24 Hours of Spa

24 Hours of Spa

Definition and Historical Standing
The 24 Hours of Spa is a premier endurance motor racing event organised by the SRO Motorsports Group, held annually between late June and early July at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Founded in 1924, just one year after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it stands as one of the oldest endurance races in the world. The event was originally run for touring cars before switching to a pure GT format in 2001, and it now serves as the marquee round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup whilst also scoring towards the Intercontinental GT Challenge championship.

Circuit Characteristics
Situated in the Belgian Ardennes, the 7.004 km Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the longest circuits on the F1 calendar. It is celebrated for its dramatic elevation changes and iconic corners, with the Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex being motorsport's most famous high-speed uphill sequence, subjecting drivers to rapid left-right-left direction changes under intense G-forces. The track is renowned for its unpredictable weather and undulating profile, placing extreme demands on vehicle downforce setup and driver precision.

Competition Regulations
The 24 Hours of Spa is contested exclusively by GT3 machinery, subdivided into Pro, Gold, Silver, Pro-Am, and Bronze classes. Strict driver stint rules apply: each driver is restricted to a maximum of 60 minutes of continuous driving in a single stint (extendable to 65 minutes under Full Course Yellow or Safety Car conditions), must take a mandatory one-hour rest after three consecutive stints, and can drive for no more than 11 hours in total. Championship points are awarded at the 6-hour and 12-hour marks to encourage consistent performance throughout the race distance. Teams are also required to execute a mandatory five-minute technical pit stop between the 11th and 22nd hours.

2026 Race Highlights
The 79th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa was held from 27 to 28 June 2026, featuring a grid of around 60 GT3 race cars. The Lionspeed GP No. 80 Porsche 911 GT3 R, shared by Thomas Preining, Ricardo Feller, and Bastian Buus, took the overall win with 541 laps completed, crossing the line 12.3 seconds ahead of the runner-up. The team etched their name into the history books: forced to start from the very back of the pit lane following an engine change after qualifying, they pulled off an unprecedented comeback victory, delivering Porsche's first 24 Hours of Spa triumph since 2020. The No. 48 Mercedes-AMG crew secured second place, whilst the pole-starting No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse finished third to round out the podium, despite battling two punctures and a time penalty.