- More than just a race, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is an automotive event
- Eight legendary cars from film and television to be displayed in the Red Paddock, alongside numerous supercars
- 77th edition of the world's greatest GT scheduled for 25–29 June
There are many examples of cars that found fame thanks to an appearance either in the cinema or on the small screen. Last year, to mark the centenary of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, SRO Motorsports Group presented the DeLorean from Back to the Future in the paddock, where it joined numerous other supercars. The fan reception was such that the concept has been expanded for 2025, with eight legendary cars set to go on display at Spa-Francorchamps between 26 and 29 June.
A year on from Comtoyou Racing’s victory with its #007 Aston Martin, the British brand will once again be in the spotlight both on and off the track. On display in the Red Paddock, James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 is sure to make an impression. Launched in 1963, the model bearing the initials of David Brown (who purchased the marque in 1947) helped to transform Aston’s image following the release of Goldfinger in 1964. Bond’s version was equipped with all the gadgets and weapons required for 007's missions: interchangeable number plates, a double Browning 1919 machine gun behind the front indicators, telescopic spurs in the wheels, oil jets, a passenger ejector seat, radar, GPS – even a champagne cooler in the armrest! In its ‘Silver Birch’ finish, the DB5 was also seen in seven other Bond films: Thunderball (1965), GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time To Die (2020).
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first instalment in 2025, the famous DeLorean DMC-12 from the Back to the Future trilogy will also be at Spa, making its return after last year’s appearance. This smoking car will immerse you in the adventures of young Marty McFly and scientist Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown. The Doc designed the car, which allows you to travel through time if you drive at the precise speed of 88 miles per hour. While the DeLorean DMC-12 was not a commercial success, its film version is forever etched into the collective imagination.
Closer to the present day, in 1998 a Peugeot 406 found fame in the French film Taxi. In the heart of Marseille, Daniel indulges a passion for speed at the wheel of his taxicab, which can transform into a racing car. Daniel ultimately finds himself teaming up with the police to hunt down bank robbers. The film, which won two César Awards and went on to spawn four sequels, has become a classic of French cinema, contributing greatly to the public's image of the Peugeot 406.
When you hear the word Magnum, what comes to mind? A bottle of champagne, perhaps, or an ice cream? How about a Ferrari 308 GTS?! This beautiful Italian car owes part of its fame to its appearances in the American series Magnum, P.I. To differentiate itself from the GTB (for Berlinetta), the GTS (for Scoperta) refers to the convertible version driven by private investigator Thomas Magnum. For Ferrari, which later replaced the 308 GTS with the 308 GTSi (for seasons 2 and 3 of the show) and then with the 308 Quattrovalvole (starting with season 4).
A complete change of scene brings us to the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, better known as KITT, an acronym for Knight Industries Two Thousand. Equipped with Turbo Boost and driven by Michael Knight, it was the star of the television series Knight Rider, which first aired in 1982. This summer, it will be on display at Spa-Francorchamps.
Sticking with the American TV theme, the orange 1969 Dodge Charger became famous as the General Lee, which starred in The Dukes of Hazzard. Named in honour of Robert E. Lee – who led the Confederate Army in the American Civil War – it delighted fans of chase scenes with its stunts and jumps. The series was so successful that it was adapted into a TV movie and then a film in 2005.
What would Starsky & Hutch be without their Ford Gran Torino? Fans of the series, which launched in 1975, will tell you that the big coupe driven by California cops David Michael Starsky and Kenneth ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson is a character in its own right. Red with a white stripe, the car has become as iconic as the series itself. Finally, alongside machinery from Great Britain, France, Italy and America, we must also pay a Japanese car its dues. But this is not just any car: the Toyota Supra Mk IV was so tuned (it reached 1,000 horsepower) that it became highly sought-after by street racing enthusiasts – and inspired Hollywood screenwriters. With its orange finish and stickers, plus an enormous rear wing, the Supra is among the stars of the Fast & Furious franchise. This car has played a major role in creating the Supra legend; indeed, its descendant will be on-track at Spa-Francorchamps in the GT4 European Series support race. That feels like a perfect final scene in this tale of cinema and sport.
This collection of famous cars will be on display in the Red Paddock, so fans will require a "General Admission + Paddock" ticket to admire them. All information and the complete ticket offering for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is available on the official website: www.crowdstrike24hoursofspa.com.