Nine Times at Spa
While most sports can be tried and experienced firsthand, driving a racing car is reserved for very few. Racing is usually seen from a distance, too far to truly understand what it means to drive a car at the limit.
Spa-Francorchamps is a legendary Belgian circuit with a history stretching back to the 1930s. It hosts major events, including the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix. But once a year, in late September, it becomes something else entirely. The circuit turns into a portal back in time: the Spa Six Hours.
It is the only place where you can stand in a dark, rain-soaked pit lane at nine o’clock in the evening and watch a driver change unfold right in front of you. Where you can see someone climb into a loud, fire-spitting machine like a Ford GT40 and roar away from a narrow, old pit lane—exactly as they did sixty years ago, in a time when motorsport felt closer to its fans and easier to understand.
The photographs are also available on Blurb as Premium Magazine.
from my 9 visits to the Spa Six Hours race, between 2014 and 2024
Strategy is essential. Slow refuelling can change the order on the track
Spa Six Hours 2022
The car is never really ready. There is always something that requires attention.
Spa Six Hours 2022
The old pit lane is narrow and dark. Operating a car from here is a challenge in itself.
Spa Six Hours 2014
A more than 60-year-old Aston Martin parked behind the old pit lane. Only smartphones break the 1950s illusion
Spa Six Hours 2022
Mechanics get little rest. Every hour goes into working on the car.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Pit stops in the dark bring additional challenges. Even recognising a car can be tricky.
Spa Six Hours 2023
The driver swap is also an opportunity to carry out all necessary checks.
Spa Six Hours 2014
A racing clutch offers very little slip, making drive-away difficult. The team assists to ensure the engine does not stall.
Spa Six Hours 2014
Historic racing is more welcoming to supporters than any other motorsport event.
Spa Six Hours 2022
Historic racing is remarkably democratic and provides a unique opportunity for small teams with limited resources
Spa Six Hours 2024