The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa once again proved why it remains the crown jewel of GT racing, delivering a weekend packed with dramatic storylines, manufacturer milestones, extreme weather and major announcements for the future of the sport.

While Porsche celebrated a long-awaited return to victory lane, the event provided far more than a battle for overall honours, showcasing the strength and diversity of modern GT competition in front of thousands of passionate fans at Spa-Francorchamps.

Porsche Ends Five-Year Wait

For Porsche, the 2026 edition will be remembered as a breakthrough moment.

Since 2020, the Stuttgart manufacturer had been chasing another overall victory at the world's biggest GT race. Armed with the latest evolution of the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) and its EVO package, that wait finally came to an end.

The #80 Lionspeed GP entry, driven by Bastian Buus, Thomas Preining and Ricardo Feller, produced one of the standout performances in recent Spa history. Forced to start from the pit lane after an engine change before the race, the Porsche effectively began the event from 66th position.

Rather than panic, the team delivered a disciplined and consistent performance across the full 24 hours. Gradually climbing through the order, the Porsche moved into contention before taking control of the race during the final third of the event.

When the chequered flag finally fell, Porsche had secured a memorable overall victory and underlined the competitiveness of its latest GT3 challenger.

Ferrari's Weekend of Mixed Emotions

Despite missing out on overall victory, Ferrari emerged from Spa with plenty to celebrate.

The Italian manufacturer had been the benchmark throughout much of the weekend. Pole position, exceptional qualifying pace and long periods at the front of the race suggested the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo was the car to beat.

Victory appeared within reach until misfortune struck. A puncture for the leading AF Corse Ferrari at Turn One cost the team valuable time and ultimately removed it from the fight for the win.

Although the Pro-class Ferrari eventually finished third overall, Ferrari still collected two class victories.

Rinaldi Racing secured top honours in the Silver Cup, while Kessel Racing delivered success in the Bronze Cup, ensuring the Prancing Horse remained one of the most successful manufacturers of the weekend.

Mercedes-AMG's Mamba Strikes Silver

Second place overall went to the popular Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, affectionately known throughout the paddock as the "Mamba."

Driven by Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz and Maro Engel, the distinctive yellow-and-green machine spent much of the race in contention and even led during the morning hours.

Ultimately, the Mercedes could not quite match the pace of the recovering Porsche, but its runner-up finish capped another strong Spa performance for AMG.

Lamborghini Temerario Makes Its 24-Hour Debut

One of the most closely watched stories of the weekend centred around Lamborghini's new Temerario GT3.

Making its first appearance in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, two examples of the new challenger lined up on the grid.

The #63 GRT Grasser Racing Team entry suffered an electrical issue during the night and was forced into retirement, highlighting the challenges that often accompany a new racing programme.

However, the #96 Rutronik Racing Lamborghini delivered an encouraging debut. Running reliably throughout the event, the Temerario reached the finish in 19th overall, providing valuable data and a promising first result for Lamborghini's latest GT3 project.

Rutronik Racing adopted a unique dual-manufacturer strategy at the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, with the #97 Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO in the Bronze Cup. The #97 Porsche driven by Michelle Gatting, Antares Au, Martin Rump and Sven Müller, delivered a disciplined and consistent endurance race.

Avoiding major incidents and penalties throughout the 24-hour classic, the Bronze Cup entry steadily moved up the order and secured a strong class result while also finishing inside the overall top 30.

The performance underlined Rutronik Racing’s ability to successfully operate two different GT3 platforms simultaneously, extracting competitive pace and reliability from both manufacturers in one of the most demanding endurance races on the calendar.

Rossi Draws the Crowds

As expected, one of the biggest attractions of the weekend was the presence of nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi.

Competing for Team WRT in a BMW M4 GT3 carrying his iconic number 46, Rossi once again attracted huge crowds throughout the paddock and fan zones.

The Italian star rewarded supporters with a strong performance, helping guide the BMW to sixth place overall in one of the most competitive GT fields ever assembled at Spa.

Extreme Heat Challenges Teams and Fans

The racing itself was only part of the challenge.

A severe heatwave sweeping across central Europe pushed temperatures beyond 40 degrees Celsius during the event, creating difficult conditions for drivers, teams and spectators alike.

Spa-Francorchamps organisers implemented a range of measures to help visitors cope with the extreme weather, including free drinking water stations, additional shaded areas and cooling mist systems around the venue.

The conditions also forced the cancellation of the traditional fireworks display, prioritising safety amid the elevated fire risk.

While the heat dominated the opening stages, the Ardennes once again demonstrated its unpredictable nature. Overnight rain and thunderstorms added another layer of complexity to the race before cooler temperatures and cloud cover arrived on Sunday morning.

Tough Weekend for McLaren

McLaren arrived at Spa with high expectations after an impressive qualifying performance.

The Garage 59 Gold Cup entry secured second position in Superpole and looked capable of challenging for class honours. During the opening half of the race, the #58 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO led the Gold Cup category and appeared firmly in control.

Those hopes were dashed shortly before midnight when contact forced the car into the pits, leaving it more than 30 laps behind.

By the finish, McLaren's highest-placed car was 17th overall and fourth in Silver Cup, a result that fell short of the team's early promise.

Ford Continues Its Development Journey

Ford's Mustang GT3 EVO programme also faced a challenging weekend.

Following the significant accident damage sustained at Monza earlier in the season, Haupt Racing Team arrived at Spa having rebuilt two entirely new race cars.

The #65 Mustang was forced to start from the pit lane but fought back impressively to finish 18th overall and fifth in Silver Cup.

Its sister #64 Pro-class entry was less fortunate, retiring during the night after suffering an electrical problem.

Success Across the Classes

Away from the overall battle, several teams celebrated hard-earned category victories.

The JMR Chevrolet Corvette claimed victory in the Pro-Am class after a faultless 24-hour performance.

BMW's Junior Team entry secured Gold Cup honours through Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde and Tom Tramnitz. The result represented another success for BMW's Gen M programme, which continues to provide a pathway for young factory drivers progressing towards top-level GT competition.

Developing Future Talent

One of the recurring themes throughout the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa was the investment being made in the next generation of motorsport talent. From manufacturer-backed junior driver programmes competing on track to young engineers, mechanics and media personnel working behind the scenes, the event provided valuable experience at every level of the sport.

That same commitment extends beyond the pit lane wall. Pit Lane News Junior Programme photographer Timo Koch spent the weekend covering his first CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, gaining experience in one of motorsport's most demanding environments while documenting the event alongside established media professionals.

As GT racing continues to develop future drivers, initiatives that create opportunities for aspiring photographers, journalists and content creators remain equally important in ensuring the sport's long-term future.

Just as manufacturers invest in future drivers, initiatives such as the Pit Lane News Junior Programme continue to create opportunities for the next generation of motorsport photographers and media professionals.

Looking Ahead

The annual SRO press conference brought significant news for the future of GT racing.

The 2027 GT World Challenge Europe calendar was unveiled, with Imola replacing Monza as the Italian round and the Hungaroring returning to the Sprint Cup schedule for the first time since 2022.

Further announcements confirmed updates across the global SRO championships, including a revised Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar that will see the Indianapolis 8 Hour replaced by a new Texas 8 Hour event at Circuit of The Americas.

Porsche also used the Spa weekend to unveil the successor to its Cayman-based GT4 platform. Displayed in the paddock for fans and media, the new Porsche 911-based GT4 marks the beginning of a new chapter for the manufacturer's customer racing programme.

As another unforgettable edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa came to a close, the event once again demonstrated why it remains one of motorsport's most prestigious endurance races—combining world-class competition, technological innovation and unforgettable stories both on and off the circuit.