24 Hours of Spa, overall podium and class win for Ferrari

The 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the third round of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup, saw the number 51 Ferrari 296 GT3 of AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors take third place overall with official drivers Alessandro Pier Guidi and Alessio Rovera alongside Vincent Abril. In the Bronze Cup, the number 74 Kessel Racing car with Dustin Blattner, Conrad Laursen, Dennis Marschall and Zacharie Robichon returned to victory after their success in the season-opener at Paul Ricard.

This edition was characterised by fine weather and high temperatures (26°C at the start and 29°C at the chequered flag) and, especially in the early hours, by numerous interruptions with Full Course Yellows and Safety Car deployments called by the marshals to clear the circuit safely after incidents and collisions.

Pro Cup. Pier Guidi-Rovera-Abril crossed the line in fourth place, but a 30-second penalty imposed on their rivals (for exceeding track limits) promoted them to the final podium step. The result rewarded the comeback completed by the number 51 crew, who had to return to the pits two hours into the race to replace the brakes. The time lost dropped the Italo-Belgian car to 65th place, but through determination, strategy, multiple overtakes and the help of a few Safety Cars, Pier Guidi, Rovera and Abril managed to secure a podium finish. The second AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors car, the number 50 driven by the official drivers Arthur Leclerc and Antonio Fuoco with Eliseo Donno, also benefited from the penalty. After finishing fifth, they were promoted to fourth at the end of a race that saw them consistently fighting at the front.

Pro Am Cup. The number 71 AF Corse 296 GT3 with Luis and Mathias Perez-Companc, Stephan Lemeret and official driver Miguel Molina finished fourth in a race hampered by three punctures (the third in the final hour) and, most significantly, a nighttime collision that forced an unscheduled pit stop for repairs. The second AF Corse entry, the number 70 with Custodio Toledo, Matthew Bell, Blake McDonald and Riccardo Agostini, was forced to retire shortly after the fourth hour due to damage sustained in an accident.

Bronze Cup. Thanks to their victory at the 24 Hours of Spa (and points earned at intermediate stages), the number 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 consolidated its lead in the standings after a race spent battling at the front. A podium could also have been on the cards for the number 93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta car with Chris Froggatt, Eddie Cheever III, Jonathan Hui and Lorenzo Patrese, but a mechanical issue on Sunday morning forced their retirement while they were fighting for a top-three finish. In the class, the number 8 Kessel Racing car with Nicolò Rosi, Niccolò Schirò, David Fumanelli and Daniele Di Amato finished eighth, while the number 52 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors entry with Jef and Louis Machiels, Marcos Siebert and Tommaso Mosca (delayed by two punctures and a penalty) took ninth. The number 12 Rinaldi Racing car with Christian Hook, David Perel, official driver Davide Rigon and Felipe Fernandez Laser finished 11th, undoubtedly hampered by a rear-end collision during the night.

296 GT3 Evo. The Spa-Francorchamps paddock also hosted the unveiling of the new 296 GT3 Evo, a competition car set to debut in the 2026 season. It has been developed using the experience gained on track over the last two seasons with the standard 296 GT3 (which was first presented at the Ardennes circuit in July 2022) and the 296 LMGT3 competing in the FIA WEC.

Championship. The 24 Hours of Spa also counted as the third round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. The GT World Challenge Europe calendar now features a double-header in the Sprint series (at Misano from 18 to 20 July and Magny-Cours from 1 to 3 August), while the Endurance Cup resumes at the end of August (29-31) with the fourth round at the Nürburgring.