GT 24 Hours of SPA 2021

Epilogue

What a race! #51 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Cöme Ledogar, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessandro Pier Guidi have been leading since the 11th hour. #32 Audi R8 LMS GT3 has always been very close… moste of time within 10” taking the lead at the start of the 24th hour, thanks to a smarter strategy by Audi Sport Team WRT giving Vanthoor wet tires after Pier Guidi got a set of slicks.

Just after Vanthoor left the pit, the rain started pouring. Despite the track being literally fled, Pier Guidi tried one more lap with the slick tires but it became impossible for the Italian driver to continue. The Iron Lynx squad had to make another stop to get wet tires. #32 Audi Sport Team WRT took the lead.

Several cars were in distress after Blanchimont, on the Kemmel Straight and at Eau Rouge due to aquaplaning. Safety car was launched with a bit less than 45’ to go enabling #51 Ferrari to save seconds.

when the safety car peeled of Pier Guidi had three cars to overtake and a 5” gap with Vanthoor.

In the penultimate lap, Alessandro Pier Guidi made a dramatic take over outside of Vanthoor at Blanchimont to get the lead back thanks to his maestria in the rain. That one will long be remembered by all racing fans and teams!

Alessandro Pier Guidi was handed the checkered flag of victory close to 4” ahead of Vanthoor. The Pier Guidi, Nielsen and Ledogar victory with Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo #51 is the fourth win for Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Spa. Ferrari had to wait 17 years for this one!

23rd Hour at 2:40 pm Sunday

 #51 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Cöme Ledogar, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessandro Pier Guidi leading since the 11th hour and #32 Audi R8 LMS GT3 with Dries Vanthoor, Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts in P2 have been separated by less than 10” during the last 3 hours.

It now starts raining a bit which could be to the advantage of the Audi #32 with Kelvin van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor sharing the wheel for the last 2 hours.

18th Hour at 11:20 am Sunday

#51 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Cöme Ledogar, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessandro Pier Guidi is leading since the 11th hour. The race is very tied as the Ferrari trio took the lead during 5th hour but lost it to #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo from Orange 1 FFF Racing Team between 7th and 10th hours. #32 Audi R8 LMS GT3 who started from P55 on the grid is very close in P2. #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo lost P3 due to a drive through penalty for causing collision. #95 Aston Martin Vantage is taking over to P3.

From 11th and 17th Hours

#51 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Cöme Ledogar, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessandro Pier Guidi is leading.

From 7th to 10th Hours

#63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo from Orange 1 FFF Racing Team takes the lead after #51 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 was handed a refueling infringement penalty but stays second.

5th and 6th Hours

#51 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Cöme Ledogar, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessandro Pier Guidi takes the lead from #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo from Orange 1 FFF Racing Team.

Fourth Hour

Under dry conditions, #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo is first, #51 Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo second, #35 BMWM6 GT3 third, #32 Audi R8 LMS GT3 who started from P55 on the grid is now fourth and #38 Mclaren 720S GT3 fifth

Third Hour

During the third hour the trajectory dried up. Laurens Vanthoor #47 Porsche was the first to change tires and went up in the ranking to P2. 8’ before the end of the third hour, he got a drive through penalty for not respecting the track limits thereby falling back in P21. 

Ranking at hour 3 was #37 Audi, #88 Mercedes-AMG, #88 Mercedes-AMG, #4 Mercedes-AMG, #63 Lamborghini.

Second Hour

After 55’ neutralization, a heavy downpour saw teams choising different tires strategies. As a result the ranking changed. N. Müller with #37 Audi Sport Team WRT is leading in front of B. Barnicoat with JOTA McLaren 720 S GT3 #38. Raffaele Marciello with #88 Mercedes-AMG Team AKKA ASP is third in front of L. Stolz with #4 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT fourth, #89 AKKA ASP fifth.

First Hour

Raffaele Marciello with #88 Mercedes-AMG GT3 leading under FCY in front of M. Bortolotti with # 63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3, #51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo and #66 Audi R8 LMS GT3

After 22’, 4 serious contenders were involved in a heavy accident at the Raidillon. Jack Aitken #114 Emil Frey Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo suffered a flat tire and went off against the rails. The car bounced back on track and hitted by sister car #163 with Franck Perera on the wheel. Kevin Estre with Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R #21 and Davide Rigon with Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 #71 couldn’t avoid the #114. Estre and Perera are OK. J. Aitken and D. Rigon are in hospital under observation lucky enough with no serious followings.

Mercedes celebrates 50th anniversary success at 24 Hours

For the 50th anniversary of its 1971 first success at the 24 Hours of Spa, the official Mercedes-AMG has two Mercedes-AMG GT3 starting from the front of the grid with #88 from AKKA ASP in Pole and #4 from HRT in row 2.

Mercedes count a third Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the top 10 Super Pole with #89, the second AKKA ASP car in the top 10.