The 24 Hours Spa Karting is returning! Although the 2025 edition could not take place, organiser One Day Karting has decided to make up for it in 2026 with two events: one with a Sodikart fleet on 13 and 14 June, followed by a second with the traditional Biz Le Mans Twins on 5 and 6 September. Each with their own unique characteristics, these two events complement each other and both promise to be exciting and international.
In 2013, Patrick Van Billoen took on the somewhat crazy challenge of reviving the 24 Hours Spa Karting with his company One Day Karting. Since then, hundreds of drivers have been able to experience a 24-hour race taking place on the track located inside the most beautiful circuit in the world!
However, the organiser and his team had to take the decision not to hold the 13th edition at the end of August this year. “If it was a crazy challenge in 2013, I think it is even crazier today,” explains Patrick Van Billoen. “We always want to offer our competitors a wonderful experience, so we are setting up a live broadcast on YouTube, taking care of the night lighting and the layout of the paddock... But all this comes at a cost, and with late registrations, we were not sure we could cover it. So we made the decision that seemed wisest to ensure the survival of the event.”
There was no question of giving up for Patrick Van Billoen! However, there was a desire to rethink the concept in order to offer a new experience to participants. “And finally, after many discussions, making contacts abroad and looking for new solutions, we ended up with two possibilities. And since we did not want to choose between them, we are going to organise two events in 2026! Both will be part of international championships and will offer a whole new look with specific rules and a very different approach. It will be new, but it will also be exciting!”
24 Hours Spa Sodikarts: an event integrated into the Sodi World Series in mid-June
Scheduled for 13 and 14 June, the 24 Hours Spa Sodikarts will feature a new format. As the name suggests, Sodikart chassis will be made available to participants. “We will be collaborating with the Italian company MarkSpeed, which is based at the Jesolo circuit and has a well-established reputation,” explains Patrick Van Billoen. “Its managers organise several highly renowned races in Italy and they wanted to expand internationally by adding a legendary name like Spa-Francorchamps to their calendar. As with their other events, the rules will require a kart change each time the kart returns to the pits, with a set number of stops and maximum stint times. The aim is for all teams to start with the same chances!”
Against this background, the 24 Hours Spa Sodikarts will be included in the Sodi World Series calendar, an international competition which allows teams, and drivers, to score points throughout the year in approved races before the best compete in the world finals.
“They have already received more than twenty entries from different European countries,’ says Patrick Van Billoen. “So the standard will be very high and the race promises to be extremely competitive!”
The competitors will be given a warm welcome in order to limit logistical complications. “MarkSpeed will set up a village with identical tents in the paddock: one for each team,” continues Patrick. “We want to avoid any headaches for participants. Similarly, with the relatively strict rules on stint times, pure strategy will be more limited. So it is clear that driving will be the main factor for success.”
24 Hours Spa Twins: major developments for the September classic
Returning to its traditional late summer date (5-6 September), the 24 Hours Spa Twins will also evolve to include an international competition reserved for Biz Le Mans Twins chassis, twin-engine karts well known to regulars at the 24 Hours Spa Karting.
“These karts come from England and are used in particular in the famous 24 Hours of Teesside,” explains Patrick. “By virtue of their two engines, they are more powerful and better balanced. The driving pleasure is therefore very real!”
The change will not be to the chassis, but to the rules. “Unlike in previous years, there will be no kart changes during the 24 hours,” explains the organiser. “This was requested by several competitors, who wanted to have “their” chassis to manage throughout the race, and by the technical operator from Teesside. So it will be more of an old-school race. Everyone will have to manage their fuel, the length of the stints, and so on. This was requested by pure endurance fans who wanted an event where strategy could play a greater role.”
Another development is that the Spa-Francorchamps event will be part of an international competition featuring four 24-hour races contested with the same equipment and under the same rules. In addition to the Belgian round, those competing in the entire championship will travel to Campillos (Spain), Le Mans (France) and Teesside (United Kingdom).
For those who would like to experience this adventure, organiser Teesside Karting is offering a Black Friday flash sale with preferential rates. Registration for the championship will open on Friday, 28 November 2025 at midnight!
“As in 2013, we are once again facing a somewhat crazy challenge,” says Patrick Van Billoen. “As a former competitor and lover of the 24H Karting de Francorchamps, I have always been guided by passion. Here is further proof of that! Competitors will either be spoilt for choice or have the opportunity to compete in two 24-hour races at Spa-Francorchamps Karting with very different concepts. The regulations will soon be available on a website which we are revamping, and registration will be open from 28 November.”