- Ten teams contest the 24-hour classic in Belgium with 14 Mercedes-AMG GT3s
- Five Mercedes-AMG GT2s and three Mercedes-AMG GT4s in the supporting programme
- Stefan Wendl: "I am confident that we will achieve a good result."
Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing is entering the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa with a line-up of ten Customer Racing Teams, 14 Mercedes-AMG GT3s, 50 drivers and a clear objective of claiming overall victory in the world's biggest GT3 race. This year's event at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps will take place from 27 to 30 June and will mark a special birthday. The Belgian endurance classic was held for the first time in 1924, exactly 100 years ago. Due to several years of disruption, this year's anniversary race is the 76th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa. The 2024 field consists of 67 GT3 cars from nine manufacturers.
>> Layout Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
>> Anniversary design ‘130 Years Of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport’
Four Mercedes-AMG GT3s compete for overall victory in the PRO class
The race for victory will be decided in the 24-car PRO category, with four Mercedes-AMG GT3s competing in this class. Frederik Vesti (DEN), Reserve Driver of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, will also be part of the PRO field. The 22-year-old will be contesting his first race in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM. In addition, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed and Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER will each field one car in the top category. The fourth Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the PRO class will be entered by Boutsen VDS. This year, the Belgian team is competing as a Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Team at the Ardennes rollercoaster for the first time. The team has nominated local hero Ulysse de Pauw (BEL), among others, for its home race. Three Mercedes-AMG GT3s each have been entered for the GOLD and PRO-AM classifications, while four more will compete in the SILVER class.
During the official test days at the end of May, all 14 Mercedes-AMG GT3s were able to gather important data and experience on the Formula 1 circuit. As a result, the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Teams are well prepared for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The sporting action already begins on Thursday evening: In qualifying, the best average lap time achieved in four sessions will be used to determine the 20 starters for the Superpole time trial on Friday. The 24 Hours of Spa will go underway on Saturday, 29 June at 4.30 pm CEST.
Series individual standings: Mercedes-AMG in promising position
Once again this year, championship points will be awarded for both the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup – after six, twelve and 24 hours of racing – and the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Luca Stolz (GER) is second in the IGTC drivers' standings, while two-time 24 Hours of Spa winner Jules Gounon (AND) is third. Prince Jefri Ibrahim (MAS) leads the Independent Cup, which is restricted to PRO-AM entries. Mercedes-AMG is second in the Manufacturers' Championship after two of four races. Together with Fabian Schiller (GER), Gounon and Stolz are also third overall in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup standings.
Supporting programme: Eight more Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing cars in action
Both the Fanatec GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli and the GT4 European Series powered by Rafa Racing Club will contest their third race weekend of the season as part of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
The AKKODIS ASP Team, NM Racing Team and Motorsport98 will take on the two GT2 European Series one-hour races with a total of five Mercedes-AMG GT2s. Jean-Luc Beaubelique and Gilles Vannelet (both FRA) of the AKKODIS ASP Team lead the AM drivers' standings after scoring three class podiums in four races.
The NM Racing Team will also be running two Mercedes-AMG GT4s in the GT4 European Series, where the Spanish team has already claimed a win and a podium this season. EastSide Motorsport will field another Mercedes-AMG GT4.
"100 years of the 24 Hours of Spa and 130 years of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport – in 2024 we will be celebrating two unique anniversaries in Belgium. Our brand's successes are closely linked to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps both historically and beyond the 24-hour race. We took our first victory here in 1971 with a car from Affalterbach. At the centenary edition, we want to achieve our third overall victory since the introduction of our Customer Racing programme. I wish our ten teams every success and the necessary luck. I am also particularly proud that we are deploying the entire spectrum of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport at Spa. With Frederik, we will see a driver from our Formula 1 team in the cockpit of a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the first time."
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
"The 24 Hours of Spa is the biggest and most demanding GT3 endurance race in the world. We optimised our preparations during the official test days. We will be fielding our Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 130-year design once again, but with a different line-up because the Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM is taking over. I am confident that our line-up of debutants and veterans will achieve a good result. I'm also excited about our five Mercedes-AMG GT2s and three Mercedes-AMG GT4s that will be racing in the supporting programme."
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing
"This race is very important to me. I achieved my first major victory at Spa-Francorchamps at the start of my career in 2017. I was able to repeat this success with Mercedes-AMG in 2022. That's why this race will always have a special place in my heart. I'm eager to score a third victory. We had a disappointing weekend at the Nürburgring 24h. That's why we're all the more determined to achieve a good result at Spa. There's no doubt about it: this race is one of the toughest to win."
Jules Gounon, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #2
"We had a crazy weekend last year. We had to organise a new vehicle and a new driver at short notice after the incident in training – and still managed to win the PRO-AM class. That gives us confidence. We have a competitive line-up and I expect that we can compete for victory in our class. The race almost feels like a 24-hour sprint race, which is particularly physically demanding. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, it is one of my favourite races."
Nicky Catsburg, CrowdStrike by Riley #4
"Joining a new team for the most important race of the season is no easy task. But I am simply happy and proud to be able to ride with Boutsen VDS, a Belgian team. Of course, I'm preparing myself in the best possible way. It's a great honour to be part of such a famous race in my own country. I was always there as a spectator as a child, so this means a lot to me. My family usually is not at the track, but they will be supporting me at my home race in Spa. That's also very important for me, because the race will be a big challenge, especially mentally."
Ulysse de Pauw, Boutsen VDS #9
"The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the ideal place to race. The differences in altitude, the fast and demanding corners – all of this gives the track its unique character. I'm delighted that the Uno Racing Team has included me in the line-up and wants to win the PRO-AM classification with me. There are only five cars entered in our class, but they are all high-calibre. We have to do our best and make fewer mistakes than the competition in order to succeed. Spa is always good for surprises. The biggest challenge could be the weather."
Indy Dontje, Uno Racing Team with Landgraf #16
"The anticipation for Spa is huge – it's simply a cool race on a special track. Together with the high-calibre field of participants, this combination makes the whole event unique. Maro and I have had a strong season so far in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup. A good result in Spa is therefore very important for the overall standings. During the test we were able to sort out the last little issues and every driver got enough time in the cockpit. We have a good car and are perfectly prepared as a team."
Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER #48
"The race is one of the highlights on the calendar and demands everything from drivers and teams. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the race. We weren't so lucky last year and retired early in the morning. That gives me extra motivation to achieve a strong result for the team and Mercedes-AMG in 2024. The 24 Hours of Spa is the epitome of an endurance race, so just seeing the chequered flag is already an achievement. We have a great package with 2 Seas Motorsport. I thank Mercedes-AMG and 2 Seas for this opportunity and look forward to an exciting weekend."
Frank Bird, 2 Seas Motorsport #60
"As it's my debut, I can't judge it for myself yet, but I've been told that the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps is very demanding. The track has a good flow with lots of fast corners and huge elevation changes. In other words, everything you need for a great track. Driving through the Eau Rouge in particular is a special feeling every time. With Michele Beretta and Arjun Maini, we have a great line-up, but only three drivers on one car also means more driving time for each individual and therefore an additional challenge. We hope to win the GOLD class and also to finish high up in the overall standings."
Jusuf Owega, Haupt Racing Team #77
"Although I've driven the race a few times now, it's always an absolute highlight. We obviously want to win the SILVER class, but the competition is tough. However, I'm in a positive mood. We have a good team, a good vehicle and the test days were also very promising. We are trying to get the maximum out of it. I am eagerly awaiting the unpredictable weather conditions. While I enjoy driving in the rain, it is essential to be able to drive in these conditions at first. If the conditions are favourable for us, anything is possible."
Patrick Assenheimer, Madpanda Motorsport #90
"I am definitely looking forward to my first GT race. It's really cool to get this opportunity. The test went really well despite some challenging weather conditions. Basically, I want to win every race I compete in. I know it won't be easy. I still have a lot to learn. Compared to the open-wheel cars, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is much heavier. I have to get used to that. But in general, it's great fun to try out different types of racing cars."
Frederik Vesti, Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM #130
"The 24 Hours of Spa is a unique and very intense race on a spectacular circuit. The unpredictable weather and the darkness at night make the whole thing even more challenging, so it is important to be prepared. This is the first time my team and Prince Jefri Ibrahim are taking part in this race. We have prepared quite well together, have participated in the official test days and have already competed in a few races together this year. We are looking forward to the race and want to take home a trophy."
Jordan Love, Triple Eight JMR #888
"We are really looking forward to the 24 Hours of Spa. This is our home race and therefore always something special. This is the first time that Boutsen VDS is racing together with Mercedes-AMG in this classic. Ultimately, anything can happen here. But we have two strong car line-ups in different classes on the grid and hope to achieve the best possible result with both cars. Of course, the first goal is always to see the chequered flag in such a challenging and demanding race. This year the weather conditions will be special, so let's keep our fingers crossed that we can finish at the top."
Olivier Lainé, Team owner Boutsen VDS
