A record number of Intercontinental GT Challenge-entered cars will take to the track this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps as part of the 73-car Spa 24 Hours entry.
28 IGTC cars, the biggest total in its four-year history, make up nearly 40% of the 73 entries in the Spa 24 Hours and will be running for IGTC points for their respective manufacturers.
Six of the eight makes competing in the IGTC have nominated the maximum number of four cars to score points for the championship. Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Audi, and Bentley have all nominated four cars. While Nissan and Honda have each nominated two cars.
For Honda, the factory-backed Team JAS squadron that ran the NSX Evo at Laguna Seca earlier in the year is back. While Jenson Team Rocket RJN, the Jenson Button backed program that competes in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, will also compete for points.
“This will be my third race with the NSX GT3, and the transformation in the car since I first drove it in testing in October 2017 is incredible.” Said Rengar Van Der Zande.
“The Evo version that has come along this year is definitely the nicest to drive and easily the most consistent over a long stint,” Van Der Zande said. Honda is still looking for their first points this season after the manufacture made their debut at Laguna Seca, but failed to score points in the eight-hour race.
Meanwhile Bentley, for the first time in the IGTC, will fill their maximum number of entries as they bring four factory-backed Team M-Sport Continentals to Spa.
Brian Gush, the Director of Motorsport at Bentley seemed confident entering the biggest and usually most competitive GT race of the season. “Bentley celebrates its 100th birthday on 19th July so it seems fitting for us, in the same month, to field four Continental GT3s capable of winning the 24 Hours of Spa outright.” Gush said.
“We’ve selected our line-up very carefully – choosing drivers who are both fast but also reliable – and we have spent the first half of the season ensuring they have had race-relevant seat time,” Gush explained.
Mercedes-AMG currently leads the championship with 59 points to their name. They have a 19 point lead on Porsche, and 30 point lead on third-placed Ferrari. Audi, who has won every manufacture’s championship since the season started is in fifth with 21 points.
