Circuit National de Francorchamps

Jean Xhenceval is ready to take over from Martino Finotto, still at the wheel of the No. 1 BMW 3.0 CSL of the Luigi Team during the 1976 Spa 24 Hours, while we notice the excellent Pierre Dieudonné, third driver of this crew, sitting on the right of the photo above.

Note the sign “Circuit National de Francorchamps” , the official name at the time, whereas we have become accustomed to speaking of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit or simply Francorchamps.

Bad luck for the two BMW 3.0 CSLs of Team Luigi, the overwhelming favorites for the event, who were forced to retire with engine failures. And it was another BMW 3.0 CSL, a private entry driven by the Belgians Chavan/Detrin/Demuth, which, to everyone’s surprise, and after a remarkably consistent race, took the victory (photo below).