Return of the Prototypes They already made an appearance, but very shortly and discrete. From the 20th until the 22th of September however they are back at full speed in Francorchamps : the prototypes, sportsprototypes as they are called nowadays. On the program of the Racing Festival, the last big event of Francorchamps’ season, we also find the 6th round of the FIA Sportscars Championship. After the GT’s and the salooncars in the 24 Hours, after the Formula 1 at the Grand Prix, Francorchamps will be invaded bij sportsprototypes, in the eyes’ of more than one motorsports-fan the most beautiful cars on earth. In SR1, the first category, we have a dozen of cars that participated in June in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Amongst them the Dome S101 Judd of Racing for Holland, championship-leaders, driven by former F1-driver Jan Lammers and Val Hillebrand. Opposition comes from the other Dome of Bepe Gabianni, but also from a bunch of Riley&Scott’s powered by noisy Chevy or Judd-engines. With the famous Italian pair Baldi-Sospiri. Other opponents are a Panoz, some Lola’s (ie Konrad’s) and, normally, two Courages C60 of Henri Pescarolo’s team with Bourdais, Lagorce and others. One with a Peugeot-engine, the other powered by Judd. In SR2, lighter cars with limited bhp, we are looking forward to the Lucchini-Alfa Romeo’s, Debora-BMW’s, Lola-Nissans and Pilbeam-Peugeots. You will receive a final entry list in due time. « I have always been a great fan of prototypes», admits Pierre Delettre, organiser of the Racing Festival. «I think they are wonderful cars. Much prettier than salooncars or one-seaters. When I got the news from the organiser of the British Formula 3 that they would not make it to Francorchamps (they will be back in 2003) , I immediately contacted John Mangoletsi to invite his championship to Francorchamps. The idea is to make the 1000 km of Spa revive. A race that is very peculiar to my family. Next year it will already be on the calender of the championship, but my ulitmate dream is to make it an isolated event. For those who usually take part in ALMS, Le Mans or even elsewhere. The 2002-edition, a 2h30-race, is just the beginning.» Delettre is known to be a fighter. If he starts something, you can sure it will happen and be a success. Even if the prototypes had to live with the competition of Formula 1 that picked in some manufacturers. The Racing Festival is not as busy as the Spa Euro Races, nevertheless 7 races are scheduled. Three on Saturday. Two rounds of the highly competitive Toyota Yaris Cup and one race of the Formula Ford Benelux Championship. Four races on Sunday. After the warm-up of the FIA Sportscars the last but one race of the Belgian Renault Clio Cup and of Belcar, with three Chryslers Vipers fighting against a whole bunch of Porsches and BMW’s. After the main course, obtaining an average speed of more than 200 km/h, we have dessert, the international Formula Renault 2000. A lot of action. For a small price. Only 14 euro. A paddock-ticket is for sale at 16 euro. For that price you could hardly get french fries, a pint of beer and a sausage at the Grand Prix.