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Spa Classic 2015 – Report and Photos

Group C class exiting pits Julien Mahiels
Group C class exiting pits

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)

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

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
Red Mist
Red Mist
1965 AC Cobra 289
1965 AC Cobra 289
1962 Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan
1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan
1991 Jaguar XJR14
1991 Jaguar XJR-14
1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
Opposite Lock
Opposite Lock
1979 BMW M1 Procar
1979 BMW M1 Procar

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

1963 AC Cobra 289

1969 Alfa Romeo T33/3
1969 Alfa Romeo T33/3
1974 BMW 3.0 CSL
1974 BMW 3.0 CSL
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1964 Porsche 911
1964 Porsche 911
1965 Ford Mustang 289
1965 Ford Mustang 289
Jaguar D-Type
Jaguar D-Type
Sparks flying from the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Sparks flying from the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
1965 BMW 1800 Ti
1965 BMW 1800 Ti
1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
1965 BMW 1800 TiSA
1965 BMW 1800 TiSA
1965 Ford Cortina
1965 Ford Cortina
1965 Morris Mini Cooper S
1965 Morris Mini Cooper S
"Look at me - I'm a shattered!"
“Look at me – I’m a shattered!”

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

Heritage Touring Cup
Heritage Touring Cup
1970 BMW 2002 Ti
1970 BMW 2002 Ti
1970 BMW 2002 Ti
1970 BMW 2002 Ti
1984 Volvo 240 Turbo
1984 Volvo 240 Turbo
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1972 BMW 3.0 CSL
1972 BMW 3.0 CSL
1973 Ford Capri RS 3100
1973 Ford Capri RS 3100
1973 Ford Capri RS 3100
1973 Ford Capri RS 3100

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

1984 Volvo 240 Turbo
1984 Volvo 240 Turbo
1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS takes the lead
1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS takes the lead
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1970 BMW 2002Ti
1970 BMW 2002Ti
Deep Concentration
Deep Concentration
1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS
1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS
1974 BMW 3.0 CSL
1974 BMW 3.0 CSL

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
1986 Rover TWR Vitesse
1986 Rover TWR Vitesse
1986 Rover TWR Vitesse
1986 Rover TWR Vitesse
1984 BMW 635 CSi
1984 BMW 635 CSi
The Hammer and The Scalpel
The Hammer and The Scalpel
1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm
1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm
1980 BMW M535 chases the Pink, 1968 Ford Mustang up the hill
1980 BMW M535 chases the pink 1968 Ford Mustang up the hill
1975 Ford Escort 1600 RS
1975 Ford Escort 1600 RS

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

Brute Force in the Classic Endurance class
Brute force in the Classic Endurance class
1972 Lola T 290 leads the pack
1972 Lola T 290 leads the pack
1969 Alfa Romeo T33/3
1969 Alfa Romeo T33/3
Flame Throwers
Flame Throwers
1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4
1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4
1970 Chevron B16
1970 Chevron B16
1976 Porsche 934
1976 Porsche 934
1976 Cheetah G601
1976 Cheetah G601

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

1969 Chevron B16
1969 Chevron B16
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1965 Chevrolet Corvette
1965 Chevrolet Corvette
1964 Lotus 30
1964 Lotus 30
1968 Lola T70 Mk III Spyder
1968 Lola T70 Mk III Spyder
1965 Ford GT40
1965 Ford GT40
1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM
1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM
1974 Cheetah G501
1974 Cheetah G501

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

1975 Porsche 935
1975 Porsche 935
1979 Porsche 935 K3
1979 Porsche 935 K3
1976 Porsche 934
1976 Porsche 934
1977 Porsche 935 K3 gets dive-bombed by the 1976 TOJ SC 304
1977 Porsche 935 K3 gets dive-bombed by the 1976 TOJ SC 304
1975 March 75 S
1975 March 75 S
1972 De Tomaso Pantera Group 4
1972 De Tomaso Pantera Group 4
1973 Lola T292
1973 Lola T292
1976 TOJ SC 304
1976 TOJ SC 304

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 AC Cobra
1963 AC Cobra
1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 AC Cobra 289
Everything looks better with a hardtop
Everything looks better with a hardtop
1962 Jaguar E-Type
1962 Jaguar E-Type
1963 Jaguar E-Type
1963 Jaguar E-Type
1958 Lister Jaguar Knobbly
1958 Lister Jaguar Knobbly

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

1965 Ford Shelby GT350
1965 Ford Shelby GT350
1964 Porsche 904/6 GTS
1964 Porsche 904/6 GTS
1964 Porsche 904/6 GTS
1964 Porsche 904/6 GTS
1965 Chevrolet Corvette challenging the 1963 Morgan SLR
1965 Chevrolet Corvette challenging the 1963 Morgan SLR
1959 Austin-Healey 3000
1959 Austin-Healey 3000
1965 Alfa Romeo GTA
1965 Alfa Romeo GTA
Two 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTAs
Two 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTAs
1961 Chevrolet Corvette
1961 Chevrolet Corvette

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Twelve

1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Thirteen

1966 Ford Shelby GT350
1966 Ford Shelby GT350
1968 Lola T70 Mk III
1968 Lola T70 Mk III
1976 Porsche 934
1976 Porsche 934
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4
1964 Marcos 1800 GT
1964 Marcos 1800 GT
American Muscle at 2015 Spa Classic
American muscle at 2015 Spa Classic
1971 Lola T212
1971 Lola T212
1974 Chevron B26
1974 Chevron B26

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fourteen

1963 Ferrari 260 GT Breadvan
1963 Ferrari 260 GT SWB Breadvan
1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta
1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
1955 Maserati 300S
1955 Maserati 300S
1959 Cooper Monaco T49
1959 Cooper Monaco T49
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale
1955 Maserati 300S
1955 Maserati 300S
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fifteen

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
1955 Maserati 300S
1955 Maserati 300S
Group C class exiting pits
Group C class exiting pits
1992 Porsche 962C
1992 Porsche 962C
1991 Jaguar XJR14
1991 Jaguar XJR14
1989 Porsche 962
1989 Porsche 962
1991 Nissan RC93
1991 Nissan RC93

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Sixteen

1987 Porsche 962
1987 Porsche 962
1987 Porsche 962
1987 Porsche 962
1991 Porsche 962
1991 Porsche 962
1989 ALD C289
1989 ALD C289
1991 Porsche 962 and 1991 Nissan RC93 duke it in the Group C class
1991 Porsche 962 and 1991 Nissan RC93 duke it in the Group C class
1991 Nissan RC93
1991 Nissan RC93
1989 Cheetah G606
1989 Cheetah G606
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11

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Spa Classic 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seventeen

1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1989 Mercedes-Benz C11
1987 Porsche 962
1987 Porsche 962
1992 Porsche 962C
1992 Porsche 962C
1989 Porsche 962
1989 Porsche 962
1973 Ford Capri RS 3100
1973 Ford Capri RS 3100
1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS
1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina

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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]