i		 Hans-Jürg Dürig, CH
Peter Ulmann, CH
Louis Bärtsch, CH
 2985 L6 +2500 411 37 2.56,59    
11 8 34 Joosen Racing/ Juma
BMW 530i		 Bruno Giacomelli, I
Umberto Grano, I
Dirk Vermeersch, B
 2985 L6 +2500 411 3 2.49,31    
12 2 75 Abex Pagid Caramba Racing Team
Audi 80 GTE		 Jean-Claude Boucher, F
Lucien Guitteny, F
 1596 L4 -1600 407 40 2.58,46    
13 9 36 Classics Automobile Francorchamps
BMW 530i		 Spartaco Dini ("Paco"), I
André Gavage, B
Georges Cremer, B
 2985 L6 +2500 407 23 2.53,67    
14 3 59 Morges Race Fans
Opel Kadett GT/E		 Jean-Marie Guignard, B
Mario Luini, CH
Sandro Plastina, CH
 1979 L4 -2500 403 44 3.00,39    
15 4 54 Ford Motor Cy
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Remy Marquet, B
Carlo Keller, L
Maurice Gaspard, B
 1993 L4 -2500 381 38 2.56,86    
16 3 72 Belgian VW Club
VW Scirocco GTI		 Bernard Carlier, B
Philippe Ménage, B
Jean Degey, B
 1596 L4 -1600 380 43 2.59,37    
17 10 17 Jacques Cleutjens
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Jacques Cleutjens, NL
Frans Lubin, NL
Man Bergsteijn, NL
 2993 V6 +2500 376 25 2.53,78    
18 11 20 ADP Computer Service
Chevrolet Camaro Z28		 Loek Vermeulen, NL
Henny Hemmes, NL
(Rien Frankenhout, NL)
 5736 V8 +2500 375 9 2.51,27    
19 4 73 Team Dubois
Audi 80 GTE		 Franz Dubois, B
Jean-Francois Vaney, B
(Michel Dinant, B)
 1596 L4 -1600 366 49 3.05,69    
20 5 81 Sigma Racing Team
VW Golf GTI		 Charles Van Stalle ("Chavan"), B
Eric Mandron, B
Henri Sonveau, B
 1596 L4 -1600 365 47 3.04,52    
NC   22 ADP Computer Service
Chevrolet Camaro Z28		 Jean-Paul Libert, B
Christine Beckers ("Christine"), B
Pascal Witmeur, B
 5736 V8 +2500   32 2.54,94    
NC   29 Team Willeme
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Claude Bourgoignie, B
Reine Wisell, S
(Jean-Charles Goris, B)
 2985 L6 +2500   18 2.52,89    
NC   80 Duindistel
Toyota Trueno		 Claude Holvoet, B
Philippe De Leener, B
Jean Wansart, B
 1588 L4 -1600   48 3.04,89    
DNF   4 Belga Castrol Team/ Gordon Spice Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Dany Baele, B
Marc Duez, B
Daniël Herregods, B
 2993 V6 +2500   30 2.54,84   Engine
DNF   5 Equipe Esso
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Vince Woodman, GB
Jonathan Buncombe, GB
Win Percy, GB
 2993 V6 +2500   4 2.49,40   Accident
DNF   6 Mann’s Garage
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Holman “Les” Blackburn, GB
Jean-Jacques Feider, B
Hermès Delbar, B
 2993 V6 +2500   27 2.54,03   Driveshaft
DNF   7 Serge Power Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Roman Feitler, L
Romain Wolff, L
Francis Polak, B
 2993 V6 +2500   12 2.51,81   Engine
DNF   9 Serge Power Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Edward Schinkel, NL
Claude De Wael, B
Quirin Bovy, B
 2993 V6 +2500   21 2.53,51   Accident
DNF   11 Belgian BP Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Xavier Lapeyre, F
Alain Cudini, F
 2993 V6 +2500   16 2.52,55    
DNF   14 Valvoline Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Alain Corbisier, B
Michel De Deyne, B
Marc Piessens, B
 2993 V6 +2500   20 2.53,30    
DNF   15 Valvoline Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Tom Walkinshaw, GB
Jacques Goujon, B
 2993 V6 +2500   19 2.53,05   Engine
DNF   16 Valvoline Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Claude Lamine, B
René Tricot, B
Thierry Carpentier, B
 2993 V6 +2500   29 2.54,51    
DNF   21 ADP Computer Service
Chevrolet Camaro Z28		 Huub Vermeulen, NL
Fred Frankenhout, NL
(Rien Frankenhout, NL)
 5736 V8 +2500   22 2.53,67   Oil pressure
DNF   24 Luigi Racing
Chevrolet Camaro Z28		 Teddy Pilette, B
Carlo Facetti, I
 5736 V8 +2500   5 2.49,42   Gearbox
DNF   25 Kinley Graham Gitanes
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Stuart Graham, GB
Brian Muir, AUS
Jacques Laffite, F
 2993 V6 +2500   17 2.52,56   Engine
DNF   26 Kinley Graham Gitanes
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Hervé Regout, B
André Lierneux, B
Jacques Laffite, F
 2993 V6 +2500   26 2.53,84   Engine
DNF   27 Kinley Luigi Gitanes
BMW 530i		 Jean Xhenceval, B
Alain Peltier, B
Raymond Van Hove, B
 2985 L6 +2500   2 2.49,27   Engine
DNF   28 Kinley Luigi Gitanes
BMW 530i		 Patrick Nève, B
Hans-Joachim Stuck, D
Didier Theys, B
 2985 L6 +2500   1 2.48,99   Valve spring
DNF   30 Team Willeme
BMW 530i		 Pierre Dieudonné, B
Thierry Boutsen, B
(Philippe Bervoets ("Davit"), B)
 2985 L6 +2500   10 2.51,39   Accident
DNF   35 Classics Automobile Francorchamps
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Michel Paulus, B
Jo De Gheldere, B
Pierre De Thoisy, F
 2985 L6 +2500   35 2.55,84   Accident
DNF   38 Jean-Marc Smadja Racing
BMW 530i		 Claude Ballot-Léna, F
Gérard Bleynie, F
Jean-Louis Schlesser, F
 2985 L6 +2500   14 2.52,45   Accident
DNF   39 Team Benoit
BMW 530i		 Jean-Pierre Beltoise, F
Philippe Gurdjian, F
Jean-Pierre Gabreau, F
 2985 L6 +2500   6 2.49,52   Accident
DNF   41 Hans Maasland
BMW 530i		 Rob Slotemaker, NL
Hans Maasland, NL
 2985 L6 +2500   36 2.55,88   Accident
DNF   50 BP Racing
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Anny-Charlotte Verney, F
Jean-Pierre Delaunay, F
Cyril Grandet, F
 1993 L4 -2500   39 2.57,74   Steering
DNF   53 Ford Motor Cy
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Frank De Caluwe, B
Manu De Caluwe, B
 1993 L4 -2500   41 2.58,50   Engine
DNF   55 Ford Motor Cy
Ford Escort II RS 2000		 Rudolf Doetsch, D
Hartmut Bauer, D
Rudy Horst, B
 1993 L4 -2500   31 2.54,89   Gearbox
DNF   56 Elvia
Triumph Dolomite Sprint		 René Metge, F
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, F
 1998 L4 -2500   8 2.50,17   Accident
DNF   57 Team Triplex with Esso and Motor
Triumph Dolomite Sprint		 Tony Lanfranchi, GB
Rex Greenslade, GB
Chuck Nicholson, GB
Gerry Marshall, GB
 1998 L4 -2500   34 2.55,69   Gearbox
DNF   74 Abex Pagid Caramba Racing Team
Audi 80 GTE		 Oscar Kessler, B
Jean-Louis Hecq, B
Jean-Claude Toby, B
 1596 L4 -1600   46 3.02,91   Engine
DNF   79 Yoshio Otsubo
Toyota T40		 E. Otsuka, J
Keiji Takeshita, J
Kiyoshi Miyashita, J
Junko Ejiri, J
 ca. 1600 L4 -1600   50 3.05,93   Accident
DNS   32 Écurie Chardon des Dunes-Dragons
BMW 3.0 CSi		 Michel Delcourt, B
Jean-Paul Rieu, B
Guy Trigaux, B
 2985 L6 +2500     2.59,50    
DNS   61 Roland Imbert
Alfa Romeo GTV		 Roland Imbert, F
J.C. Martinez, F
 ca. 2000 L4 -2500     3.05,62    
DNS   62 Jolly Club
Alfa Romeo GTV		 Michel Lauria, B
Nello Brunetti, B
Vittorio Ciardi, I
 ca. 2000 L4 -2500     3.09,82    
DNS   71 Belgian VW Club
VW Golf GTI		 Jean Jamin, B
Jean Degey, B
Pierre Vaillant, B
 1596 L4 -1600     3.08,44    
DNQ   18 American Motors Team Highball
AMC Spirit		 Amos Johnson, USA
Les Delano, USA
Jeremy Nightingale, GB
 5000 V8 +2500     2.57,73   Reserve
DNQ   31 Team Willeme
BMW 530i		 Philippe Bervoets ("Davit"), B
Jean-Charles Goris, B
 2985 L6 +2500     2.57,29   Reserve
DNQ   58 Ecurie Fribourgeoise
Opel Kadett GT/E		 Franco Wipf, CH
Philippe Jeanneret, CH
Paul Schmid, CH
 1979 L4 -2500     3.06,30   Reserve
DNQ   60 Remco Team
BMW 323i		 Erwin Van den Broeck, B
Kurt Van Maldeghem, B
Helmut Schnock, D
 2291 L6 -2500     3.04,14   Reserve
DNQ   70 Belgian VW Club
VW Golf GTI		 Dominique Schwarts, B
Jean-Paul Prossnitz, B
Michel Chapel, B
 1596 L4 -1600     3.06,18   Reserve
DNQ   10 Serge Power Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Dany Swyssen, B
Jacques Berger, B
Marc Donner, B
 2993 V6 +2500     3.02,34    
DNQ   12 Allam Motors
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Richard Jones, GB
Jock Robertson, GB
Stuart Patterson, GB
 2993 V6 +2500     3.00,90    
DNQ   77 Richard Mattozza
Alfa Romeo Alfasud		 Michel Leclère, F
Richard Mattozza, B
Rene Hernandez, F
 1498? B4 -1600     3.13,74    
DNQ   78 Yoshio Otsubo
Toyota T40		 Nobuhide Tachi, J
Kiyoshi Miyashita, J
Junichi Isobe, J
 ca. 1600 L4 -1600     3.06,83    

Remarks: King's cup: Ford