The 24 Hours of Spa is set to thrill fans with a record-breaking 70-car entry list, marking a significant increase from last year's 76 entries. This year's event promises to be a spectacle, with a diverse range of manufacturers and teams showcasing their prowess in endurance racing. The list includes a strong representation from Porsche, with 16 cars, and a notable presence from Mercedes-AMG, Audi, and Ferrari, each contributing multiple entries. The addition of new teams and the return of familiar faces make this year's race an exciting prospect.
One of the standout entries is the Schumacher CLRT Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, crewed entirely by Porsche factory drivers Ayhancan Guven, Matt Campbell, and Laurin Heinrich. This team brings a wealth of experience and skill to the track, adding to the excitement. The 2 Seas Motorsport stable also makes a strong showing with the No. 33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, piloted by a talented quartet of drivers, including Lewis Williamson and Scott Noble.
GetSpeed is another team with multiple entries, featuring a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo driven by Benjamin Paque, Marvin Klein, Jordan Boisson, and Patrick Charlaix. AF Corse expands its contingent with a fifth Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, crewed by Miguel Molina, Mathieu Vaxiviere, Custodio Toledo, and Peter Dempsey, a familiar face in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The HAAS RT squad introduces an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, with Steven Palette, Pierre and Mathieu Castelein, and Simon Balcaen behind the wheel. Sainteloc Racing also joins the Audi ranks with an additional entry. Porsche's dominance continues with High Class Racing and Tsunami RT fielding their respective cars, showcasing the manufacturer's commitment to the event.
Car Collection Motorsport and Era Motorsport bring their own unique flavors to the race, with Car Collection's entry featuring McKenzie Beecroft, Nicolo Rosi, Niccolo Schiro, and Joel Sturm, and Era Motorsport's lineup including 2024 British Touring Car champion Jake Hill and Kyle Tilley. Rutronik Racing expands its operations with an extra Porsche, driven by Michelle Gatting, Sven Mueller, and Martin Rump.
Motopark, a successful single-seater squad, ventures into GT racing with a Mercedes-AMG, crewed by Christian Mansell, Rui Andrade, Levente Revesz, and Yannick Mettler. Johor Motorsports Racing JMR adds a second Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R to the lineup, with a strong driver lineup led by Ben Green and H.H. Prince Jefri Ibrahim.
The race also features a host of returning drivers, such as Genesis Magma Racing's Mathieu Jaminet, who returns to a Porsche, and Mathys Jaubert, who joins the No. 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari crew. Paradine Competition welcomes Josh Rowledge and Jop Rappange to its driver roster, adding further depth to the field.
Century Motorsport's No. 42 Oman Racing entry gains a fourth driver, rising star Pedro Ebrahim, further enhancing the team's capabilities. Despite the increase in entries, the race organizer, SRO, has implemented a new qualifying format to maintain fairness and excitement.
The qualifying session will be split into groups based on FIA driver grading, with each group getting 10 minutes on track. A knockout Superpole session will then determine the top 32, with a further elimination round reducing the field to 16. The remaining 16 will have a final chance to impress, with the top eight progressing to a final shootout for the front-row positions.
This new format adds an extra layer of strategy and competition, ensuring that the race gets off to an exhilarating start. With such a strong field and an innovative qualifying system, the 24 Hours of Spa is poised to deliver an unforgettable spectacle, captivating fans and spectators alike.
