Driver comments after the 24 Hours of Spa

The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the third round of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup, saw the number 51 Ferrari 296 GT3 from AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors secure third place overall, while the number 74 car from Kessel Racing took victory in the Bronze class. At the end of the gruelling race, we caught up with the drivers to hear their thoughts.

Alessandro Pier Guidi, 296 GT3 #51: “Considering how the race started, I can say I’m satisfied with the result. We were certainly lucky to complete the comeback, and we had to maintain a strong pace throughout. The team did a fantastic job, allowing us to gain ground little by little. Then, minute by minute, lap by lap, we recovered until we were even fighting for the lead. We came here hoping for success after what happened last year, but it turned out this way – we gave it our all.”

Alessio Rovera, 296 GT3 #51: “This third place means much more to us than last year’s second. The race started on a really tough note, during my first stint, when I found myself outside the top 60, I even thought it was already over for us, given we were a lap down, the high level of the championship, and the brutality of this 24-hour race. It was incredibly hard, but the team responded with great strategic work, and I must also praise the guys for their flawless pit stops. They always helped us gain positions or time, and we drivers pushed to the absolute limit in every stint. The team stayed united and never stopped believing, so this year’s podium is still a great achievement.”

Vincent Abril, 296 GT3 #51: “It was a crazy race. We started confidently from the second row, stayed with the leaders, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Then a small issue had huge consequences for us, and honestly, at that point, I wasn’t sure we’d even fight for the podium again. We managed it thanks to the team, the strategy, and us drivers giving everything. I’m really happy – this is my second podium here, and I hope next time we can climb to the top step. Pushing lap after lap was the only option; it felt like qualifying every single time because we had no margin for error. We were brilliant at exploiting every tiny opportunity, whether in traffic, pit stops, strategy, or our driving, as we couldn’t take big risks but couldn’t afford to lose time either. Everything worked out, and I’m very pleased and grateful to the whole team, Alessio, and Alessandro.”

Antonio Fuoco, 296 GT3 #50: “Overall, I think it was a positive race. From the team’s perspective, I don’t believe we could have done much more – we gave our maximum. We didn’t take any penalties and fought for the top positions right until the end. So, we leave Spa with no regrets, knowing we did our best.”

Arthur Leclerc, 296 GT3 #50: “It was an extremely tough race where we gave everything, and the final result is truly remarkable. Ahead of the event, we hoped for a better finish, maybe even victory, but given how the race unfolded, we have to be satisfied. Personally, I’m happy with my first 24-hour race, and I want to congratulate the whole team and my teammates, who did an incredible job.”

Eliseo Donno, 296 GT3 #50: “We tried everything to stay in the leading positions and secure the best possible result. This was my first 24-hour race, and it was an incredible experience, especially driving through the night. I’m pleased with fourth place – well done to the whole team and our teammates in car number 51, who fought back to third after a really difficult start, thanks to perfect strategy and the skill of Alessandro, Alessio, and Vincent.”

Miguel Molina, 296 GT3 #71: “It was a tough 24 Hours of Spa for us. We had some small issues early on, and then it got even harder. Overall, I think this was a positive experience for the Perez-Companc family. I gave my all to support Louis and Mathias and help them finish the race as strongly as possible.”

Davide Rigon, 296 GT3 #12: “We started quite well and were happy with our race pace in the early hours. Then a Full Course Yellow at the wrong moment left us stuck among the Pro-class lapped cars in a very tricky situation, and a contact during the night – while I was at the wheel – caused damage to the right-front suspension, costing us three laps. From then on, it was an uphill battle, especially with another technical issue in the morning, but we stayed calm and kept pushing to recover positions.”

Dustin Blattner, 296 GT3 #74: “This win is special because we also raced last year, but it was a very difficult event. So, to finish first this time, in this way, is a testament to our performance and Kessel Racing’s strategy. Not to forget, I had incredibly talented teammates like Zach, Dennis, and Conrad. It was truly amazing.”

Conrad Laursen, 296 GT3 #74: “It’s been a fantastic season so far, and winning this race with these guys is just unbelievable. Dustin was lightning-fast, as were Dennis and Zach. We’re a dream team!”

Dennis Marschall, 296 GT3 #74: “Honestly, we weren’t 100% focused on winning. Our priority was maximising points at the 6 and 12-hour marks for the championship. We hadn’t planned to give Dustin so much track time, but it worked out. Winning at Spa is a great result.”

Zacharie Robichon, 296 GT3 #74: “I felt some pressure in this race because I didn’t want to let my teammates down – they’re the ones competing in this championship all year. I knew the car was fast and my teammates were strong. From the start, it was clear I’d be the weak link. I just wanted to make sure I could match their level and bring the car back to the pits in one piece.”