The 2020 24 Hours of Spa (also known as Total 24 Hours of Spa for sponsorship reasons) was the 73rd running of the 24 Hours of Spa. It took place on 22–25 October 2020. Although it was previously scheduled to held on 25–26 July, it was announced on 15 April that the race would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Event Information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 3 of 4 in the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge | ||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||
| Date | 22–25 October 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge | |||||||||||||
| Location | Spa-Francorchamps, Wallonia, Belgium | |||||||||||||
| Venue | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | |||||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Background
editThe 72nd running of the 24 Hours of Spa took place on 22–25 October 2020. It was previously scheduled to held on 25–26 July, but in March the race was postponed to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][3] This will be the first time that the race will be held in October.[4] The race was set to be unique as it would run for a 25 hours duration due to the race being held on the weekend when the clocks change.[5][6] However, this idea was pulled when it became clear that the event was not permitted to allow spectators to the race.[7][8] The race will be the third round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and also the third round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.[9][10] The official test days took place on the 29 and 30 September.[4] The GT4 European, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Formula Renault Eurocup and TCR Europe series will all run support races at the event.[2][4][11][12]
Following practice and qualifying track limits was an issue. Drivers were told initially that only track limits would be enforced at the Eau Rouge sequence. However due to "exaggerated abuse" including running out of the bus stop chicane across 10 metres of tarmac runoff up to the barrier, drivers were told that the white lines were the limit of the track and that the cars must remain in contact with the track. The exceptions were at Eau Rouge, Speaker's or No Name Corner, Blanchimont and the exit of the Bus Stop where the drivers were permitted to use the kerbs beyond the white line. Drivers were allowed 3 infringements of the rule before being given a drive through penalty. Any driver gaining an advantage and not giving it back would be penalised 5 or 10 seconds at the next pit stop. The warnings would be reset every 6 hours.[13]
Results
editSuper Pole
edit
Race
editClass winners denoted in bold and with ‡
References
edit- ^ Dagys, John (15 April 2020). "24H Spa Postponed". Sportscar365.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ a b Watkins, Gary (27 April 2020). "GTWCE News: Spa 24 Hours rescheduled for October". Autosport.com.
- ^ "Total 24 Hours of Spa Update". 24 hours of Spa. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Total 24 Hours of Spa poised for unique autumn edition on 22-25 October". 24 hours of Spa. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (22 June 2020). "Spa 24 Hours becomes 25-hour race for 2020". Autosport.com.
- ^ "Once-in-a-lifetime 25-hour edition for the Total 24 Hours of Spa". 24 hours of Spa. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (6 October 2020). "Plans for Spa 24 to run to 25 hours have been scrapped". Autosport.com.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (6 October 2020). "Spa to Run Without Spectators; 25-Hour Format Scrapped". Sportscar365.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (15 May 2020). "GTCWE News: Updated calendar features extended Nurburgring enduro". Autosport.com.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (10 July 2020). "IGTC 2020 calendar remains at four races, Suzuka 10 Hours not replaced". Autosport.com.
- ^ "Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Formula Renault Eurocup continue as GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS support series". 24 hours of Spa. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "TCR Europe Series joins Total 24 Hours of Spa support package". 24 hours of Spa. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (24 October 2020). "Track limits clampdown issued for Spa 24 Hours". Autosport.
- ^ "Total 24 Hours of Spa - Super Pole" (PDF). Stéphane Ratel Organisation. 23 October 2020.