Spa Wednesday Notebook

***While there was no on-track action on Wednesday, 57 GT3s rumbled through the Belgian Ardennes as the participants showed off their cars during the traditional parade. Drivers and team members drove their race cars over public roads from the track to the town center of Spa, where they were on display for the fans who turned up in big numbers.

***The start of the parade was hindered as local track staff wanted to voice their demands regarding working conditions as the cars left the track at La Source. It is not clear yet whether additional strikes will follow this weekend. A similar action led to the cancelation of the first on track session of the ADAC GT Masters weekend last month.

***While nothing is confirmed yet, there might be a possibility to see the European Le Mans Series at Spa next year. If this were to happen, it is not clear yet whether the ELMS would join the FIA WEC weekend at the beginning of May, or rather do a standalone weekend.*

***Earlier in the year Team RaceArt expressed their desire to field a Viper GT3-R in the Total 24 Hours of Spa. While the project didn’t materialize, the Dutch team is still looking to enter an international series with the American GT3, particularly the Blancpain Endurance Series and Creventic’s 24H Series. RaceArt is the only European team in possession of a Viper GT3-R.

***Indy Dontje will compete in the Total 24 Hours of Spa after all. On Tuesday ROWE Racing withdrew their second Mercedes from the event (No. 98), as promised funds dit not materialize. Former Formula 3 driver Dontje was still able to salvage a seat on the No. 71 GT Russian Team Mercedes, where he replaces Israeli Alon Day.

***The ‘Marc VDS & Friends Racing Against Cancer’ project is receiving a lot of support in the paddock. Not only were fans able to put their names on the car during the parade, a lot of companies also showed attention to the cause, with rival team WRT and the Belgian Audi Club both donating money in return for their own boxing glove on the car.

***The Racing Against Cancer Z4 is not part of Marc VDS’ setup in the F1 pitlane, but is run from the endurance pit by extra personnel hired for the project. It concerns the Belgian team’s taxi car, though the second seat was removed. The car carries the number 24.0, in reference to the four 24-minute long stints it will carry out during the race.

***Have a look inside of the new Audi R8 LMS ahead of its second twice around-the-clock challenge of 2015.

A look inside of the new #Audi R8 LMS ahead of the 2015 @24HoursofSpa. #AudiSport #GT3 #Spa24h #welcomechallenges pic.twitter.com/npzXvJ5Nnr

— Audi Sport (@audisport) July 21, 2015

Laurent Mercier contributed to this report