Breaking News: Thrilling Superpole Session at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – In a high-stakes 30-minute Superpole session held on Friday afternoon, the top 20 qualifiers in the individual time trial battled it out on the iconic 7.004 km Grand Prix circuit in the Belgian Ardennes. The race, featuring the GT3 racing car category, saw each vehicle competing in two flying rounds, with only the best time counting towards their final position.
Herberth Motorsport Secures Impressive Ninth Place
Among the eleven Porsche 911 GT3 R entries, four made it into the top 20, vying for pole position on a dry track with moderate temperatures. Joel Sturm, driving for Herberth Motorsport, achieved a remarkable feat by improving his time in the second round by almost half a second, securing the ninth position overall and the top spot in the Gold Cup.
“I succeeded in a pretty good round—I hardly believe that more would have been possible. With the pole position in the Gold Cup, we have reached our minimum goal, and we also start as the best Porsche. In terms of performance, we are missing in comparison to the competition,” said Joel Sturm.
Laurin Heinrich and Schumacher Clrt Miss Top 10 by a Hair
Laurin Heinrich, driving for Schumacher Clrt, narrowly missed the top 10, finishing in eleventh place. “We hoped for a place in the top 10, but starting from the eleventh position at the largest GT3 race in the world is not a bad starting position either. Unfortunately, we didn’t work perfectly in the Superpole. But we have a good car and a warm-up in front of us in which we can make the last fine adjustments,” Heinrich noted.
Porsche Works Driver Mathieu Jaminet Encounters Setback
Mathieu Jaminet, a Porsche works driver, faced a setback when the session was briefly stopped due to an accident, disrupting his second flying round. “This session was not very optimal for us because of the red flag—the accident came in the middle of my second quick round. After that I had to try the same tires again. This is of course suboptimal, but that’s what the rules are. At the end of the day, it doesn’t make a big difference, because the race lasts twice around the clock. Nevertheless, there is still a little work ahead of us for tomorrow,” Jaminet explained.
Evergreen Context: The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is the world’s largest GT3 vehicle event, featuring 75 racing cars. It serves as a crucial third run in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (GTWC) and the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). Drivers and teams earn points for the GTWC after six, twelve, and 24 hours. This year’s race is expected to be more competitive than ever, with top teams and drivers vying for victory.
Stay tuned to archyde.com for live updates and more insights into the thrilling world of endurance racing. Don’t miss out on the action as the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps promises an unforgettable weekend of high-speed drama and intense competition.
For the latest results and live streaming, visit GT World Challenge Europe.
