13 Porsche tackle the 24-hour classic in Belgium 27.07.2022: 24 Hours of Spa 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge Round 2, 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) • Five Porsche 911 GT3 R with world-class drivers fight for overall victory • Porsche’s winning trio reunited in GPX Racing’s 911

24 Hours of Spa 2022
Intercontinental GT Challenge
Round 2, 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)




•    Five Porsche 911 GT3 R with world-class drivers fight for overall victory

•    Porsche’s winning trio reunited in GPX Racing’s 911

•    Presentation of the newest generation GT3 racing vehicle from Weissach



A total of 13 Porsche 911 GT3 R are entered for this year’s 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on 30/31 July. Five of the over 368 kW (500 PS) 911 contest the pro-category and have excellent chances to score overall victory at the world’s largest GT3 endurance classic. On the occasion of the event, Porsche Motorsport unveils the latest generation of a GT3 race car for customer racing.



With 13 Porsche 911 GT3 R, the Porsche customer teams are well represented at this year’s 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps. The long-distance classic in the Ardennes is considered the largest GT3 event in the world.

In the long and illustrious history of the event, which was held for the first time in 1924, Porsche racing cars have clinched eight victories to date. On the last weekend in July, the experienced customer squads are determined to add to this track record.



“The organiser SRO headed by Stéphane Ratel celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We’re expecting a particularly tough and spectacular grid line-up with a total of 65 cars,” explains Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “Our customer teams have entered 13 of our GT3 cars.

This makes Porsche the most strongly represented manufacturer in the race. We’re well positioned in terms of both quantity and quality. I’m confident that our five pro-class vehicles manned by world-class drivers will be serious contenders for victory. The key to success lies in the best use of the tyres.

During tests, we noticed that the latest renovations and modernisations at Spa-Francorchamps have left some rough ridges and edges in the asphalt and kerbs.



What’s more, the new gravel traps pose a risk to the tyres, so it’s important to cover the distance with as little damage as possible. We won with the current generation of the 911 GT3R in 2019 and 2020. We’re now aiming for win number three before our new GT3 car enters the competition in 2023.”



The race


The first 24-hour race was contested in Belgium’s Ardennes in 1924 – making this classic just one year “younger” than the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Until 1949, the track measured about 15 kilometres in length and ran between the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot. In 1970, the track was shortened to 7.004 kilometres and has remained virtually unchanged until today.



Last winter and spring, the storied racetrack underwent an extensive upgrade. As part of this modernisation, new gravel traps, among other features, was added to the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon passage. The basic layout, however, remained the same. Due to its location in the Ardennes, teams and drivers must expect unpredictable weather conditions at any time.



The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is considered the largest single GT3 event in the world. The endurance race is contested as round two of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) and is the third race of this year's GT World Challenge Europe (GTWC).





The new GT3 customer racer in the limelight


The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps sets the stage for a very special debut: In the paddock, Porsche presents the new customer sport racing car for worldwide GT3 series to the public for the first time. The successor to the winning current model will be on display from Saturday, 30 July.




The schedule (all times CEST)




Thursday, 28 July

10:50 am – 12:20 pm: Free practice 1
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm: Pre-Qualifying
8:40 pm – 10:01 pm: Qualifying in four segments (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
10:20 pm – 11:50 pm: Free Training 2



Friday, 29 July

6:20 pm – 6:50 pm: Warm-up
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Superpole



Saturday, 30 July

4:45 pm: Start of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps



Sunday, 31 July

4:45 pm: Finish of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps






Holger Eckhardt- photos Porsche