Spa 24 Hours transitions from touring cars to GT race in 2001
Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 27, 2026, 5:00 AM
Last updated Jun 27, 2026
The Spa 24 Hours, originally a premier touring car race since its revival in 1964, became a GT race in 2001. This transition followed a decline in prestige in the 1990s due to dwindling manufacturer interest and competition. The Royal Automobile Club of Belgium sought to revitalize the event by partnering with SRO Motorsports Group to promote GT racing, leading to a new era. The changes aimed to attract more participants and spectators after several years of disappointing performances and low grid numbers.
- •Spa 24 Hours was a top touring car race for decades.
- •Declining interest led to the switch to GT racing in 2001.
- •Partnership with SRO Motorsports Group aimed to attract more participants.
- •Original touring car prestige diminished in 1990s competition.
- •Historic races like the 1981 Mazda RX-7 win faced classification ambiguity.
- 5:00 AMMotorsport.com — How the Spa 24 Hours became a GT race in 2001
- 5:00 AMYahoo Sports — How the Spa 24 Hours became a GT race in 2001
"Today, the Spa 24 Hours stands as the ultimate GT3 spectacle on the sports car calendar. Yet, this remains a relatively modern phenomenon. Following the race's revival in 1964, it spent nearly half a century as a permanent, iconic fixture of the touring car world. Naturally, the lines between touring cars and GT sports cars blurred on more than one occasion during that era. The Porsche 911 ...Keep reading
"For decades, the Spa 24 Hours was the premier touring car race. Here is how SRO saved the historic event from falling into obscurity
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comJun 27, 2026, 5:00 AMHow the Spa 24 Hours became a GT race in 2001
Today, the Spa 24 Hours stands as the ultimate GT3 spectacle on the sports car calendar. Yet, this remains a relatively modern phenomenon. Following the race's revival in 1964, it spent nearly half a century as a permanent, iconic fixture of the touring car world. Naturally, the lines between touring cars and GT sports cars blurred on more than one occasion during that era. The Porsche 911 ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsJun 27, 2026, 5:00 AMHow the Spa 24 Hours became a GT race in 2001
For decades, the Spa 24 Hours was the premier touring car race. Here is how SRO saved the historic event from falling into obscurity
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