Race report
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 24 Hours of Spa
BMW wins first Spa 24 Hours since 1998
Markus Palttala, Nick Catsburg and Lucas Luhr took victory in a gruelling Spa 24 Hours driving the No.46 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS BMW Z4.
Sam Smith
Edited: Jul 26, 2015, 4:51 PM
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Dutchman Catsburg crossed the finish line two laps ahead of the Stephane Ortelli, Nico Muller and Frank Stippler in the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS.
It was the first victory in the Spa 24 Hours for BMW since 1998, when Eric Van De Poele, Marc Duez and Alain Cudici won in a BMW 318i. Palttala also became the first Finn to ever win the Spa 24 Hours today.
It was a popular victory for the local Marc VDS squad which had been close to victory in previous editions of the race. The winners broke free from a four way battle for the lead in the 20th hour, shortly after its sister BMW Z4, driven by Dirk Werner spun in to retirement with a seized engine.
Catsburg, who was the stand-out performer of the race, overtook Ortelli's Audi at La Source mid-morning and soon opened up a significant buffer, from where the Z4 then controlled the race as the Audi had no answer on pace or strategy.
"I am speechless," said Catsburg. "We have been trying so long and now finally in the last year of the Z4 we have managed to do it. Thanks to my team and my team mates. It will take time to sink in but we will have a big party tonight."
Another Audi, the No.5 Phoenix Racing-entered Audi R8 LMS driven by Nicki Thiim, Christian Mamerow and Christopher Mies rounded out the podium after capitalising on late race issues for the No.99 Rowe Mercedes.
An alternator problem claimed the Stef Dusseldorp, Nico Bastian and Daniel Juncadella Mercedes SLS AMG in the penultimate hour to heap heartbreak on the German team after they spent the majority of the race in the leading group.
The second of the Phoenix Audis crewed by former Le Mans winners Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Mike Rockenfeller came home in fifth place. Rockenfeller survived a heart-stopping spin at Eau Rouge in the morning for the car to come home despite a succession of early race issues.
The defending champions, Rene Rast, Markus Winkelhock and Laurens Vanthoor had a difficult race and could only finish 21st after a series of issues, the most significant of which was a rare early evening accident at Stavelot for Vanthoor.
As ever, there was heartbreak in the final stages with the ROAL Motorsport BMW Z4 of Alex Zanardi, Bruno Spengler and Timo Glock retiring just before the final hour began.
Ferrari 1-2 in PRO-AM; British Audi wins AM class
AF Corse ensured that Maranello's celebrations echoed from Spa to Budapest and back as the No.47 Ferrari 458 GT3 dominated the PRO-AM class.
Gianmaria Bruni, Alesandro Pier Giudi, Pasin Lathouras and Stephane Lemeret celebrated a two lap win after a faultless performance saw the car lead the majority of the race. They also took the chequered flag in a superb fourth place overall.
Making it a Ferrari 1-2 was the No.55 AF Corse entry with Matt Griffin, Duncan Cameron, Davide Rigon and Francisco Guedes securing the runners-up position. The points accrued by Griffin and Cameron ensured the familiar English/Irish duo stretched out their lead in the Pro-Am points standings.
Completing a great day for BMW and securing third position in PRO-AM was the Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4. Run by Barwell Motorsport, the Alexander Sims, Oliver Bryant, Devon Modell and Alastair McCaig had a flawless run to a highly merited seventh overall.
The British Team Parker Audi R8 LMS took a crushing victory in the AM class with Julian Westwood, Ian Logie, Callum McLeod and Benny Simonsen enjoying a near perfect run to a two lap win and take a fine 14th position overall.
The final round of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series takes place at Nurburgring in September.
Race results Top 10:
Pos. No. Drivers Car Time/Gap 1 46 Markus Palttala
Nicky Catsburg
Lucas Luhr BMW 24:00'53.611 2 2 Frank Stippler
Stephane Ortelli
Nico Muller Audi 1 Lap 3 5 Christian Mamerow
Christopher Mies
Nicki Thiim Audi 2 Laps 4 47 Stephane Lemeret
Pasin Lathouras
Alessandro Pier Guidi
Gianmaria Bruni Ferrari 5 Laps 5 6 Andre Lotterer
Marcel Fassler
Mike Rockenfeller Audi 6 Laps 6 51 Francisco Guedes
Duncan Cameron
Matt Griffin
Davide Rigon Ferrari 7 Laps 7 79 Alasdair McCaig
Devon Modell
Oliver Bryant
Alexander Sims BMW 9 Laps 8 78 Leo Machitski
Jon Minshaw
Jonathan Cocker
Phil Keen BMW 9 Laps 9 84 Harold Primat
Vincent Abril
Mike Parisy Bentley 9 Laps 10 32 Stuart Leonard
Michael Meadows
Stefan Mucke
Tom Onslow-Cole Aston Martin 13 Laps
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