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Intercontinental GT Challenge

Spa Tuesday Notebook

Vincent Wouters’ Tuesday notebook from the 24H of Spa…

Photo: Vincent Wouters

Photo: Vincent Wouters

***The entry list for the Total 24 Hours of Spa that what released at the official test day for the event at the beginning of the month underwent several changes and additions since then. There are still 65 cars scheduled to take part in the event, though one entry has disappeared, while another has joined field.

***Antonelli Motorsport was the latest team enter the race. The Italian squad, which competes in the Italian GT Championship, will field a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 for Michela Cerruti, Cédric Sbirazzuoli, Loris Spinelli and Gianluca Giraudi in the Pro Am Cup. This brings the total number of Huracán GT3s up to 11.

***The No. 111 Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 that was entered in the AM Cup has been withdrawn. However, two of the drivers have been able to secure drives elsewhere. South African David Perel will compete in the No. 30 Team Parker Racing Bentley Continental GT3 (Am Cup), while local driver Bernard Delhez has moved over the to No. 41 Pro Am Cup entered CMR Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

***Riccardo Ragazzi is the fourth and final driver in the No. 52 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3. The Italian joins Aaron Scott and season regulars Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin.

***Grasser Racing Team completed the lineup for its additional third Lamborghini Huracán GT3 that is set to battle for Pro Am Cup class honors. Danish drivers Anders Fjordbach and Dennis Andersen will join Nicolas Pohler and Diego Alessi, who where already confirmed in the No. 63 car.

***2015 Renault Sport Trophy Endurance champion David Fumanelli recently completed the driver quartet for the Scuderia Praha Ferrari 488 GT3. He will compete alongside Jiri Pisarik, Matteo Malucelli and Josef Kral in the Pro Am Cup.

***According to the latest version of the entry list, only two more seats remain open, that being the final driver in the No. 29 Konrad Motorsport Lamborghini with Marc Basseng, Christopher Zöchling and Franz Konrad, and the RMS Porsche 991 GT3 Cup, which is one of only two cars entered in the revived National Group.

***Today’s Bronze test is mandatory for all Bronze drivers as well as any Silver drivers competing in Pro-Am or Am who have never previously driven at Spa in race or testing conditions. The test will include a mandatory briefing and may include training sessions or track walks.

***Each driver missing the test may receive a fine up to the cost of entering the test (€1800) or must complete at least one hour behind the wheel during the free practice and qualifying sessions.

***While the new F1 pit complex is completely stacked with GT3 cars, several teams will run their operations out of the older ‘endurance’ pits that is situated alongside the straight that runs downhill towards Eau Rouge: Garage 59, Team AKKA-ASP, Saintéloc Racing, Emil Frey Racing.,CMR, Boutsen Ginion Racing, Team Parker Racing, EasyRace, RMS, Speedlover and ARC Bratislava. As usual, both stands are connected and arguably make up the longest pitlane in the world.

***While McLaren team Garage 59 opted for Pipo Derani, Bruno Senna and Duncan Tappy to race its additional third 650S GT3 at Spa, it was initially hoping to bring together an all-start team with some of the most famous names in racing history. The idea was let Nelson Piquet Jr, Nicolas Prost and Bruno Senna compete in the No. 60 McLaren, with only Senna materializing for the ride.

***The eight-car strong Am Cup arguably features a couple of drivers that look a bit out of place. Silver-rated Marco Seefried is part of crew in the sole Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 that will take part in the race, while similar rated Matteo Cressoni competes in the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3. The sporting regulations allow a single Silver driver in Am Cup cars for Spa. It is not unfeasible to see one of both drivers end up in the Super Pole on Friday evening.

***The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Europe welcomes no fewer than 50 cars on grid at Spa Francorchamps this weekend, a new record for the one-make series which is now in its eighth season.

***Amongst the additional entries for Super Trofeo is multiple Le Mans winner and DTM champion Frank Biela, who will make his debut in one of the Dörr Motorsport cars. Following his double win at Paul Ricard, Dennis Lind arrives at Spa as the Pro championship leader.

Vincent Wouters (@VinceWouters) is a Belgium-based sports car racing reporter, providing coverage primarily of the Blancpain GT Series.

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