The biggest race in GT racing is upon us this weekend as the Spa 24 Hours returns for its 75th running, 99 years since the event started. In case you didn’t know the details of this, the third round of the Intercontinental GT Series, here’s a quick rundown of the things you need to know.
2023 Spa 24 Hours preview | Start time, how to watch, who is racing
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What is the Spa 24 Hours?
Starting with the nice and easy questions The Spa 24 Hours is a 24-hour race around the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. It was first held in 1924, making it the second major twice-round-the-clock endurance race to start, just a year after the Le Mans 24 Hours kicked off the fad for racing for an entire day.
What cars race at the Spa 24?
Nowadays it’s a race for GT3 cars and GT3 cars only. There have been various iterations of the Spa 24 Hours over the years, starting off as a sportscar race, before it became a race for tin tops for most of its history, returning to the GT format in the early 2000s (it was once won by a Peugeot 306 GTI). Since the advent of modern GT3 the race has gone from strength to strength and now attracts cars and drivers from around the world.
What series is the Spa 24 part of?
The Spa 24 forms part of both the Intercontinental GT Challenge (a worldwide series of major GT3 races also including the Bathurst 12 Hours) and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
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What brands are racing at the Spa 24?
Pretty much every GT3 car that exists can be found on the entry list. Lamborghini, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin.
Any drivers I’ve heard of in the Spa 24?
If you know sportscar racing, then yes. It’s a veritable who’s who of GT and sportscar racing stars. To name a few you’ll find Niki Thiim, Christopher Mies, Dries Vanthoor, Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin, Mirko Bortolotti, Antonio Fuoco, Davide Rigon, Maximilian Gotz, Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre, Jules Gounon, Raffaele Marciello, Maro Engel, Daniel Juncadella, Earl Bamber and Fred Vervisch.
And that’s not all. There’s some names you’ll recognise from elsewhere too. Valentino Rossi continues his GT racing journey in a WRT BMW M4. David Schumacher (son of Ralf) is starting his own sportscar career and is racing a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Former BTCC racer Rob Collard is on the entry list as well as brother of Ferrari junior Paul, Ralf Aron. The Iron Dames are also taking part in their vivid Lamborghini Huracan. Racing away from IMSA and WEC means all four Iron Dames supported regulars will be in the car, Rahel Frey, Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and rising star Dorian Pin.
What time does the Spa 24 start?
The 2023 Spa 24 Hours starts at 16.30 CET (15:30 BST) on Saturday 1st July 2023.
How can I watch the Spa 24?
You can watch the whole event for free on SRO (the organisation which runs the Spa 24)’s YouTube Channel GT World.
Images courtesy of SRO/Patrick Hecq Photography.
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