McLaren Dominates Qualifying
The 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa began with a strong statement from McLaren. Marvin Kirchhöfer secured pole position in the Garage 59 McLaren after consistently impressive pace throughout the practice sessions.
McLaren regularly appeared at the top of the timing sheets before qualifying. Their speed made the pole position result far from surprising.
The qualifying session was briefly interrupted following a heavy crash involving the #34 Aston Martin Vantage from Walkenhorst Motorsport. The damage proved too severe to repair. As a result, the team withdrew the car before the race even began.
Early Race Remains Calm
The opening phase of the race unfolded without major drama. Garage 59 converted pole position into an early race lead and controlled the pace during the first hour.
The first Full Course Yellow period arrived shortly after the opening hour. A high speed collision at Blanchimont involved the #22 Schumacher CLRT car and the #112 CSA McLaren. The incident required immediate intervention from race control.
Apart from a few smaller incidents, the race remained relatively stable until darkness fell over Spa Francorchamps.
Night Brings Major Setbacks for Favorites
The night hours dramatically changed the complexion of the race. Several leading contenders suffered costly setbacks or retirements.
Porsche endured a particularly difficult night. Most of the manufacturer’s Pro category entries fell out of contention. Defending winner Comtoyou Racing also suffered disappointment with its Aston Martin Vantage.
Mercedes faced similar challenges. By dawn, only the famous Mamba Mercedes remained a realistic contender for overall victory.
Grasser Racing Takes Control
At the halfway mark, the #63 Lamborghini from Grasser Racing Team emerged as the race leader. The Austrian squad steadily built momentum as rivals encountered problems.
The closing stages produced intense pressure on the leading Lamborghini. However, fortune favored Grasser Racing during a crucial pit stop. A Full Course Yellow period was declared while the team was in the pit lane.
This timing significantly reduced the time loss compared with competitors. The advantage proved vital in the battle for victory.
Meanwhile, the Mamba Mercedes received a decisive penalty after causing a collision with an HRT Ford. The sanction effectively ended the team’s hopes of fighting for the win.
Historic First Spa Victory for Lamborghini
After 24 demanding hours, Lamborghini celebrated a landmark achievement. Grasser Racing Team delivered the Italian manufacturer’s first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Spa.
The winning lineup featured Luca Engstler, Mirko Bortolotti, and South African driver Jordan Pepper. Their performance combined speed, consistency, and reliability throughout the event.
Second place went to the #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche. It finished as the only remaining professional Porsche entry near the front of the field.
Third place was secured by the #50 AF Corse Ferrari. The sister Ferrari followed closely behind in fourth position.
Fresh from victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours one week earlier, Rowe Racing completed another strong performance by finishing fifth overall.
Verstappen.com Aston Martin Wins Gold Cup
The Gold Cup category produced another impressive story. The Verstappen.com Racing Aston Martin claimed class victory after a flawless race.
The team also achieved an outstanding ninth place overall finish against the stronger Pro category competition.
Class winners:
Pro Cup: Grasser Racing Team
Gold Cup: Verstappen com Racing
Silver Cup: Walkenhorst Motorsport
Bronze Cup: Kessel Racing
ProAm Cup: AV Racing by CC Motorsport
Ferrari Reveals New 296 GT3 Evolution
Away from the racing action, Ferrari used the event to unveil the latest evolution of the successful Ferrari 296 GT3.
The model has become one of the most successful GT3 cars in modern racing. Over the past three seasons, it has collected more than 140 victories across numerous championships worldwide.
The updated version highlights Ferrari’s commitment to maintaining its competitive edge in international GT racing.
A Memorable Edition of the 24 Hours of Spa
The 77th running of the 24 Hours of Spa delivered everything expected from a world class endurance race. High speed drama, changing fortunes, strategic battles, and historic achievements defined the event.
Lamborghini’s breakthrough victory with Grasser Racing Team will stand as one of the most significant moments in the history of the Belgian endurance classic.
Photos: ©Niklas Husmann