Image: Supplied.

Victory in the 2023 24H Spa EWC Motos for YART Yamaha ends the outfit’s 14-year victory drought in a 24 hour Endurance World Championship (EWC) race, as Josh Hook and the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team finished the event in second.

Despite a sluggish start for Marvin Fritz, YART Yamaha – consisting also of Niccolo Canepa and Karel Hanika –  quickly took the fight to its title rivals in an early showdown at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

F.C.C. TSR Honda led the Spa order after eight hours, with YART repaying the compliment after 16. But while YART largely stayed out of trouble, exhaust problems forced F.C.C. TSR Honda into the pits for five minutes just after the 16-hour mark.

This costly stoppage allowed YART to steal a march, and even a damaged rear tyre just before 19 hours was swiftly changed in the pits, allowing the team to continue its victory charge for its first win over 24 hours since it triumphed at Le Mans in 2009.

Belgian squad BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team took full advantage of a series of Yoshimura SERT Motul misfortunes to take third place in its home event, with the Suzuki-powered squad placed fourth.

Meanwhile, National Motos Honda revived its FIM Endurance World Cup title hopes after topping the podium in the Dunlop Superstock Trophy category.

Up next, the EWC heads from Belgium to Japan for the 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race from 4-6 August.

Detailed results