Ferrari Sweeps 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
Ferrari AF Corse dominated the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, securing a 1-2 finish for its 499P models and marking an unbeaten start to the FIA World Endurance Championship season. The No. 51 car, driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, clinched victory after starting from third on the grid. This win extends their championship lead.
After a strategic third and final safety car restart in the last two hours, the team’s flawless pit strategy allowed the No. 51 to return to the track in the lead, maintaining its position with just ten minutes remaining. The final margin of victory was a narrow 4.2 seconds ahead of the pole-sitting No. 50, piloted by Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco, and Miguel Molina.
Pier Guidi reflected on the tense race, stating, “At the start of the weekend it was difficult, and at the end, I was pushing on every lap. I gave everything—I am finished.” Calado noted the impressive teamwork, saying, “The car was clearly super strong, and the team improved significantly on strategy.”
The No. 36 Alpine A424 performed admirably, finishing third, just a second behind the No. 50. Mick Schumacher’s team executed a longer final pit stop, which had cost them valuable time.
In a surprising twist, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s No. 8 GR010 managed to secure a commendable fourth place after starting 15th, utilizing an unorthodox strategy to avoid late stops. Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA claimed fifth and sixth places, their best showing to date in the Hypercar category.
In the LMGT3 category, Vista AF Corse celebrated another victory with the No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3, taking a decisive win by a 40-second margin. The podium was completed by Proton Competition’s No. 88 Ford Mustang GT3, achieving a notable second-place finish, alongside another Ferrari in third.
Francois Heriau, driver of the winning Ferrari, expressed satisfaction with the result, stating, “We got our revenge after Imola. It’s a big moment before Le Mans.”
Results Summary
Hypercar Class:
- No. 51 Ferrari 499P
- No. 50 Ferrari 499P
- No. 36 Alpine A424
- No. 8 Toyota GR010
- Cadillac V-Series.R
- Cadillac V-Series.R
LMGT3 Class:
- No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3
- No. 88 Ford Mustang GT3
- No. 54 Ferrari 296 GT3
The next event will be crucial as teams prepare for the highly anticipated Le Mans competition.
