ROWE Racing held the advantage with six hours remaining at Spa-Francorchamps, but there was heartbreak for the long-time Pro-Am leader. The #98 ROWE BMW moved back to the front as pit stops cycled through, with the #47 KCMG Porsche taking a splash and dash to put it back on sequence.
This set the order as the #98 ahead of the #88 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG, followed by the KCMG machine and the fourth-placed #55 AMG Team GruppeM Mercedes-AMG. This quartet moved on to the same stint sequence during a safety car period caused by the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW sliding into the gravel.
A further safety car period came not long after when the #24 Herberth Motorsport Porsche was tipped into the gravel by the #19 Emil Frey Racing Lamborghini. This all but ended the chances of the #24, which had led its class from the sixth hour. Indeed, the car retired soon after the race went green again, pulling over with an errant left-rear wheel.
This promoted Garage 59 back to top spot in Pro-Am, with Miguel Ramos running 22nd overall in the #188 McLaren. The #30 Team WRT Audi retained the Silver Cup lead in 13th overall and with no serious pressure from the similar #99 car from Attempto Racing.
Iron Dames continued to lead in the Gold Cup. Teenage driver Doriane Pin was at the wheel of the #83 Ferrari, circulating in 19th overall and with a two-lap advantage over its closest contender. The two-car Bronze Cup race remained remarkably close, with the #20 SPS Mercedes-AMG heading the #35 Walkenhorst BMW by 12 seconds after 18 hours of racing.
The #34 Walkenhorst BMW was off the road and through the gravel leading to a brief FCY and a long pit call for the BMW.
Into the 19th hour and there was a long Full Course Yellow for barrier repairs after a big shunt for Miguel Ramos in the Pro-Am leading #188 Garage59 McLaren after contact with the #93 Sky Tempesta AMG, the 720S out on the spot – the 24th reported retirement.
The field was still under Safety Car at the end of the 19th hour with barrier repairs ongoing.
The reason for our FCY. The #188 McLaren hits the barrier hard through Blanchimont after contact with the #93 Sky Tempesta Racing Mercedes-AMG. #Spa24h 🇧🇪🎢 #FanatecGT #GTWorldChEu #IGTC @Pirelli @AWS @CrowdStrike @fanatec @TotalEnergies pic.twitter.com/pKdqGEwlAi
— TotalEnergies 24Hours of Spa (@24HoursofSpa) July 31, 2022
Reported Retirements After 19 Hours
#188 Garage 59 McLaren – Accident after contact with #93
#24 Herberth Porsche – Lost Wheel
#100 TokSport WRT Porsche – Damage/ Vibration/ Handling
#4 – HRT AMG – Electrical
#77 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini – Mechanical
#32 WRT Audi – Accident (with #46)
#27 Leipert Lamborghini
#5 HRT AMG – Accident
#159 Garage 59 McLaren – Radiator
#221 GPX Racing Porsche – Drivetrain
#16 EBM Porsche – Accident
#3 Getspeed Mercedes AMG
#911 Herberth Porsche – Accident
#63 Emil Frey Lamborghini – Accident
#107 CMR Bentley – Transmission
#54 Dinamic Porsche – Accident damage
#11 Tresor Audi – Accident
#10 Boutsen Audi – Accident damage
#9 EBM Porsche – Accident damage (after contact with #93)
#12 Tresor Audi – Contact
#777 Al Manar Racing AMG – Accident – contact on #91
#91 Allied Porsche – Accident – contact from #777
#97 Beechdean AMR Aston Martin – Accident after contact with #5
#26 Sainteloc Audi – Accident
