Bedded in a valley of the Ardennes in Belgium, the third racetrack of the WEC awaits: the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps – a legendary, over 7-kilometer-long track, known for its mercurial nature. Due to its altitude, it is quite possible for one part of the track to be rainy, while the other is completely dry. So, there are new requirements for the tire strategy. But also the track hides one or the other pitfall: Despite the renovations made for the seasons 2022 onwards, the racetrack remains an emotional rollercoaster for racing.

 

Right off the bat, the first turn packs a punch: The La Source is a hairpin curve leading up to a long straight. Following that is the reknown Eau Rouge that has always proven to be a challenge despite seeming nondescript on track maps. Since 2022, an additional run-out area has been added, providing more room for mistakes during the ascend into the right-left combination. After that, the long Kemmel Straight. Drivers are then received by the combination of curves called Les Combes, a combination of three curves that naturally flow into each other and reduce the speed developed in the Kemmel Straight. The following straight trails downward into the Bruxelles, the next hairpin curve that calls for the right amount of breaking. The track heads further down into a left turn and onward to Pouhon, a long-stretched double left that permits high speeds. Further down Campus awaits, a right-left combination, followed by Stavelot, an almost 90-degree right turn. On the way back to the start-finish line, vehicles pass through Courbe Paul Frére and Blanchimont – the latter is a long-stretched left turn like the Pouhon turn and permits equal amounts of speed. Just before reaching the finish, drivers have to pass through a chicane where the wrong speed can quickly throw a vehicle off the course.

Besides thrilling battles, the endurance race in Spa also offers a striking change within the WEC: The Porsche Customer Racing Team Hertz JOTA will be participating for the first time with their Porsche 963. The LMP2 vehicle with the number 48 will head onto the track in a golden livery and will be steered by the German David Beckmann, the Portuguese Antonio Félix da Costa, the Brit William Stevens and the Chinese Yifei Ye, who is supporting the team as Porsche factory driver.

"The racetracke in the Wallonian Ardenne region is popular among drivers for being a technical challenge. The Porsche Penske Motorsport Team will be participating in Spa with two Porsche 963, the #5 and #6. For the six-hour-race, the usual driver teams of both vehicles are lining up: in the #5, Dane Cameron, Michael Christensen and Frédéric Makowiecki will be exchanging spots, while André Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor and Kévin Estre will be steering the #6. Previously, the latter had gone down in history together with Porsche in Spa.

 

During the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2021, the Frenchman was active in the LMGTE Pro class together with the Porsche GT Team. In the Porsche 911 RSR number 92, Estre ran a lap record of 2:13.658 minutes and boosted his team onto the first spot within their vehicle category. This victory together with the experience of the past endurance race in Portugal are the ideal foundations for another attempt at two podium spots during the World Endurance Championship.

 

Start will be with the Qualifying of the three vehicle categories on Friday, April 28. The race will begin on the following day at 12.45 p.m. and will be broadcasted with English commentary as livestream. We're excited to see an impressive performance from the Porsche Penske Motorsport Team and the Customer Racing Teams."