• "Coupe Du Roi" manufacturers' honours go to Mercedes-AMG at the endurance classic in Belgium
• Class victories for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GOLD, SILVER and PRO-AM classifications
• Performance Teams remain out of luck in a turbulent race despite strong showings

The toughest GT3 race in the world writes its own stories. Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing experienced this in extreme ways at the 76th edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The best Mercedes-AMG GT3 started the race on Saturday at 16.30 CEST from second on the grid with a promising starting position. After leading in the early stages, the Performance Teams were thwarted by a turbulent race on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Numerous incidents as well as thunderstorms and heavy rain during the night resulted in 22 Full Course Yellow periods. In total, the race was neutralised for a period of 9 hours and 16 minutes. After 24 hours, nine of the 14 Mercedes-AMG GT3s that had started the race saw the chequered flag. As the most successful manufacturer, Mercedes-AMG was awarded with the prestigious "Coupe Du Roi". The strong results in the individual classifications were crucial for this success. The Customer Racing cars from Affalterbach achieved a one-two in the PRO-AM class and first and third place respectively in the GOLD and SILVER classifications.

Three class victories for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the individual classifications

The GOLD Cup was won by AlManar Racing by GetSpeed, who took an excellent seventh place overall while running on the lead lap with the winner. The crew of the #777 Mercedes-AMG GT3 paved the way with a flawless race and the right tactical decisions. The Haupt Racing Team rounded off a double podium in third place. In the first third of the race, the #77 entry had lost a lap due to an incident. After four hours, the outfit was in 52nd place overall and subsequently put in a determined comeback drive. In the SILVER category, #3 GetSpeed achieved a further class victory. Yet another Mercedes-AMG GT3 made it onto the class podium with Winward Racing's #57 in third place. CrowdStrike by Riley and the Uno Racing Team with Landgraf celebrated a one-two in the PRO-AM classification.

Mercedes-AMG Performance Teams unlucky in the battle for overall victory at Spa-Francorchamps

Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER was in strong form right from the start of the race. Lucas Auer (AUT) initially took the lead. A puncture caused by carbon debris threw the team back shortly afterwards. The #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 worked its way up the order again and again following setbacks. Immediately after the halfway mark, a contact through no fault of their own led to a premature end to the race. Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed kept its chances of overall victory alive until the early hours of the morning. The team was in a promising tenth position when the front left wheel hub broke at around 8.00 CEST as a result of a collision. Jules Gounon (AND) brought the number 2 car back to the pits under its own power. Although the car was initially repaired there, it was withdrawn shortly afterwards for safety reasons.

The 24-hour race was a rollercoaster ride for the Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM. After an unlucky start from 52nd place in qualifying, the Performance Team had worked its way up to the top positions at times. During the night, however, a spin damaged the floor of the #130 entry. The damage increased as the race progressed. After a repair, the team decided to retire the car shortly after 8.00 CEST due to the significant loss of time.

„As far as the race for overall victory is concerned, it didn't go as we had imagined. Our Performance cars had the pace to finish on the podium. Unfortunately, we lost all three entries in the most difficult conditions. But to finish this extremely demanding 24-hour race as the most successful manufacturer makes me all the more pleased and we are proud of the Coupe Du Roi. I pay tribute to our Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Teams for taking three class victories and a total of six podium finishes in this turbulent race. In particular, the #777 of AlManar Racing by GetSpeed put in a strong performance and was rewarded with seventh place overall. Congratulations to Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing on their well-deserved victory.”
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing

„We had an incredibly fast car and were able to set the pace at the start. Unfortunately, we were repeatedly thrown back by bad luck and once you are at the back, it becomes very difficult. It was a tough race for us with a tough ending. Someone made contact with my car at the restart in turn one. I think they were battling behind me and one of them got it wrong. To retire like that is really very disappointing.”
Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER #48

„The race is definitely not one that we will remember fondly. Unfortunately, we had an irreparable defect in the morning hours, which is actually very unusual for us. Until then, we were at the front. Overall, it was a very challenging and unpredictable race. Nevertheless, our team was able to celebrate a successful weekend with victories in the GOLD and SILVER classes. And we have our sights set on overall victory again next year.”
Jules Gounon, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #2

„It was an incredible week with many challenges. There are so many factors you have to react to in endurance racing. In the space of four hours, we managed to move up to first position with a great strategy. It was a shame to have to retire the car. But we had good pace and showed a great race until the retirement, which we can be proud of. On the other hand, I also made a few mistakes, which is certainly normal for a rookie in his first GT3 race. It was a very instructive experience for me. Many thanks to Mercedes-AMG for the fantastic opportunity.”
Frederik Vesti, Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM #130

„That was a fantastic, but also very hectic race. The conditions and the positions were actually constantly changing. My pulse was very high throughout. But all the work paid off and I'm very happy with the result. We won the class and finished third in the IGTC classification, which is something we can be very proud of.”
Al Faisal Al Zubair, AlManar Racing by GetSpeed #777

„We had so many setbacks that I couldn't even list them all looking back. After around four hours, we had a contact and lost a lap in the gravel. We were able to work our way back onto the lead lap in the dark in the rain. Because we weren't in the PRO class, we were allowed to unlap ourselves during the numerous safety car periods. We always hoped that we would be able to catch up again. In the morning on a drying track, we were even among the fastest. That shows again that you simply can't give up.”
Jusuf Owega, Haupt Racing Team #77

„It's a great success for our entire team. Everyone did a great job and Mercedes-AMG provided us with a strong car. It was a very turbulent race with changeable conditions, but we managed to stay out of the trouble and made the right decisions in the tyre gamble. Winning the 100th anniversary of the race feels very good.”
George Kurtz, CrowdStrike by Riley #4

„I am particularly pleased with the success for the #777, because AlManar are not just customers, but also friends. The whole race was difficult to predict in terms of strategy. We also made the wrong decision once and put on dry tyres just before the rain came down. Fortunately, that didn't just happen to us. Overall, I see our team performance with one laughing and one crying eye. Both customer cars saw the chequered flag and won their class. But of course, that's no consolation for the retirement of our #2. It was difficult to stay out of everything.”
Adam Osieka, Team Principal GetSpeed