Ah, Spa! It’s hard to stay objective as a car enthusiast when you arrive at this automotive mecca. In a region that pulses to the rhythm of 6.947km of asphalt slicing through the Walloon forest, there’s an atmosphere like no other. The locals know how to welcome you! And when our competitors from the lowlands await us on home turf, it’s always with overflowing joy and a crate of Jupiler in the trailer. Spa is simply like nowhere else.
The final arrival of the year for the organizing team and drivers took place on Thursday evening. A quick setup followed as competitors arrived from all corners—some from very far away. Especially important since our friends would be hitting the track early, with a 9:30 AM start. The weather, as is often the case in Belgium, was... perfect? Yes, perfect weather indeed. A bit chilly, naturally, but the air was dry, and the sun was mostly out. On a cold track, 29 cars launched into action. It was a chance for drivers like Joël Fumey and Olivier Bosio to face the demands of this circuit for the first time. It was also an opportunity to meet a newcomer, Norbert Fisher, a member of the friendly German team led by Ralf Zensen, which also includes Hans-Martin Irnich.
With the practice sessions done, it was time to quickly prepare the cars for the qualifying session, scheduled to take place right after the 12:00 PM briefing. The session began under beautiful sunshine once again. Terriou started strong, posting fastest lap after fastest lap, but in the final seconds, Gillian Garret pulled off a masterstroke, claiming pole position. Christophe Feret would start from third. In FC2, local driver Patrice Lacroix set fast times consistently, but was ultimately outpaced by the Barras/Ehrhardt team and the Moussion couple, who were not about to give up this weekend. In the under 211 horsepower category, Parisians Cars, driven by Sam Serres and Seb Puechavy, took first place, followed by the Zensen/Fisher 944 and Bastien Mathieu’s 911 SC. The battles among the drivers are getting tighter as the championship reaches its climax at Spa, where everything is still up for grabs. With two days of racing ahead, it promises to be a thrilling showdown. But first, we wind down with a relaxed evening, the final one of the season, around a family-style dinner in a cozy setting. One thing is for sure—these gatherings will be sorely missed during the winter break.
Saturday, we couldn’t resist lounging in bed, awaiting the 1:00 PM race. The competitors reunited with their beauties, polishing them before the flag dropped. It was a perfect moment to catch up with all the friends on-site before parting ways for almost six months. At 12:30, snacks would have to wait because it was time to head to the pre-grid. Under the zenith sun, the 27 speed enthusiasts launched into a rarely matched spectacle. In FC1, the battle for first place raged between Terriou and Garret, while Feret and Bosio fought fiercely for third. In FC2, Patrice Lacroix and Ramousse engaged in a thrilling duel. In FC3, Sébastien Puechavy’s return was fully confirmed, as he and his teammate once again secured the top spot. Unfortunately, the session was cut short when Ramousse's No. 5 car lost control at the top of Raidillon, leaving the driver no chance as his 911 was catapulted into the wall. The car is in poor shape, and some nasty bruises await our Gentleman Driver. This incident is also part of what makes this track so famous, often reminding us that even the best drivers are not immune to unfortunate twists of fate. No doubt, we’ll see our friend back soon with a finely-tuned machine, ready to fight for the top spot once again.
Le reste de l’après-midi nous laisse le temps d’observer les championnat annexes de ce week-end palpitant. Le dimanche matin et lui aussi plutôt calme, la der des ders n’étant qu’à 11h00. Ça y est ! Il faut enfiler son casque une ultime fois et démarrer le moteur de cette même voiture qui nous a accompagné depuis ce début de saison et à bord de laquelle on vit de précieux moments.
The competitors took to the track with the same fervor as in the first round at Castellet. Once again, the battles were spectacular, with thrilling duels that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. This time, history favored Christophe Terriou, who claimed victory and secured the 2024 title. He was followed by Gillian Garret, while Olivier Bosio climbed to the third spot after a fierce battle with Christophe Feret, who was forced to retire due to engine failure. In FC2, Patrice Lacroix got his revenge and took the win, while Stéphane Duverne completed his 26th consecutive race without a single retirement, securing second place. He was followed by the Moussion duo, who showed great improvement throughout the season. The Barras/Ehrhardt team finished just off the podium, but Ehrhardt managed to clinch the category title thanks to the points accumulated with his new teammate since the Anneau du Rhin. In FC3, Samuel Serres and Sébastien Puechavy won the race, adding to their 13 victories this season, cementing the 911 SC's total dominance. Bastien Mathieu and the JS Speed Shop team, composed of Jérôme Salva and Stéphane Morisset, closed out the Top-3, just as they had the previous day.
The dice have been cast, and the winners are etched in stone for this 8th season of the Ferdinand Cup. We pack up the equipment—sometimes a bit haphazardly—and hit the road back home. No worries though, we have the entire off-season to get everything organized again! Once more, the Spa circuit, now a must-attend event, has given us an unforgettable experience and a championship finale that exceeded all expectations. See you in 2025, where we’ll be back for the first round, which will be announced… very soon!
Complete results are HERE
News written by Nico Ferdier