The Spa Classic 2015 was staged 22-24 May on the 4.352 mile, 20-turn Spa-Francorchamps track in Belgium. All three days of the fifth annual Spa Classic in the valley of the Ardennes were bathed in sunshine, allowing the record 20,000 spectators to fully enjoy the many attractions at the famed circuit.
The 2015 running of the Spa Classic featured seven grids with more than 250 cars. The eagerly-awaited saloons and coupes in the Heritage Touring Cup reminded the crowd of the halcyon days of the Spa 24 Hours, when, not so long ago, the Belgian endurance classic was reserved for series production cars. In the 24-Hour event drivers in BMW 3.0 CSLs, Rover Vitesses, Ford Capris, etc. did battle both in daytime and during the night as one of the heats took place late on Saturday evening creating a magic ambiance.
The crowd enjoyed more endurance racing with the CER 1 and CER 2 grids as well as the Sixties’ Endurance and the Trofeo Nastro Rosso events, four Peter Auto grids consisting of prototypes and grand touring cars that raced in the Spa 1000 km in days of yore – Ford GT40s, E-Type Jaguars, Shelby Cobras and Ferrari 250 GTs. Extra endurance thrills were provided by two grids invited by Peter Auto. The U2TC brought together cars of under 2-litres built before 1966 similar to those that competed in the early touring car Spa 24 Hours. And finally, the cherry on the cake was the field of Group C prototypes including a remarkable Jaguar XJR-14 from 1991 whose performances have little to envy those of the current crop of LMPs. (See Spa Classic 2015 – Race Reports)
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Similar to 2013, Senior Photographer Julien Mahiels also documented the Spa Classic 2015, offering the following excellent pictures that show the field of entrants battling the famed Spa circuit. We split up Julien’s pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and race reports / results can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Julien, visit julienmahiels.net.
Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Twelve
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Thirteen
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fourteen
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fifteen
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Sixteen
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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seventeen
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Spa Classic 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
[nggallery id=796 images=15]
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Spa Classic 2015 – Race Reports
CER 1 Race – Emanuele Pirro shot through from the 2nd row and took the lead in the La Source hairpin. The 5-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours at the wheel of his 1969 Alfa Romeo 33/3 lost first place after a few corners and finished the race in sixth place after handing over to Gianluca Rattazzi. Up front, Eric Jamar’s Chevron B19 was pulling away but he stopped too late and was given a penalty. Finally, Toni Seiler in his Lola T70 Mk III won while in GT victory went to Raymond Narac and Michel Lecourt’s Porsche 911 RSR.
CER 2 Race – Philippe Scemama made the best start but after 18 laps his Lola T290 DFV lost a wheel at Les Combes. Second-placed Dominique Guneat in his Lola T286 DFV suffered a puncture. Patrice Lafargue in his Lola T298 BMW who was third early on took the flag in first place. In GT it was similar story as the two Porsche 935s nos 35 and 37, that dominated early on fell victim to mechanical problems in quick succession. Taking advantage of their mishaps Christian Bouriez won the race in his Ferrari 512 BBLM.
Group C – The Jaguar XJR-14, which was one of the stars of the field, didn’t start the race after suffering engine failure in qualifying. Rui Aguas took the lead in his Sauber-Mercedes C11. At half distance the Portuguese handed over to Kriton Lendoudis. On the other hand, Bob Berridge stayed behind the wheel of the Nissan RC93 and took first place which he held until the chequered flag.
HTC Race 1 – The favourite, the BMW 3.0 CSL driven by locals Eric Mestdagh and Pierre-Alain Thibaut, started from the back of the grid following fuel injection problems in qualifying. The car fought its way back up to eighth place after only two laps until it was again hit by engine problems and it ground to a halt. Up front, the Ford Capris and Escorts scored a triple led by Ward-Smith. Andrew Beverley in a Volvo 240 Turbo and Richard Postins in a Rover Vitesse TWR, who drove single-handed, finished just outside the top three.
HTC Race 2 – The night race of the weekend began at 10:15 on Saturday evening. At half distance the oil dropped by a Ford Mustang in the Blanchimont corner led to the only neutralisation of the day. At that very moment Tim Summers and Richard Meaden were sanctioned for pitting outside the time window. The Rover Vitesse, which finished third, was given a penalty later on. The Ford Capris of Ward-Smith and Dance led from start to finish clinching a double in front of Andrew Beverly’s Volvo 240 Turbo.
Trofeo Nastro Rosso Race 1 – Vincent Gaye dominated the race from start to finish in his Ferrari 275 GTB/C. At the flag he was more than a minute in front of Jan Gijzen’s Ferrari. The Bizzarini 5300 GT that held third for a long time gave way to the attacks of the impressive Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan driven by Lukas and Martin Halusa.
Trofeo Nastro Rosso Race 2 – Shortly after the start the clutch on the no. 25 Ferrari 275 GTB failed and the car stopped in the Bus stop chicane bringing out the safety car. The race was restarted for two laps during which the main protagonists held on to their positions. Vincent Gaye scored another unchallenged victory as in the first race.
U2TC Race 1 – Richard Meaden and Grant Tromans’ Lotus Cortina was supposed to start from pole position but was unable to do so as the engine refused to fire up. Thus, the no. 100 BMW 1800 TiSA inherited first place which its crew Shaw-Oliver held until the finish. It was a nice reminder for Jackie Oliver, winner of the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours with the most popular of Belgian drivers, Jacky Ickx. Behind, the Letts-Letts and Monteverde-Pearson in Ford Lotus Cortinas had a ding-dong battle with the second pair emerging victorious.
U2TC Race 2 – Until half distance the no. 100 BMW 1800 TiSA and the no. 63 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 swapped positions on several occasions, but as in the first heat Shaw-Oliver won. Behind, the retirements in succession of the nos 161 and 24 Ford Lotus Cortinas helped David Tomlin and Richard Meaden to climb up onto the podium.
[Source: Peter Auto; photos: Julien Mahiels]
WOW – what an amazing series of pictures! Really inspiring. And what a great event the Spa Classic was. Cheers, Jens
Great shotd Julien – well done!
when is the the class @ Mahiels racin’ photo school? an’ where?? got to learn sum of these tricks. great pics man!!!!
Fantastic shots!
Agreed. Gorgeous photos. Color, action, light, motion, emotion,…..
Very nice photos
Great pictures in a marvelous einvironment. Wish I was there. Thx for sharing