1972 Spa 1000Kms

Spa, Belgium, May 7th

In spite of the attempts of World Championship Grand Prix driver Jackie Stewart to sabotage the event (see Continental Notes) the 1,000 kilometre sports-car race of Spa-Franchorchamps took place in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere, unsullied by avarice, sponsorship wrangles, trade union activities or boycotts. The result was a very nice day, a win for Ferrari, and an event full of interest and satisfaction, not the least for the majority of the 56 drivers taking part who thoroughly enjoyed an opportunity of racing round the magnificent Spa-Francorchamps circuit, some of them for the first time, and there were the ones who were probably more appreciative than anyone, for it opened up a whole new concept of high-speed driving for them. For drivers like Ickx and Redman, Larrousse or Bell it was a welcome return to a form of motor racing and high-speed driving that not only permitted them to demonstrate their skills but allowed them great satisfaction in so doing.

There should have been a confrontation between Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, with Lola and Mirage joining in, but Alfa Romeo backed down at the last moment, more or less openly admitting that they could not match the speed of the Ferrari, or the driving talent of the team for that matter. Maranello sent three sparkling 312P cars, the trio that had been at the BOAC 1000 at Brands Hatch, with Ickx and Regazzoni in the number one car, identified by Belgian yellow stripes across the red bodywork, Peterson and Schenken in the number two car, with blue stripes, and Redman and Merzario in the third car with green stripes. All three were mechanically as raced previously, with the 3-litre flat12-cylinder engines and they were using the medium-length tail sections, with the latest regulation skirts at the rear enclosing the mechanism. Opposition to the powerful red 12-cylinder cars was to come from the Gulf Research Mirage M6 driven by Bell/van Lennep, the Jöst/Kauhsen Porsche 908/3 and the yellow Lola T280, with Cosworth V8 power, of de Fierlant/Larrousse, the former driver having bought the car from Ecurie Bonnier and it was being run by a Belgian team.