[EWC] 24H Spa Motos: Return of the FIM EWC World Championship to Spa-Francorchamps

The FIM EWC Endurance World Championship takes a major step in its development with the inclusion of a 24-hour race on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The 24H Spa Motos will take place at the beginning of June 2022. This event will innovate with its unique format with a night start on Friday evening, and a unique experience for spectators on Sunday.

A renowned event on the World Endurance calendar from 1973 to 2003 under the name of the 24 Hours of Liège, the legendary name of Spa-Francorchamps will enrich the FIM EWC championship from June 2022, with its ultra-fast hilly circuit and its famous Raidillon.

The 24H Spa Motos will undoubtedly be the most demanding race but also the most exciting of the Endurance World Championship events with a new format: the start will be given at sunset on Friday at 22 p.m. for a judged finish on Saturday evening. Sunday will be entirely focused on the fans. The major brands in the championship will be able to invite up to 10 enthusiasts to do a few laps of the Spa circuit in complete safety conditions on their own motorcycles, as close as possible to the champions.

By combining the 24H Spa Motos with the 24 Heures Motos, the Bol d'Or, the winter round of the 8 Hours of Sepang and the Suzuka 8 Hours grand finale, the 2021-2022 FIM EWC season will enter a new dimension.

This major step will make it possible to raise the sporting level of the championship even higher, to attract new international drivers and to consolidate the identity of the FIM EWC as the absolute reference in terms of demanding races for teams and machines.

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events : " It’s a great day for world endurance racing. Racing at Spa-Francorchamps is one of the greatest sporting challenges that we can offer to our drivers and our teams. Between tradition and innovation, they will be able to compete for 24 hours on this legendary route, starting at night on Friday at 22 p.m. and finishing on Saturday evening in the atmosphere of a great popular festival. The 24H Spa Motos will contribute to raising the level of the Endurance World Championship that Eurosport Events has been pursuing since becoming its promoter.”
“It is an immense challenge to adapt the most beautiful circuit in the world to FIM safety standards without distorting its original layout and while respecting the FIA ​​standards for Formula 1, in coordination with the two international federations. The President of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Melchior Wathelet and his general director, Nathalie Maillet, have carried out this project with determination since our first discussions in May 2016. I thank Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice-President of the Walloon government and Minister of Economy, without which it would not have been possible to open this new page in the century-old history of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Long live the return of motorcycle endurance to Spa! ».

Melchior Wathelet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Spa-Francorchamps : " The return of motorcycle endurance to the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit is an integral part of the Circuit's diversification strategy and it is being done in the most beautiful way with a historic race brought up to date thanks to a new racing configuration which most interesting announcement ».

Nathalie Maillet, CEO of the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit : " It is with great pride that we announce the return of motorcycle endurance to the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit. A stone's throw from our centenary, it is also very symbolic, knowing that the first race held on the Circuit in 1921 was a motorcycle race. The Spa-Francorchamps Circuit is a fantastic setting for motor sports, both for two wheels and for four wheels. Hosting a new world championship on our historic track demonstrates the attractiveness of our Circuit, we are delighted to be part of a Championship with prestigious races ».

Franck Vayssié, Director of the FIM CCR Commission : "The FIM is pleased to see Spa-Francorchamps adapt its infrastructure to the safety standards required for the World Endurance Championship. We worked with the circuit and Eurosport Events on this ambitious project and will support these two partners over the next two years until the track is approved and this new major 24-hour race takes place. ».