The entry list for the upcoming TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps (27-29 April) – round three of the FIA World Endurance Championship – will feature a record number of 13 Hypercars.
Cadillac Racing will add a second Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar to compete at the Belgian WEC round co-driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande. The American-flagged team will use the additional No. 3 Hypercar as key preparation for 24 Hours of Le Mans the following month. For teams, Spa-Francorchamps serves as the final dress rehearsal for Le Mans – one last test under racing conditions.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to bring another Cadillac to the race at Spa,” explained GM sports car racing programme manager, Laura Wontrop Klauser. “Any opportunity that we have to prepare for Le Mans within the WEC rules and regulations is great. This will get the team even more ready to tackle that race as well as an opportunity to bring more Cadillac participation to the European race.”
Another new addition to the Hypercar category will be the No. 38 Hertz Team JOTA Porsche 963 – the British-based team progressing up to the Hypercar class after two races in Sebring and Portimao with the Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2 car. The squad has listed drivers Antonio Felix da Costa, Will Stevens and Yifei Ye for its Hypercar debut.
Toyota Gazoo Racing clinched the first win of the WEC season at Sebring with a commanding one-two finish, with Ferrari AF Corse claiming the third step of the podium. While Toyota have set the bar high with the speed and reliability of its Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar, there is plenty of competition in the WEC’s headline category as Ferrari proved by starting Sebring from pole position.
Porsche Penske Motorsport will be boosted by extra support from the home fans as Belgian driver Laurens Vanthoor will compete in the No. 6 Porsche 963. Vanthoor’s team-mate Andre Lotterer also has strong links to Belgium having been raised in the country. Peugeot TotalEnergies’ two Peugeot 9X8 Hypercars, Floyd Vanwall Racing Team and Glickenhaus Racing will also be at Spa with their Hypercar challengers.
The highly-competitive LMP2 class will see 11 Oreca 07 Gibson cars go head-to-head on the iconic circuit which is famed for sections including La Source, Blanchimont, Stavelot and, of course, the legendary Eau Rouge. All eyes will be on Belgian-based squad Team WRT as they look to secure their second win in a row at their home circuit. They will, however, face still competition from United Autosports (Filipe Albuquerque and Tom Blomqvist return to the team for Spa), Alpine Elf Team and Prema Racing – all of whom will field two cars, as well as single car entries from Vector Sport, JOTA and Inter Europol Competition.
Fourteen cars make up the LMGTE Am category at Spa with three local drivers representing their home nation. Sarah Bovy from Iron Dames will be eager to replicate her superb performance in the Porsche 911 RSR from the recent 1000 Miles of Sebring where she claimed pole position for the all-female line-up. Other Belgian drivers include Alessio Picariello (Iron Lynx) and Ulysse de Pauw (AF Corse).