In 1971, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps became the stage for a race that changed motorsport forever. The 24 Hours of Spa not only delivered a spectacular victory for Ford but also marked AMG’s breakthrough into the racing world. Two iconic cars stole the spotlight: the winning Ford Capri RS2600 and the formidable “Rote Sau” from AMG.
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 transformed into a race car? Few would have believed it. Yet, this massive luxury limousine, modified by AMG, lined up on the starting grid. With its powerful 6.8-litre V8 engine producing 428 horsepower, the “Rote Sau” stunned the racing world by finishing second overall and winning its class. This success instantly put AMG on the map as a powerhouse in high-performance engineering.
The ultimate winner of the race was the Ford Capri RS2600, driven by Dieter Glemser and Alex Soler-Roig. This factory-built racer, developed by Ford’s Cologne-based racing team to meet Group 2 regulations, proved its dominance by finishing a staggering eleven laps ahead of the AMG. With this victory, Ford cemented its reputation in the European Touring Car Championship.
Want to relive this legendary race? The winning 1971 Ford Capri RS2600 is on display at Autoworld in Brussels. A unique opportunity to admire a true motorsport legend up close!
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