The TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps returns on 9 May 2026 as the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. Held at one of motorsport’s most revered circuits in the Ardennes region of Belgium, the race brings together 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3 machines from 14 manufacturers for six hours of endurance racing. Ferrari arrives as the defending race winner after a dominant 2025 campaign, while Toyota, Peugeot, Alpine, and newcomers Genesis lead the challenge.
What is the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps?
The TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is a round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the global series for prototype and GT sports car racing. Teams of three drivers share each car over the six-hour distance, with the race contested across two classes: Hypercar, the top tier featuring purpose-built Le Mans prototypes, and LMGT3, for production-based GT3 machinery. As the traditional warm-up event before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, Spa carries particular strategic importance. Teams use the weekend to fine-tune race setups on a circuit that, like Le Mans, demands a balance of outright speed on long straights and stability through fast, flowing corners.
When is the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps?
The 2026 event takes place across three days from Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May. Free Practice 1 opens on Thursday at 11:00 CEST, followed by Free Practice 2 at 15:40. Friday 8 May features Free Practice 3 at 10:10, with qualifying sessions for both LMGT3 and Hypercar classes in the afternoon. The race itself begins at 14:00 CEST on Saturday 9 May, with the chequered flag due at approximately 20:00.
Where is the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps?
The race is held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, located near the town of Stavelot in the Belgian Ardennes. The current 7.004 km layout features 20 corners, including legendary sections such as Eau Rouge, Raidillon, Pouhon, and Blanchimont. Originally constructed in 1921 using public roads over a 14 km triangular course, the track was shortened and redesigned in 1979 to meet modern safety standards. It sits at an elevation of around 400 metres above sea level, and its position in the forested Ardennes hills means unpredictable weather is a hallmark of racing here. The circuit has a spectator capacity of approximately 70,000, though attendance at the 2025 WEC round approached 100,000 across the weekend.
Key Contenders
Ferrari is the team to beat after winning the first three rounds of the 2025 WEC season, including Spa, with the 499P. The defending race winners, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi in the No. 51 car, return alongside teammates Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen in the No. 50. A third privately entered Ferrari 499P from AF Corse adds further strength. Toyota Gazoo Racing fields two GR010 Hybrids, with Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, and Mike Conway in the No. 7 and Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa in the No. 8. Toyota won at Spa eight times between 2014 and 2023 and will be eager to reclaim the top step. Peugeot TotalEnergies brings two 9X8 prototypes with drivers including Stoffel Vandoorne, Theo Pourchaire, and Nick Cassidy. Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, Alpine Endurance Team, BMW Team WRT, Aston Martin, and newcomers Genesis Magma Racing complete a strong 17-car Hypercar field. Notably, Porsche is absent from the grid in 2026 after withdrawing its factory Hypercar programme.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is broadcast live on TNT Sports and streamed on discovery+, following Warner Bros. Discovery’s extended WEC broadcast deal running through to 2030. In the United States and Canada, fans can watch via Max (formerly HBO Max) and the Discovery streaming platforms. The FIA WEC also launched its own direct-to-consumer streaming service, FIAWEC+, for the 2026 season. Available globally, it offers live timing, live streaming from Free Practice 3 onwards, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Across wider Europe, Eurosport carries live coverage, while in Australia the event is available via Stan Sport. The official WEC app and FIAWEC+ provide additional live timing and radio commentary for fans worldwide.
History and Records
The lineage of endurance racing at Spa-Francorchamps stretches back to 1953, when the Coupe de Spa became the first long-distance sports car race at the circuit. The event joined the World Sportscar Championship in 1963 and evolved through various formats, including the 1000 Kilometres of Spa, before becoming the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps when the WEC launched in 2012. Ferrari leads the all-time manufacturer win tally with 11 victories across multiple eras. Jacky Ickx and Sebastien Buemi share the record for most driver wins at five apiece. Toyota Gazoo Racing holds the record for most team victories in the modern WEC era with seven wins. The outright distance record stands at 1,232.704 km, set by the Audi R18 e-tron quattro in 2015.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps are available through the official FIA WEC website and Ticketmaster Belgium. General Admission for Thursday and Friday (free practice and qualifying) starts at EUR 40, with Saturday race-day admission priced from EUR 55. A full weekend pass covering all three days is available from EUR 65. Paddock access can be added for a supplement, with combined general admission and paddock passes starting at EUR 45 for Thursday and Friday and EUR 95 for the full weekend. Children aged 12 and under enter free of charge. Premium hospitality is available through the Endurance Club and Le Mans Spirit Club packages. Parking costs EUR 15 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps start?
The race starts at 14:00 CEST on Saturday 9 May 2026, with on-track action beginning on Thursday 7 May.
Where is the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps held?
The event takes place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps near Stavelot in the Belgian Ardennes.
How can I watch the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps?
In the UK, coverage is live on TNT Sports and discovery+. In the US, it is available on Max and Discovery. The FIAWEC+ streaming service provides global access.
Who won the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps last year?
Ferrari won the 2025 edition, with Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi taking victory in the No. 51 Ferrari 499P.