Posted on May 19, 2023.
Report and photos by Keith Bluemel
The spectacular and demanding Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium was the venue for Round 3 of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship, which attracted over 72,000 spectators, despite chilly overcast weather conditions, fortunately, although rain was forecast, without any precipitation through the course of the 6-hour race. The entry comprised of 38 cars through the three classes There was a record 13 car entry in the Hypercar class, with Cadillac fielding an extra car in preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hour Race, whilst there was an additional Porsche 963, this being the privately entered Hertz Team JOTA example. The LMP2 class comprised of 11 Oreca 07-Gibson models, whilst the LMGTE AM class had a total of 14 entries, with Porsches being the largest in number with 6 cars, followed by 4 from Ferrari, 3 Aston Martins and a single Corvette. The programme also featured two races each for the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, both featuring large grids, which made for some close and exciting racing through the field in both championships. There was also a demonstration run by the LMPH2G electric-hydrogen prototype driven by automobile Club de l’Ouest President Pierre Fillon.
The number on the starting grid was depleted by one, as the #56 Porsche entered by Project 1-AO, had a big accident in qualifying on the Friday, rendering it hors de combat for the race on Saturday. Prior to this, in the second free practice session on the Thursday, the #21 Ferrari, driven by Diego Alessi, had a big accident when it collided with #54 example of Thomas Flohr in the Raidillon, although they found a replacement car for the race. However, it meant that they had to start from the back of the grid, whilst the #54 suffered lighter damage, with overnight work by the mechanics seeing it ready for Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions. The #8 Toyota Hypercar was another that had to start from the back of the grid as it didn’t set a qualifying time after being crashed by Brendon Hartley on his qualifying installation lap on the Friday. Fortunately, none of these accidents resulted in injury to any of the drivers.
Initially the qualifying sessions saw Antonio Giovinazzi in the #51 Ferrari 499P claim the overall pole position, but his quickest lap time was then disallowed for exceeding track limits at Turn 7. This handed the pole position to the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Kamui Kobayashi, with the #50 Ferrari 499P driven by Miguel Molina next up, whilst the #51 Ferrari ended up third fastest qualifier. The LMP2 class pole position was claimed by the #23 United Autosports entered Oreca 07-Gibson driven by Tom Blomqvist, with the #41 Team WRT example driven by Lous Delétraz just 0.3sec in arrears, followed closely by Danil Kvyat in the #63 Prema Racing entry. The LMGTE AM class pole position went to the #25 ORT by TF entered Aston Martin driven by Amid Al Harthy, who was a massive 1.9secs ahead of the #85 Iron Dames entered Porsche driven by Sarah Bovy, with the #88 Dempsey-Proton Porsche entry driven by Ryan Hardwick third fastest.
The race started at 12.45 on the Saturday afternoon, with a damp and cold track from overnight rain, with mist still hanging in the air. The majority of the field elected to start on wet tyres, with only the bravest risking starting on slicks. These included the #7 Toyota being started by Mike Conway, and the #3 Cadillac in the hands of Renger van der Zande. Initially they were at a disadvantage, prudence being of the highest order on the damp track, with the pair of wet shod Ferraris taking the lead in the opening laps. As a dry line appeared and the wet tyres started to deteriorate, resulting in a rapid spate of pit stops, those who had taken the chance and started on slicks benefitted from the situation, and it wasn’t long before the #7 Toyota was in the lead. The #8 Toyota, that had started from the back of the grid, made quick progress through the GT and LMP2 cars to be in the front running mix after a short time. The #3 Cadillac was also putting in a strong performance, but this came to nought just before half distance, when it crashed heavily, after what was thought might be a steering problem, going from Eau Rouge to the Raidillon, with van der Zande at the wheel. Although the car was badly damaged, he emerged unscathed, but it resulted in a lengthy safety car period, while the wreckage was retrieved and the barriers repaired. In the LMP2 class the early stages were dominated by the pole sitting #23 United Autosports entry driven by Tom Blomqvist, chased by the #63 Prema entry and the #31 Team WRT example. In the LMGTE AM class it was the #33 Corvette that made the early running, until switching to slicks, when the #777 D’Station Aston Martin took over at the head of the class. That didn’t last long, as it was given a drive-through penalty for contact with #85 Porsche, which put the pole sitting #25 ORT by TF Aston Martin in the class lead. Meanwhile, the #21 Ferrari, that had started from the back of the field, had fought its way through to 2nd in class.
By mid-distance it was a Toyota 1-2, in the order of #7 and #8, whilst the #50 Ferrari was given a penalty when Miguel Molina ran wide of the pit exit white line, stilting its progress. Things were worse for the #6 Penske Porsche 963, which died as it entered the pit straight, stopping in the middle of the track, causing another safety car period whilst it was recovered to a safe location. At around the three-and-a-half-hour mark, another of the Hypercars was out of the race. This time it was the Vanwall driven by Jacques Villeneuve, which had an altercation with the #54 Ferrari 488, driven by Francesco Castellacci, at Blanchimont, resulting in a further call on the safety car. In the LMP2 class it was the pair of Team WRT cars that led the field, in the order #31 and #41, but their pursuers were very close behind. In the LMGTE AM class the leader was the #88 Proton Competition entered Porsche that led but was being hunted down by the #83 Ferrari 488, now in the hands of Lilou Wadoux, who took the class lead during the fourth hour.
As the race entered its closing stages, another of the Hypercars was lost, when with around 90 minutes left to run, Antonio Fuoco in the #50 Ferrari brushed the wall on the old pit straight after having just left the pits on cold tyres. This sent the car across the track, ricocheting off the barrier on the opposite side, before coming to rest in the middle of the track, once more bringing out the safety car whilst it was recovered. The ban on tyre warmers this year and the safety ramifications, are of major concern to both teams and drivers. The point being proven at Spa, where with the cool ambient temperatures there were numerous incidents. The pair of Toyotas ran like clockwork at the head of the field and went on to take a comfortable 1-2 win. Behind them it looked as though the #5 Penske Porsche was set to take the final podium spot, but James Calado in the #51 Ferrari 499 had other ideas, making a pass on the final lap to claim third place, after a roller coaster ride for Ferrari during the race. The LMP2 class was probably the hardest and closest fought, with victory eventually going to the home Team WRT #41 car, albeit by only 6secs after 6 hours of racing from the #23 United Autosports entry. In the LMGTE AM class the #83 Ferrari 488 GTE EVO maintained the lead that it took in the fourth hour to take the class win, with Lilou Wadoux becoming the first female category winner in a FIA WEC race in the process.
Race Podiums
Hypercar Class & Overall
1st – #7, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota GR010 Hybrid, M. Conway/K. Kobayashi/J. Lopez
2nd – #8, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota GR010 Hybrid, S. Buemi/B. Hartley/R. Hirakawa
3rd – #51, Ferrari AF Corse, Ferrari 499P, A. Pier Guidi/J. Calado/A. Giovinazzi
LMP2 Class
1st – #41, Team WRT, Oreca 07-Gibson, R. Andrade/R. Kubica/L. Delétraz
2nd – #23, United Autosports, Oreca 07-Gibson, J. Piersen/T. Blomqvist/O. Jarvis
3rd – #34, Inter Europol Competition, Oreca 07-Gibson, J. Smiechowski/F. Schever/A. Costa
LMGTE AM Class
1st – #83, Richard Mille AF Corse, Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, L. Perez Companc/L. Wadoux/A. Rovera
2nd – #33, Corvette Racing, Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, B. Keating/N. Varrone/N. Catsburg
3rd – #25, ORT by TF, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, A. Al Harty/M. Dinan/C. Eastwood
Ferrari Entry (Hypercar)
| Race # | Model | Chassis # | Team | Drivers | Position (O / C) |
| 51 | 499P | 6 or 10? | Ferrari AF Corse | A. Pier Guidi J. Calado A. Giovinazzi | 3rd / 3rd |
| 50 | 499P | 6 or 10? | Ferrari AF Corse | A. Fuoco M. Molina N. Nielsen | DNF |
Ferrari Entry (GTE AM)
| Race # | Model | Chassis # | Team | Drivers | Position (O / C) |
| 83 | 488 GTE EVO | 3884 | Richard Mille AF Corse | L. Perez Companc L. Wadoux A. Rovera | 20th / 1st |
| 21 | 488 GTE EVO | 3866* | AF Corse | D. Alessi S. Mann U. De Pauw | 25th / 6th |
| 57 | 488 GTE EVO | 3864 | Kessel Racing | T. Kimura S. Huffaker D. Serra | 27th / 8th |
| 54 | 488 GTE EVO | 3876 | AF Corse | T. Flohr F. Castellacci D. Rigon | DNF |
