Thiim Puts Scherer PHX Audi in Front After Three Hours

Nicki Thiim passed Dennis Marschall shortly after a safety car restart to put the Scherer Sport PHX Audi squad into the lead of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa after three hours.

Thiim planted the No. 17 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II down the inside of Marschall’s factory-supported Tresor Orange 1 Audi at La Source to seize the lead in a one-two for the German manufacturer.

Kevin Estre then split the Audis by negotiating Marschall at the Bus Stop chicane, to bring Porsche team Manthey EMA up to second overall.

However, Estre also owed a 10-second penalty at his next pit stop after turning around the ST Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 at La Source while battling with Thiim and Marschall.

Matteo Cairoli led the opening hour in the pole-sitting Porsche 911 GT3 R but Huber Motorsport lost a few positions in the second hour when Silver-rated Jannes Fittje got behind the wheel, and additionally received a 15-second penalty for a short refueling time.

Alessio Rovera first dispatched Fittje into Les Combes and the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari held sway for almost half an hour until it encountered a left-rear puncture.

That promoted Mattia Drudi to the head of the field in the No. 40 Tresor Orange 1 Audi run by Attempto Racing, as Rovera’s co-driver Robert Shwartzman rejoined in 42nd.

Drudi was 10 seconds clear of Kelvin van der Linde, who had charged the Scherer PHX Audi from ninth on the grid to second, when a Full Course Yellow period was called due to a spin at Pouhon for the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

The ensuing safety car period, which lasted 26 minutes in the first instance of a new wave-by procedure in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup, reduced the Tresor Audi’s advantage.

Marschall stepped in for Drudi during the safety car pit stops but Thiim applied the pressure as Estre overtook Miguel Ramos for third overall just after the restart.

Ramos’ Garage 59 co-driver Henrique Chaves had a notably strong stint in the Bronze Cup-leading No. 188 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo as he set the fastest lap overall and gained several positions.

Finlay Hutchison led the Silver Cup for Audi squad Comtoyou Racing in 13th overall and was in the thick of a long battle involving all four of the Pro-class BMW M4 GT3s.