Race report
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 24 Hours of Spa
Different strategies change racing order
Blancpain Endurance Series - Total 24 Hours of Spa - Race update after 2 hours
Edited: Jul 25, 2015, 8:48 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
A lengthy safety car intervention - necessary to repair the guard rails at the end of the Kemmel straight - and a drying track has completely changed the racing order at the end of the second hour of the Total 24 Hours of Spa.
The teams and drivers that gambled on a drying track and switched to slick tyres were caught out when a fresh rain shower hit the Ardennes track as we approached the second hour. Just after the two hour mark the rain intensified causing the Stewards to impose a full course yellow before an incident between the #3 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT car and the #53 AF Corse Ferrari and the third safety car was deployed.
Pro Cup
René Rast (#1 Audi Sport Team WRT) took the lead of the race when the safety car returned to the pitlane with 22 hours and 18 minutes left to race. The #59 Von Ryan Racing McLaren of Alvaro Parente dropped to sixth after having changed to slicks, and dropped even further down the order to 28th when it had to come back in for rain tyres. Other cars - such as the #23 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN car - suffered a same fate.
With the Top-7 cars having made their pitstop just before the two hour mark both BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS cars, who had dropped outside the Top-30 after the first pitstop, were leading the race. The #35 Saintéloc Audi was third and a surprising #63 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini, that started from the back of the grid after an engine change, in fourth.
Pro-Am Cup
The #79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW took the lead of the class - and a position in the top-10 overall - behind the safety car and Alexander Sims managed to hold on to that lead despite the difficult conditions. The #47 AF Corse Ferrari was in second ahead of the #4 Team WRT of Audi.
Am Cup
The only car leading its class not suffering from the conditions was the #24 Team Parker Racing Audi, that now enjoys a healthy lead over the #50 AF Corse Ferrari and the #28 Delahaye Racing Team Porsche in third.
Blancpain GT Series
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Wet start to the 2015 Total 24 Hours of Spa
Next article 2014 winners leading Total 24 Hours of Spa
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alvaro Parente
HubAuto Porsche squad reveals Le Mans 24 Hours line-up
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
HubAuto Porsche squad reveals Le Mans 24 Hours line-up
Parente, Goikhberg join Heinricher Racing for 2020
IMSA
IMSA
Parente, Goikhberg join Heinricher Racing for 2020
COTA Blancpain GT America: Battling Bentleys win season opener
SRO America
SRO America
Circuit of the Americas
COTA Blancpain GT America: Battling Bentleys win season opener
More from
Team WRT
Sheldon van der Linde ‘played elbows out when Cadillac couldn’t’ for breakthrough Indy win
IMSA
IMSA
Indianapolis
Sheldon van der Linde ‘played elbows out when Cadillac couldn’t’ for breakthrough Indy win
Valentino Rossi abandons Nordschleife Permit plans for 2026
Endurance
Endurance
NLS8
Valentino Rossi abandons Nordschleife Permit plans for 2026
Latest news
Into the unknown: What to expect from WEC's Barcelona debut
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
51 min
Into the unknown: What to expect from WEC's Barcelona debut
Josh Pierson earns IndyCar license approval following IMS road course evaluation test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 51 min
Josh Pierson earns IndyCar license approval following IMS road course evaluation test
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 1 h
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
2 h
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe