The 1000km of Spa was held only three weeks after Manfred Winkelhock was killed in an accident at the series' previous round, the 1000km of Mosport. Halfway through the race, defending Drivers Champion Stefan Bellof in the Brun MotorsportPorsche 956 was battling for the race lead with 1982 and 1983 Drivers Champion Jacky Ickx in the RothmansPorsche 962C. Ickx led Bellof out of the La Source hairpin and down the front stretch into the Eau Rogue corner, starting the 78th lap of the race. Both drivers had only just been handed their cars from their teammates during a pit stop five laps earlier.