Lionspeed GP’s #80 Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining and Bastian Buus, seized the 79th Spa 24 Hours after launching from the pit lane, outpacing the Winward Mercedes and AF Corse Ferrari before a record 132 000‑strong crowd.
Lionspeed’s Historic First for the 992‑Generation Porsche
The victory marks Lionspeed’s biggest achievement in team history and the first overall triumph for Porsche’s 992‑Generation 911 GT3 R at Spa. It also returned the German marque to Spa’s winners’ circle after its last 2020 win.
Nighttime Full‑Course Yellows Build a Lead
A wave of night‑time FCY flags and Safety‑Car periods allowed the Lionspeed entry to climb decisively through the field. The 911 gradually sharpened its pace as hours slipped, and by an hour into the final sprint it had established a hold on the front.
Final Sprint Sees Preining Pull Away
When the event resumed for the eleventh time, Preining immediately extended a gap, letting the drivers behind wrestle for second place. The three‑and‑a‑half‑hour finale saw the Pro‑class leaders battle over a slim margin while Lionspeed maintained a safe buffer.
Ferrari’s Puncture‑Clad Battle Derailed
Ferrari’s #51 296 GT3 Evo earned early pace, but a puncture four and a half hours in cost 1½ laps. The team recovered, using a FCY stop to stay on the lead lap before a second puncture at Les Combes pushed them down, especially as cooling lowered track temperatures.
Porsche Intra‑Brand Duel Snags Schuring
Guven’s late‑night divebomb into La Source damaged Schuring’s #2 Porsche, unsettling a headline intra‑brand contest that would cost the #2 entry a podium spot, while the ongoing tussles against the Ferrari and a Schumacher CLRT Porsche eroded Lionspeed’s advantage.
Pro‑class Attrition and Final Standings
Only the Mercedes‑AMG #48 and the Ferrari #51 managed the finish on the lead lap, while the remaining Pro cars lacked the pace to threaten the podium. The #50 AF Corse Ferrari, the WRT BMW #46, and the Walkenhorst Aston Martin #34 closed the field from sixth to seventh. The Ford Mustang #64, the McLaren Garage 59, and the DHL Lamborghini #96—all suffered late‑race penalties, retirements or heavy damage—and rounded out the Pro‑class finish list.
Class Winners
- Pro‑Cup: Lionspeed‐Porsche #80 (Feller/Preining/Buus) – P1
- Gold‑Cup: Rowe‑BMW #998 – P11
- Silver‑Cup: Rinaldi‑Ferrari #45 – P14
- Bronze‑Cup: Kessel‑Ferrari #74 – P10
- Pro‑Am‑Cup: JMR‑Corvette #0 – P29
With Lionspeed defending the Pro‑Cup title and the Porsche 992 gaining new confidence at Spa, the stormy weekend sets up a compelling narrative for the remainder of the season.
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