WRT lost (almost) everything at Spa after six hours

The strategy before the 24 Hours of Spa was clear among the teams: we survive the first half of the race by staying on the leader's lap then we attack on Sunday morning.

15 cars achieved the objective after six hours of racing, which took place under alternating conditions between dry conditions and light drizzles typical of the Ardennes. There Mercedes AKKA-ASP n°88 of Timur Boguslavskiy-Felipe Frage-Raffaele Marciello, who started from pole, leads the way. Six Porsche, a Mercedes, two Ferrari, two Lamborghinis, a Honda, a Bentley and an Audi are on his tail.

Only one Audi yes out of the five entered in Pro.

The No. 66 of Frédéric Vervisch-Mattia Drudi-Patric Niederhauser is the survivor of the massacre at the brand with the rings. Team WRT, although imperial since the start of the season, lost its three cars. Charles Weerts was the victim of the first big twist of this race.

The #32 Audi was harpooned after three hours of racing by the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW driven by Nicky Catsburg. The Dutchman did not emerge from the event unscathed either, as the BMW retired some time later.

At the end of the six-hour race, it was Kelvin Van der Linde's turn to experience disillusionment. The South African stopped at the side of the track at the wheel of the No. 31, which was then on the podium. As for the No. 30 of Matthieu Vaxivière-Ferdinand Habsbourg-Dennis Marschall, it found itself three laps down after a collision at the start of the race with a Mercedes. Saintéloc's No. 25 car was also delayed by one lap.

Another victim, BMW therefore with the n°34 but also the n°35. After 3h30 of racing, Nick Yelloly lost control of his car on a curb and ended his race in the tires. He was losing a turn in the adventure. Not cast, but definitely hit the mark on the propeller.

There were six official retirements after six hours of racing, including the #87 AKKA-ASP Mercedes lined up in silver in the hands of Jean-Luc Beaubelique, Fabien Barthez, Jim Pla and Thomas Drouet. There McLaren entered by Optimum Motorsport is more than 40 laps behind the leader.

Finally, let us note the waltz of penalties in place since the start of the race. Among the leaders, seven cars received a drive through, without consequences for the moment.

In Pro-AM, the Tempesta Racing Ferrari of Jonathan Hui, Chris Froggatt, Eddie Cheever and Giancarlo Fisichella leads the way while the Haupt Racing Mercedes of Gabriele Piana, Michele Beretta, Sergey Afanasiev and Hubert Haupt leads the Silver category.