Minshaw, Rahal and Walker star in Belgian classic

Spa Six Hours

Now firmly established as one of the big classic endurance events of the year, the Spa Six Hours drew more than 80 cars to the grid in September for a race that ran from daylight into the night.

It provided a famous victory for the Jaguar E-type of Jon Minshaw, ably partnered by his younger brother Jason and Martin Stretton.

“It was quite a result to beat the GT40s,” said Minshaw after their controlled pace overcame the theoretically faster Fords. The Anglo-American cars set a scorching pace, but this took its toll on them, and the Jaguar was ideally placed to benefit.

A long middle stint from Stretton as rain fell was crucial to the campaign, and Minshaw Jnr skilfully guided the car to the flag despite the loss of its rear brakes. Allen Lloyd and Gerry Wainwright took second place, best of the GT40 pack.

Elsewhere on a superb programme, Bobby Rahal took a Euro F2 victory first time out in his Lotus 69, and Mike Wrigley blasted his Lola T330 to a brace of FORCE victories.

The considerable talent of Richard Evans netted Top Hat success in his father’s Alfa Romeo GTA, while Philip Walker took wins in both a Lotus 15 and a Lotus 16. Former F3 racer Steven Arnold had a rare run in his father’s Chevron B19 to share International Supersports success with the mighty BRM P154 of Jöst Kalisch.