The 1973 edition of the 24 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps was marred by a number of tragic accidents that resulted in the deaths of three drivers.
During the seventh hour of race, around 23h00 in the night of Saturday 21 July 1973, Hans-Peter Joisten's BMW Alpina, current leader, tried to lap two Group 1 Alfa Romeos GTV cars in a line, driven by Claude Ballot-Léna and Roger Dubos, in the large right bend near Burneville. After he had passed Dubos, he went wide on the marbles and suddenly lost control of the car, which slid and crashed into the guard-rail on the slippery Malmédy bend. The car bounced on track at the exit of the corner, coming to rest in the middle of the track with its lights pointing the infield. Joisten's car was hit head-on by Dubos' Alfa Romeo on the driver's door. Race officials confirmed that both men were killed almost instantly.
Ballot-Léna who nearly followed his team mate, also crashed against the BMW, ending his veering some 100 meters ahead. He escaped unhurt and immediately ran back to the place of the accident in the attempt of helping his two unfortunate colleagues, also warning the oncoming competitors. The Alfa Romeo works driver "Pooky", in another Alfa Romeo GTV deliberately crashed into the barrier, avoiding the wreckages all around the track, and Huub Vermeulen in a Opel Commodore GS was also involved, damaging his car.
Shortly later Massimo Larini would crash his works Alfa Romeo GTAm at Les Combes; he was transferred to a hospital in Liège, where he would pass away seven days later.
R.I.P
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