Spa 24h: Morning update

Text: Rick Kiewiet

Images: SRO

AF Corse's #51 Ferrari 296 GT3 leads the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa as the race enters its final six hours, a remarkable turnaround for a car that spent much of Saturday evening two laps off the pace following a puncture while Nielsen was in front.

Pro: Ferrari's recovery steals the show

The #51 had led comfortably in the opening hours before the puncture dropped it out of contention, handing the advantage first to the #48 MANN FILTER Mercedes-AMG and later to the #64 HRT Ford Mustang, which ran at the front on an alternative strategy through the night. As rivals cycled through their pit stops and incidents reshuffled the order, the Ferrari steadily clawed back lost ground. By hour 14 it was back in third, passed the #46 Team WRT BMW for the final podium position, and eventually reclaimed the lead — a recovery that stands as one of the more improbable story lines of this race. The #48 Mercedes and #46 BMW remain in close company behind it.

Pro: Pit lane Porsche, Aston setback, McLaren woes

The #80 Lionspeed Porsche 911 GT3 R has been one of the stories of the race, working its way from a pit lane start to run as high as second overall at one stage. At hour 17 it sat fourth, just behind the #22 Schumacher CLRT Porsche. Meanwhile, Nicki Thiim — a former winner here and one of the championship's front-runners this season — lost the #007 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 at the top of Raidillon, the resulting front-left suspension damage effectively ending its challenge for victory. It was an uncharacteristic error from one of the field's most experienced hands. Both Garage 59 McLarens have also fallen away; the #59 retired early with brake issues, while the #58 — which had been a genuine factor in the opening third — dropped out of contention with radiator trouble.

Gold

The #58 McLaren's early Gold class dominance came to nothing once the radiator issues struck, and it is now well off the lead lap. The #998 ROWE Racing BMW heads the class.

Silver

The #65 HRT Ford Mustang GT3 leads Silver and has been running well in the overall order throughout.

Bronze and Pro-Am

The #991 Paradine Competition BMW holds a comfortable advantage in Bronze, with the #74 Ferrari its closest pursuer. In Pro-Am, the #999 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG leads narrowly from the #0 Chevrolet with six hours remaining.