Eastalent Racing’s preparation for its 24 Hours of Spa debut got off to a strong start today, with Christopher Haase topping Day 1 of the Prologue test.
The German set a 2:16.535 during the three-hour morning session aboard the #84 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, which would hold on to be the fastest time of the day.
Second in the morning running went to the Silver Cup-entered #555 CSA Racing Mclaren GT3 Evo of Lorens Lecertua, who was 0.747 seconds off Haase, with Thomas Drouet third aboard the #64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3 Evo. The Ford, notably, is running in a new red livery for the test.
Dorian Boccolacci was fourth in the #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2), with Mathieu Jaminet completing the top five and topping the Bronze Cup aboard Herberth Motorsport’s #91 Porsche.
Steven Palette was fastest in Pro-Am aboard the #28 HAAS RT Audi, whilst Simon Gachet led the Gold Cup in CSA Racing’s #111 McLaren.
The five-hour afternoon session then saw Porsche’s trio of Pro class entries lock out the top of the timesheets.
Alessio Picariello was quickest in the #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche, with the Belgian setting a 2:16.577, only 0.042 seconds off Haase’s morning benchmark.
Lionspeed GP’s Thomas Preining was second, 0.051 seconds back, with Laurin Heinrich ending Schumacher CLRT’s first day back in the GT World Challenge Europe paddock in third aboard the #22 911 GT3 R.
Fourth went to the #84 Audi, with Simon Reicher setting its best time, whilst Rocco Mazzola led the Silver Cup in fifth overall aboard the #66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi.
Alex Fontana’s #89 Lionspeed Porsche was fastest in the Bronze Cup, with Robin Knutsson’s #10 Boutsen VDS Porsche quickest in Gold, and the #177 Grupo Prom Racing Team Mercedes-AMG leading Pro/Am.
The running at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was interrupted by multiple rain showers throughout the day. In total, 59 of the 70 cars entered for next month’s 24 Hours of Spa took to the circuit.
The Prologue test continues tomorrow, with another eight hours of track time ahead of the Spa 24 Hours on 25th to 28th June 2026.
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
