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
Mechanics get little rest. Every hour goes into working on the car.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Racing drivers are friends, competing with each other only on the track.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Racing cars evoke memories. People often contemplate them as something more than just machines.
Spa Six Hours 2024
The track and the car change constantly. Feedback during the driver swap is crucial.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Team coordination must be taken seriously.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Historic racing is more welcoming to supporters than any other motorsport event.
Spa Six Hours 2022
The Ford GT40, capable of reaching 340 km/h in the 1960s. Driving such a machine on a dark, rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps still requires extraordinary skill.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Losing time in the pit lane while working on unexpected issues, as other drivers push on track, is part of the game.
Spa Six Hours 2024
Historic racing is remarkably democratic and provides a unique opportunity for small teams with limited resources
Spa Six Hours 2024
In 2014, the weather changed three times, ending with heavy rain during the final night phase of the race.
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
Actual time spent driving on the track makes up only a fraction of a race weekend.
Spa Six Hours 2022
The car is never really ready. There is always something that requires attention.
Spa Six Hours 2022
Racing is a team sport. Providing feedback about the car after a practice session is vital to a successful race
Spa Six Hours 2022
Motorsport remains dangerous. Grid rituals are often emotional.
Spa Six Hours 2022
Strategy is essential. Slow refuelling can change the order on the track
Spa Six Hours 2022
Even classic racing cars are complex enough to surprise the most experienced teams.
Spa Six Hours 2023
At some point, the driver is on his own. The team can only give a thumbs-up, follow the lap times, and wait for the next pit stop.
Spa Six Hours 2023
At times, the driver can do nothing but watch and hope for the best.
Spa Six Hours 2023
Pit stops in the dark bring additional challenges. Even recognising a car can be tricky.
Spa Six Hours 2023
Driving a racing car is, above all, about focus.
Spa Six Hours 2021
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
Even though the race lasts six hours, pit stops must be as quick as possible. Everyone knows what to do to minimise time lost in the pit lane.
Spa Six Hours 2021
In the dark, the pit lane brings competition between teams to another level.
Spa Six Hours 2017
A track as long as Spa can be very wet at
La Source and almost dry at Stavelot.
Spa Six Hours 2014
Endurance races can be won or lost in the pit lane.
Spa Six Hours 2014
The view of Eau Rouge–Radillon from the old pit lane is stunning, but the teams are too busy to enjoy the sight of one of the most famous corners in motorsport.
Spa Six Hours 2014
If not for the wall between the pit lane and the track, added later, you might think you had travelled back to the 1960s.
Spa Six Hours 2014
There is a lot happening. Communication must be simple and clear.
Spa Six Hours 2014
With experience, pit stops appear effortless.
Spa Six Hours 2014
The gaps are small. Racing demands skill, trust, and respect for other drivers, all at full speed.
Spa Six Hours 2014
The car must be carefully checked and prepared before every race.
Spa Six Hours 2017
The old pit lane is narrow and dark. Operating a car from here is a challenge in itself.
Spa Six Hours 2014
The driver swap is also an opportunity to carry out all necessary checks.
Spa Six Hours 2014
Rain exposes real talent. Simply watching a car at speed in these conditions can bring panic and fear.
Spa Six Hours 2014
A racing car without a setup matched to current track conditions is not enough. Finding the right setup is an achievement in itself.
Spa Six Hours 2017
Drivers are always eager to drive, no matter their age or experience.
Spa Six Hours 2017
Racing cars are fragile. Pushing them to the limit without crossing it is the essence of racing.
Spa Six Hours 2017
The marshal looks on seriously, making sure the team does not carry out any unauthorised repairs.
Spa Six Hours 2019
Every little detail that can go wrong will probably go wrong.
Spa Six Hours 2015
Broken cars in the pit lane are a stark reminder that finishing an endurance race alone is an achievement.
Spa Six Hours 2015
Not disturbing a driver while supporting him at the same time requires strong relationships within a team.
Spa Six Hours 2014