The 24 Hours of Spa is arguably the crown jewel of GT racing.
The list of previous winners reads like a who’s who of GT and before that, touring car racing.
This year though, the feel of the race is different due to COVID-19.
The absence of fans is the most notable; the parade into the centre of town is an integral part of the pre-race build-up.
The fact the race is being held in October, instead of the traditional slot at the end of July, means that over half of the race will run at night.
Another impact is due to fewer people being allowed to at the circuit, is that track limits, where the drivers run wide to gain an advantage, is only being policed at Eau Rouge and Radillon.
Raffaele Marciello, who qualified on pole position for Mercedes told the race’s website following the session: “The absence of track limits does not change much for me; it’s the same for everyone. They said we could do it, so we did it.”
With some of the worlds best sportscar racers and plethora of manufacturer-backed entries, the race will be a test of driver and car.
