Perera Replaces Siedler in Emil Frey Lamborghini for Spa

Franck Perera has been drafted into Emil Frey Racing’s driver lineup for the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa in place of Norbert Siedler, who is sitting out the event as the result of an accident during the official test days last month.

Perera will join Albert Costa and Giacomo Altoe in the No. 163 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, which is a full-season Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup entry in the Pro category.

The Lamborghini Squadra Corse official driver represented Emil Frey at Spa last year, but now drives for Graser Racing Team in IMSA’s GT Daytona class and ADAC GT Masters.

Perera’s addition to the No. 163 crew establishes an all-factory driver lineup and replicates the partnership that contested the 2020 race under the same car number.

A statement from Emil Frey on Thursday confirmed Siedler’s absence and said that the Austrian has not been feeling “100 percent up to par” following his crash during the June 22-23 test.

The accident prompted the team to source a new chassis in time for the following weekend’s Sprint Cup round at Misano.

Siedler drove at Misano and claimed a points finish in the opening race alongside Costa.

“Norbert Siedler isn’t feeling 100 percent up to par since his crash at the Official Test Days in Spa last June,” read Emil Frey Racing’s team statement.

“As he doesn’t want to take any risks, he decided – together with the team – not to take on the big challenge of the 24 Hours of Spa.

“Emil Frey Racing fully supports his decision and wishes Norbert a speedy recovery so that he may return to the next race at full speed.”

Siedler has experienced two heavy accidents behind the wheel of Emil Frey Lamborghinis this season, both of which have ruled him out of GTWC Europe events.

The 38-year-old sat out the opening round of the Sprint Cup season at Magny-Cours after an accident in Pre-Qualifying practice. He and Costa then won the second race of the next event on the schedule at Zandvoort, where Emil Frey took both victories.

Siedler, Costa and Altoe are yet to register points in Endurance Cup after the 3 Hours of Monza and the Paul Ricard 1000km.

Emil Frey Racing’s other Lamborghini lineups remain unchanged for Spa.

Jack Aitken, Konsta Lappalainen and Arthur Rougier will team up in the No. 114 Pro-class entry. Ricardo Feller and Alex Fontana – who are third and fourth in the combined GTWC Europe standings – are sharing the No. 14 Silver Cup car with Rolf Ineichen.