Preview: 2025 Crowdstrike 24 hours of Spa

Text: Rick Kiewiet

Images: SRO

Tomorrow, 16:30 local time (15:30 UK), 75 GT3 cars will launch down the hill from La Source to Raidillon as the 77th edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa gets underway. Qualifying has delivered its verdict and the grid for Friday afternoon’s Superpole shootout (16.10 local time / 15.10 U.K) is set. In this preview, we’ll look at who starred in qualifying, which teams are expected to shine in each category, which British GT contenders are pulling double duty — and yes, which royals are waving the flag.

Qualifying: McLaren strikes first

It was Garage 59 that took top honors in Thursday night’s qualifying shootout, with Marvin Kirchhöfer, Benji Goethe, and James Loake steering the #59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO to a 2:16.454 average — the best of the bunch. The British squad, which also competes in British GT, leads a Superpole-eligible top 20 that features a spread of factory firepower and privateer surprises.

Team WRT’s #31 BMW of Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann was second, while the #22 Porsche from Schumacher CLRT rounded out the top three with a tight average of 2:17.016.

Elsewhere, Mercedes-AMG's GetSpeed and MANN-FILTER crews were well inside the Superpole bracket, as were both AF Corse Ferraris, last year’s winner Comtoyou Racing, and all five BMW Pro entries. Notably, Verstappen.com Racing’s Gold Cup Aston Martin (#33) made it through in 14th, showing top-tier pace among the Pro runners.

Among the final Superpole invitees were the #92 Herberth Motorsport Porsche (Gold) and the #46 WRT BMW of Valentino Rossi, Kevin Magnussen, and René Rast, who just squeezed into 20th.

Class Overview: A grid of giants

Pro

21 entries. The most stacked Pro field in Spa GT history, featuring eight manufacturers. Defending winners Comtoyou Racing return with Drudi/Thiim/Sørensen in the Aston Martin. Team WRT and Rowe lead the BMW charge, with names like Vanthoor, Eng, Rossi and Magnussen. Mercedes-AMG fields GetSpeed, Boutsen VDS, and MANN-FILTER, while Porsche's four-car effort is headlined by Dinamic and CLRT. Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and Ford complete a diverse and high-calibre grid.

Gold Cup

12 cars. The most competitive Gold field yet. AlManar Racing by WRT leads the championship and fields BMW factory man Neil Verhagen. CSA Racing (McLaren) and Verstappen.com Racing (Aston Martin) are among the top contenders. Other brands include Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-AMG.

Silver Cup

16 cars. BMW’s Paradine Competition and Century Motorsport lead the standings, while GetSpeed’s defending winners field two strong AMG line-ups. Audi’s Saintéloc and Tresor Attempto are joined by Corvette, Ford, McLaren, and Aston Martin in a wide-reaching field of young talent.

Bronze Cup

19 entries. The biggest non-Pro class. Ferrari fields five entries including points leaders Kessel Racing. 2024 winners Tresor Attempto Racing return unchanged, while Porsche’s Rutronik squad and Mercedes-AMG’s Winward team also feature. Corvette returns to Spa with Johor Motorsports JMR, and the field includes cars from nine manufacturers total.

Pro-Am

Seven cars. A tight and seasoned group. CrowdStrike Racing defends its 2024 win with the same line-up, aiming for three in a row for Mercedes-AMG. AF Corse brings two Ferraris, and Comtoyou Racing adds Belgian flair to a category where strategy and consistency are key.

Familiar faces from British GT

A number of teams and drivers from the Intelligent Money British GT Championship are doubling up this weekend at Spa. Most notably, Garage 59’s #59 McLaren that topped qualifying is also a British GT regular, with Goethe and Kirchhöfer splitting duties between series.

2 Seas Motorsport, a leading GT3 team in British GT, is entered under the Verstappen.com Racing banner in the Gold Cup class with an Aston Martin for Thierry Vermeulen, Chris Lulham and Harry King — who normally drives a Porsche in British GT but switches to Vantage machinery here.

McLaren stalwarts Optimum Motorsport and Team RJN, both active in British GT, are also fielding entries at Spa. RJN’s entry includes DTM racer Ben Dörr in the Gold Cup, while Optimum fields a McLaren in the Bronze category.

In the GT4 class of British GT, drivers like Daniel Morad (racing here with Winward Racing in Gold Cup) and Shaun Balfe (replacing Miguel Ramos at Garage 59) bring cross-series experience to the Ardennes, reinforcing the strong Anglo-Belgian ties at this year’s edition.

Royal Start to a Regal Race

The Belgian Royal Family will again take center stage for the ceremonial start of the 24 Hours of Spa. On Saturday at 16:30 local time, Princess Louise and Princes Nicolas and Aymeric will wave the Belgian flag to officially launch the race.

Their presence underlines Spa’s status as a cornerstone in Belgian sport — not just a motorsport event, but a national festival. With live concerts, fireworks, exhibitions, and a massive fan village, Spa-Francorchamps will transform into a celebration of racing, heritage, and spectacle.