The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa will officially launch this week with the traditional Wednesday evening parade to Spa city centre.
The first practice sessions for the of 76 GT3 cars was announced during the Prologue will follow on Thursday (free practice, pre-qualifying, qualifying, and night practice), while Superpole sets the top 20 grid positions on Friday and the 77th edition begins at 16:30 on Saturday 28 June
Last year more than 100,000 spectators were recorded between Wednesday’s parade and the chequered flag on Sunday afternoon and joining race fans this year are members of the Royal Family; Princess Louise and Princes Nicolas and Aymeric.
The Royal Family’s interest in motorsport is nothing new. In 1994, Prince Laurent participated in a car race at Spa-Francorchamps when he teamed up with Pascal Witmeur and Éric Van de Poele, five-time winner of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
After touring the paddock and taking a behind-the-scenes look at this unique event, the Princess and Princes will wave the national flag of Belgian at 16:30 on Saturday 28 June, when the 76 GT3 cars will line up in formation at the exit of the La Source hairpin to tackle the legendary Raidillon for the first time.
“We are very honoured to welcome members of the Belgian Royal Family to the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa,” said Stéphane Ratel, CEO of event promoter SRO Motorsports Group. “After Formula 1, which attracts mostly spectators from abroad, this great endurance classic is the biggest race of the year at Spa-Francorchamps. Our 24 Hours reaches a much wider audience than just motorsport fans. We are proud to welcome spectators of all generations, who come to the Ardennes seeking an experience filled with thrills, pleasure, and fun. Thanks to our collaboration with the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, we have been associated with this event since 2001. The 77th edition will also be the 25th of the GT era. The presence of Princess Louise and Princes Nicolas and Aymeric is therefore a wonderful acknowledgement and a perfect birthday present!” By Melissa Warren
