The 2026 edition of the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps delivered one of the most dramatic and unpredictable FIA World Endurance Championship weekends in recent memory. A record crowd of more than 101,000 spectators packed the Ardennes circuit to witness breakthrough performances, shocking incidents, and a historic first Hypercar victory for BMW on home soil.
Friday Qualifying: Peugeot and Lexus Shock the Field
Friday’s qualifying sessions produced major surprises in both Hypercar and LMGT3.
In Hypercar, Peugeot secured its maiden FIA WEC pole position thanks to an outstanding lap from Malthe Jakobsen in the #94 Peugeot 9X8. Jakobsen recovered from an early spin at Raidillon during qualifying and still managed to set a stunning 2:00.653 lap time in Hyperpole.
The #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entry qualified second, just 0.043 seconds behind the Peugeot, while the #35 Alpine completed the top three.
Several championship favourites struggled badly. Both factory Toyota entries failed to reach Hyperpole, alongside the #51 Ferrari AF Corse and the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P. It was one of Ferrari’s weakest qualifying performances since the introduction of the Hypercar era.
In LMGT3, Lexus continued its strong form as Hadrien David put the #78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3 on pole position.
Race Day: Chaos, Strategy and Historic Victory
Saturday’s race began under dry conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, but the six-hour contest quickly turned into a strategic thriller filled with incidents and changing fortunes.
The pole-sitting Peugeot initially controlled the early stages, but disaster struck later in the race when the #94 Peugeot collided with the #79 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 car. The contact eliminated Peugeot’s best chance at victory after what had looked like a breakthrough weekend for the French manufacturer.
As rivals encountered traffic issues and strategy complications, BMW M Team WRT steadily moved forward from only 10th and 11th on the grid. Clever pit strategy, clean execution, and perfectly timed race management allowed the Belgian squad to fight into contention during the closing hours.
In the end, the #20 BMW driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde claimed BMW’s first Hypercar-era FIA WEC victory. The sister #15 BMW finished second, completing a sensational one-two finish for the manufacturer at Team WRT’s home race.
Ferrari recovered strongly from its disappointing qualifying session. The #50 Ferrari AF Corse crew of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen fought through the field to secure third place on the podium.
Aston Martin also impressed with a fourth-place finish for the #007 Valkyrie, continuing the development progress of the striking V12-powered Hypercar.
Toyota salvaged valuable championship points with the #7 GR010 Hybrid finishing fifth after starting outside the Hyperpole positions.
LMGT3: Garage 59 Triumphs
In LMGT3, Garage 59 bounced back from disappointment at Imola to take victory with its McLaren entry after starting only 15th on the grid. The trio of Antares Au, Tom Fleming, and Marvin Kirchhöfer delivered a consistent and mistake-free race to secure the class win.
Meanwhile, the pole-sitting Lexus entries could not convert their qualifying pace into victory despite showing strong speed throughout the weekend.
A Weekend to Remember at Spa
The 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Spa showcased everything that makes endurance racing special: changing strategies, unpredictable incidents, breakthrough victories, and massive crowds. BMW’s emotional first Hypercar win, Peugeot’s dramatic collapse after taking pole, and Ferrari’s recovery drive ensured the Spa weekend became one of the standout races of the season so far.
📸 Elias Hautmann
