All You Need to Know About the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

Here is your quick guide to the second event of the 2020 season.

WHAT’S RACING AT SPA?

1. European Le Mans Series
2. Michelin Le Mans Cup
3. Ligier European Series
4. Ferdinand Cup

SCHEDULE

From Wednesday with the private testing to Sunday, racing on track everyday!

CLICK HERE for the full schedule

ENTRY LIST

CLICK HERE to see the entry list for the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

WHERE TO WATCH THE 4 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS

The second race of the 2020 season will be held behind closed doors but fans of the ELMS around the world can watch qualifying and the race for free on the official website at www.europeanlemansseries.com

The ELMS is also available to watch online and on your TV around the world either live or highlights of the race.

RACE LAP RECORDS

LMP2: Phil Hanson - 2m04.674 - Oreca 07-Gibson - 22/09/2019

LMP3: David Droux - 2m16.153 - Norma M30-Nissan - 22/09/2019

LMGTE: Alessandro Pier Guidi 2m18.658 - Ferrari F488 GTE EVO - 22/09/2019

A WORD FROM THE RACE DIRECTOR

Eduardo Freitas will be the man in charge when the cars head out to contest the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.We asked him what racing at Spa means to him.

“Spa is one of the oldest circuits we have on the calendar and it has undergone several changes over the years. It is one of the most challenging circuits in the world, it’s one of my favourites and Spa is where you see the difference between the kids and the men driving because to do a good lap at Spa, talent needs to be there. The circuit is a big challenge for all the drivers with the different classes we have on track. It should be an interesting show so it is a pity that spectators can’t attend.

“Spa remains a nice challenge for us in Race Control, for the marshals around the track and for, of course, the teams and drivers. It’s a circuit where the setup is very, very important because the circuit is a compromise as it has some very fast and some very slow corners where the difference can be made. I am always looking forward to going back to Spa-Francorchamps.”

FACTS AND FIGURES

1. Endurance racing at Spa-Francorchamps can be traced back to the mid 1920s when the Spa 24 Hours race was first run. In 1966, Spa formed a round of the World Sportscar Championship as a 1000km race but was discontinued in 1975.The circuit was shortened to alleviate safety concerns and the 1000km race returned in 1982.Since 2016, Spa has been a regular stop on the ELMS calendar.
2. At 7,004km in length, Spa is the longest circuit on the ELMS calendar.It is comprised of 19 corners and has the highest elevation of any race track of the season, with over 100 metres between the lowest and highest sections.
3. Race Distance - The winner completed 101 laps in 2019; the race distance was 707.4km, the longest ELMS race since returning to Spa in 2016.
4. In 2018 the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was the victim of the notorious Ardennes weather and the race was cut short with only 40 laps completed.Half points were awarded to the competitors.
5. United Autosports Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque won the 2018 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with Hanson, at 19 years and 2 months, becoming the youngest driver to win overall in the ELMS.The Anglo-Portuguese pairing repeated the feat in 2019, setting a new record for the number of laps completed at the end of the four hours (101 laps).
6. Ligier have won all four LMP3 races held at Spa-Francorchamps since 2016.Graff won in 2016, AT Racing in 2017, United Autosports in 2018 and Eurointernational in 2019.Mikkel Jensen has won twice in LMP3, 2017 and 2019 and this year he will be going for the overall win with G-Drive Racing in LMP2.
7. Ferrari has won the LMGTE category three times to one victory for Porsche with Ebimotors in 2018.JMW Motorsport won in 2016, Spirit of Race in 2017 and Luzich Racing in 2019.
8. Aston Martin Racing’s Paul Dalla Lana and Mathias Lauda know about winning at Spa after taking four LMGTE Am victories in the FIA WEC from 2015,2016, 2017 and 2018 alongside Pedro Lamy.