European Le Mans - 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps stands as a premier endurance race within the European Le Mans Series calendar. This sports car racing event brings together multiple classes of prototype and GT cars for four hours of competition at one of motorsport's most respected venues. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps hosts this ELMS race, marking the tenth edition of this endurance challenge in 2025.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps sits in the Ardennes region of Belgium, approximately 40 kilometers from Liège. The track measures 7.004 kilometers in length and features 20 corners that wind through forested hills. The circuit combines long straights with fast, challenging corners that test both driver skill and car setup. The famous Eau Rouge and Raidillon sequence creates one of motorsport's most demanding corner combinations, where cars flick left before climbing right through a steep uphill section. Other notable sections include La Source hairpin and the Bus Stop chicane.

The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps features four distinct classes competing simultaneously. The LMP2 category includes 13 entries, all running Oreca 07 chassis powered by Gibson 4.2-liter V8 engines. Teams like VDS Panis Racing, IDEC Sport, Inter Europol Competition, Nielsen Racing, and Algarve Pro Racing compete in this top prototype class. The LMP2 Pro-Am class adds eight more entries, with teams including AO by TF, AF Corse, Proton Competition, TDS Racing, and United Autosports.

The LMP3 class brings 10 entries to the ELMS race, featuring various chassis manufacturers including Ligier, Duqueine, and Ginetta, all equipped with turbocharged Toyota engines. CLX Motorsport, Inter Europol Competition, M Racing, Racing Spirit of Léman, and Eurointernational represent some of the teams in this category. The LMGT3 class completes the field with 13 entries, showcasing GT cars from manufacturers such as Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, Mercedes-AMG, and McLaren. Spirit of Race, TF Sport, and Iron Dames number among the LMGT3 competitors.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps carries a rich motorsport heritage. The track opened in the early 1920s, utilizing public roads that connected the villages of Malmedy, Stavelot, and Francorchamps. The first car race took place in 1922, followed by the inaugural 24 Hours of Francorchamps in 1924. The circuit hosted its first Grand Prix in 1925 and became part of the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship in 1950. The original layout stretched approximately 14 kilometers before undergoing significant redesign in 1979, resulting in the current 7.004-kilometer configuration.

The ELMS series has included Spa-Francorchamps in its schedule since 2016. United Autosports has achieved the most success at this circuit within ELMS competition, securing multiple victories across both LMP2 and LMP3 classes. Mikkel Jensen holds a unique distinction as the only driver to win ELMS races in all three categories: LMP2, LMP3, and LMGTE.

The weather at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps presents a constant variable for teams and drivers. The track's length and elevation changes create conditions where rain can fall on one section while other parts remain dry. This unpredictability affects strategy choices and adds complexity to the four-hour race. The 2019 edition saw winners complete 707.39 kilometers, making it the longest 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. In contrast, the 2018 race covered only 280.16 kilometers due to heavy rain conditions.

Goodyear supplies tires for LMP2 competitors, while Michelin provides rubber for the LMP3 class. Each class faces unique technical challenges at this circuit. The long straights demand high top speeds and strong straight-line performance, while the fast corners require excellent aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical grip. The elevation changes and corner variety mean teams must find a balanced setup that works across all sections of the track.

The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps offers fans a comprehensive showcase of modern sports car racing. The multi-class format creates varied racing throughout the field, with different categories running different strategies and lap times. The race distance allows teams to employ diverse tactical approaches, from aggressive early-race strategies to conservative fuel-saving runs. This ELMS event continues to attract strong entries from established teams and emerging talents, maintaining the competitive standard that defines the series.