Haas RT joins Spa 24 field
Haas RT has announced plans to join this year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa grid with a pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II entries. One of its crews will compete in the Pro category, which is set to grow beyond the 19-car field that contested the Fanatec GT Europe season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard.
This marks a major commitment from the Belgian-Antuigan squad, which is based on the outskirts of Brussels. Formed in late 2022 by Sandrine Haas and Kris Dedoncker, it has already competed in several significant events with much success.
Indeed, the team has earned a podium at the Abu Dhabi 6 Hours, victory at the 12 Hours of Mugello, pole position at the 12 Hours of Spa, and a podium at the 24 Hours of Barcelona. At the end of its season maiden season, it clinched the GT3 title in the 24H Series Europe championship.
With the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa celebrating its centenary in 2024, Haas RT has chosen a very special year in which to make its debut at the Ardennes classic. Indeed, the team will join in with important pre-event rituals such as the parade to Spa city centre, while the final entry list promises to be remarkably competitive.
“The choice to go for Spa was an easy one,” said Haas and Dedoncker in their statement announcing its programme. “The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is one of the biggest GT3 endurance races in the world, and with the team being based in Belgium, it’s also a home race.”
Mika Salo Appointed As Driver Advisor
The opening round of the 2024 season saw Mika Salo make his first appearance as Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS driver advisor.
The Finn will brings a wealth of expertise to his new role, which includes an eight-year Formula 1 career and significant success in sportscar competition. In recent years, Salo has regularly acted as a steward at F1 events.
“I only have good memories of my time racing with SRO, so I am happy to be part of this championship and put my knowledge to good use,” said Salo during the Circuit Paul Ricard weekend.
“I’ll give the stewards a driver’s view of incidents, using my experience from many categories over many years. Of course, GT racing has changed a lot since I was competing: there are far more cars now and it has become extremely competitive.”
Salo can draw upon a long and successful career in GT machinery. This includes many outings in SRO series such as the FIA GT Championship, where he scored multiple victories in the iconic Maserati MC12. He later clinched GT2 class honours at the 2006 CrowdStrike 24 Hours driving a Ferrari for AF Corse.
Prior to his GT career, Salo made his name thanks to a starring performance at the 1999 German Grand Prix. Standing in for the injured Michael Schumacher at Ferrari, he charged to the lead of the race before moving aside to hand victory to his title-chasing teammate Eddie Irvine.
Salo will be on-site for all of this season’s Fanatec GT Europe Endurance Cup events.
SRO Distributes Sporting Fines To Charitable Causes
SRO Motorsports Group has shared the money collected in fines during the 2023 racing season among a selection of good causes.
The fund is drawn from three series: Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS; the Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli; and the GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club. Fines can be administered for a variety of infringements, including unsporting behaviour and speeding in the pit lane, as well as team infractions such as breaking working guidelines.
This money is distributed to a selection of carefully selected causes, both international and closer to home. Among the former, help was offered in February 2023 after a powerful earthquake struck southern and central Turkey. More than 37,000 people are known to have died, while countless others across the region were left homeless and in dire need of essential supplies.
SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO Stéphane Ratel pledged $10,000 towards the subsequent relief effort. The funds were used by Trendyol, a Turkey-based e-commerce company, which created a platform for international contributions to provide much-needed items such as clothing, tents, and sanitary products.
A donation has also been made to the family of SRO logistics co-ordinator Jérémy Bellefontaine. On Christmas Day 2022, Jérémy’s wife Pauline was hospitalised due to a severe infection; she subsequently fell into coma and almost lost her life. Sadly, the infection resulted in the amputation of both feet.
Pauline has since demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience, returning to work and learning to drive once again. Money has been donated to support the family as it adapts to these new circumstances, which have required a change of house and car.
SRO has contributed to Racing for Dilano, a charitable foundation that supports mental recovery and rehabilitation in the wake of car accidents. It was established in 2023 to remember Dilano van ‘t Hoff, a young driver who lost his life competing in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine event that ran in support of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
A further donation has been made to Leukaemia Care in memory of Bernard Cottrell, who passed away in 2021 following a long battle with the disease. Bernard was among the most popular and senior members of the British motor racing community, as well as a regular in the SRO paddock. Leukaemia Care is the UK’s leading leukaemia charity, providing those affected by a diagnosis with advice, treatment, and support.
Finally, a donation has been made to help two track marshals who were injured during last year’s 24-hour 2CV race at Spa-Francorchamps. A fund has been established by the event organiser and the circuit through the Pêcheur de Lune association. This aims to help the families of the marshals, who will be unable to work until they have recovered fully.
