Spa Six Hours – Known Unknowns

One of the biggest international race meetings of the year is still on track to take place on 24-27 September, but as we go to press – still some six weeks before the meeting is set to kick off –  the requirement for those visiting Belgium to go into quarantine when returning to other European countries is still in place, which could seriously jeopardise the numbers on the girds.  However, word coming from Brussels is that the pandemic is coming under control and they are hoping to be off the list within the next couple of weeks.  With a large number of teams coming from the UK, the good news is that they will have a special dispensation, for attending a sporting event, whether or not the quarantine is lifted.

As things stand, there will be no extracurricular activities in the paddock – no clubs, no vendors village, no FBVA meeting, no parking for ‘Oldtimers’.

This will certainly change the atmosphere in the paddock, but will not detract from the racing, which, unlike some other big festivals, is always the main focus of this meeting.  “We still don’t know whether we will be able to welcome spectators,” said  organiser Vincent Collard, “so we are concentrating 100% on the racing.  We have to wait until the regional government gives us the go-ahead for that, and for other questions, such as press accreditation, catering, etc., and at the moment, even the authorities don’t know what will and will not be possible when the time comes.”    Collard’s ever-resourceful Roadbook organisation has set up a reservation system, so that if spectator numbers need to be limited, the tickets will be allocated to those who booked in advance.

Photo Jeff  Bloxham

The entry lists are not yet published, but the Six Hours entry list is full, with reserves, and organisers are still fielding two or three new requests a week.  “And people are really looking forward to it.  There is so much enthusiasm from the people who are contacting us, you can feel their excitement to get back on the track!  He added, “All the teams on the list are European.  For obvious reasons we have lost the usual American, Hong Kong, and South American teams, but apart from that the percentages for the various European countries have remained pretty much the same, with at least 60% coming from the UK.”

Roadbook has an excellent web site that is kept scrupulously up to date.  Keep your eye on it for developments:  www.spasixhours.com.  You will also find the full list of support grids there and contact details for entries into each one.  These include the Masters FIA F1 and Sports Car Championship grids, as well as all the Motor Racing Legends grids, the HGPCA, Formula Junior and an HSCC closed-wheel race.  Bonus: there will be more room in the paddock for the teams!

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