24H Spa – 4h: Marc VDS Racing resists Audi

Maxime Martin started on the front row at the start of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and quickly took the lead over the BMW Z4 Vita4One which started from pole. The Marc VDS Racing Z4 driver tried to open up as much of a gap as possible on his competitors, with the Belgian team having to perform a stop & go for an out-of-track overtake carried out during free practice. But the gaps remain tight at the head of the race since the race was interrupted twice, the first having been caused by violent showers while the second occurred following a road accident. Porsche 997 GT3 RMS which was driven by Frenchman Philippe Salini.

Bas Leinders, who replaced Maxime Martin at the wheel of the car leading the race, therefore has only a handful of lead over the Audi R8 LMS ultra of Team WRT currently driven by Stéphane Ortelli. The provisional podium is completed by the No. 8 Team WRT R16 LMS ultra driven by René Rast. The BMW Vita40ne which was on pole (Lauda-Franchi-Kechele) fell to 14th place. If the builder with the rings is in a good place, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich displays the face of bad days. The No. 8 R6 LMS ultra of Team Phoenix, crewed by André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Tom Kristensen, is in 53rd place, nine laps from the lead after suffering a suspension break at the pit entrance following a contact with the McLaren MP4-12C n°62 from Lapidus Racing. Adam Christodoulou, the author of this blunder, was excluded from the race.