Spa 24 Hours update 2: Mercedes takes charge in eventful evening

The 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa has delivered relentless drama through hours four to six, with the #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3, now driven by Fabian Schiller, seizing the lead in a race marked by strategic pit stops, mechanical woes, and a major crash. The iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit continues to challenge the 66-car field, with the battle for overall and class honors heating up.

Mercedes Surges as McLaren Slips

After dominating the opening hours, the #59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, with Benji Goethe and later Joseph Loake at the wheel, relinquished its lead during a critical pit stop cycle at the 4h20 mark. The #17 Mercedes, driven by Luca Stolz and then Schiller, capitalized, overtaking alongside the #163 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 (Franck Perera) and the #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 (Charles Leclerc). Loake, now in the #59 McLaren, found himself under pressure from the #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3, completing a tightly contested top five.

The #17 Mercedes held a slender advantage as the race ticked past 5h20, with the #163 Lamborghini, #50 Ferrari, and #59 McLaren in close pursuit. The expected front-runners are delivering, but the margins remain razor-thin on Spa’s demanding 7km layout.

Chaos at Raidillon and Mechanical Mayhem

The fourth hour saw a significant incident at Raidillon, where the #11 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, driven by Frederic Jousset, was spun into a heavy crash after contact with the #611 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Jousset emerged unscathed, but the Aston Martin was out of the race, adding to the #611 Mercedes’ woes after its qualifying crash at the same corner. A Full Course Yellow (FCY) and subsequent safety car period disrupted the rhythm, with teams navigating strategic decisions under caution.

Mechanical issues further shuffled the order. The #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 ground to a halt with technical problems, forcing another FCY, while the #3 Mercedes produced a dramatic cloud of smoke before retiring with engine failure at pit-in. GetSpeed’s hopes now rest solely on the leading #17. Meanwhile, the #18 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Dinamic GT suffered lengthy repairs due to electronic issues, dashing its chances for overall victory. The #60 Lamborghini also stopped at Raidillon but was cleared under yellow flags, avoiding another FCY.

Class Battles Intensify

The class battles remain fiercely competitive. At the 5h40 mark, the #33 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 continues to dominate the Gold Cup, running an impressive P10 overall and flirting with the outright top 10. The #26 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II holds a steady lead in Silver Cup (P17), while the #74 Ferrari 296 GT3 leads Bronze Cup in P16, remarkably ahead of the Silver leader. In Pro-Am, the #100 Aston Martin (P38) fends off a charging #28 Audi, setting the stage for a tight battle as the six-hour mark approaches.

Notable Performances and Recoveries

Elsewhere, the #51 Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, has fought back to the lead lap, lapping quickly in P40 and showcasing the pace to climb further. Teams are doubling up on driver stints, with most front-runners now on their third driver, adding intrigue to the strategic chess game as night approaches.

With the sun having set and track enveloped in darkness, the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa has roared into the night, with the next few hours delivering a whirlwind of lead changes, mechanical setbacks, and a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the Ardennes sky. As the clock ticked past 23:20 local time, the battle for supremacy at Spa-Francorchamps intensified, with the #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 and #163 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 locked in a fierce duel at the front.

Mercedes and Lamborghini Steal the Spotlight

The #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3, with Fabian Schiller at the helm, reclaimed the lead after a sluggish pit stop cost the #163 Lamborghini (Franck Perera) dearly, dropping it 12 seconds back. A rapid pit stop by the #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 briefly saw it leap to the front at 7h10, but the #17 Mercedes regained control, followed closely by the #163 Lamborghini, the #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 (Charles Leclerc), and the #59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Benji Goethe). By 7h25, Mercedes-AMG held a commanding one-two, with the #48 and #17 cars pulling away.

However, the #163 Lamborghini struck back after another round of pit stops at the eight-hour mark, surging to the lead ahead of the #17 Mercedes and #50 Ferrari. The #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, driven by Mattia Drudi, briefly electrified the field, charging to P3 and closing to within 4.4 seconds of the lead before passing the #59 McLaren for P4. Disaster struck soon after, as the #7 Aston Martin developed a mechanical issue, its ominous noises forcing a pit stop for repairs, halting its charge.

Drama and Recoveries

The #51 Ferrari 296 GT3, with Alessio Rovera now aboard, continued its remarkable recovery from a lap down earlier in the race. By 7h25, it climbed to P16, just half a minute off the lead, slicing through traffic with ease. Rovera’s pace, including a swift pass on the #65 Ford Mustang GT3, suggests the #51 could challenge the Pro cars ahead as the night progresses.

A significant incident in the Gold Cup saw the #23 McLaren tip the #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 into a spin, a move that may attract a penalty for the RJN McLaren. Meanwhile, mechanical gremlins plagued the field. The #12 Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Davide Rigon, ground to a halt at 6h40 with a technical issue, triggering a Full Course Yellow (FCY) that extended into a safety car period. The #26 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, the long-time Silver Cup leader, also stopped just 20 minutes into its stint, potentially jeopardizing its class lead.

Class Leaders Hold Firm Amid Fireworks

At the one-third distance mark (eight hours), the class battles remained intense. The #33 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 continued its dominant run in the Gold Cup, holding P14 overall. The Silver Cup saw a shift, with the #65 Ford Mustang GT3 taking over at P19 after the #26 Audi’s troubles. The #80 Porsche 911 GT3 R led Bronze Cup, while the #29 Porsche secured the Pro-Am lead, overtaking the #28 Audi. A dazzling fireworks display illuminated the circuit but had no impact on the racing action.

What Lies Ahead

With 16 hours remaining, the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is living up to its reputation as a relentless endurance test. The #163 Lamborghini leads, but the #17 Mercedes and #50 Ferrari are poised to pounce. The #51 Ferrari’s charge through the field adds intrigue, while class battles remain wide open. As the night deepens, strategy, reliability, and Spa’s unpredictable nature will shape the race’s outcome.