Several squads have confirmed their line-ups for this year's Total 24 Hours of Spa as the season's marquee race draws ever closer. Indeed, official testing will take place over the coming days (2-3 July), while the opening practice session is now just three weeks away.
Bentley has completed its line-up as the British marque prepares to bid for victory in its centenary year, with Brazilian ace Pipo Derani joining a 12-strong roster of Pro class drivers. The 25-year-old will compete in the #110 Continental GT3 alongside long-serving Bentley Boy Andy Soucek and former Nissan pilot Lucas Ordonez.
Audi will bid for a fifth Total 24 Hours of Spa win this year and has revealed the full line-ups for its quartet of Intercontinental GT Challenge nominated cars, three of which will compete with official factory backing. Audi Sport Team Sainteloc will field its 2017 race winners, Christopher Haase and Markus Winkelhock, alongside Frederic Vervisch. This will be the second successive Spa outing for the line-up, following a fourth-place finish at last year's race.
Audi Sport Team WRT will run regular drivers Alex Riberas and Dries Vanthoor alongside 2012 winner Frank Stippler, who returns to the squad with which he contested the 24 Hours between 2013 and 2015. In the sister car, the accomplished crew of two-time winner René Rast, Robin Frijns and Nico Muller will reunite for a second successive year. Finally, the Montaplast by Land-Motorsport squad will field factory driver Christopher Mies alongside youngster Ricardo Feller and three-time World Touring Car champion Jóse María López.
A number of entrants from the rival Porsche brand have also been revealed. KÜS Team75 Bernhard will retain its 2018 line-up of Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and past winner Laurens Vanthoor. Full-season Endurance Cup squad ROWE Racing has also confirmed that it will field a third Porsche 911 GT3 R at the race, with factory drivers Nick Tandy, Frederic Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet piloting the #998 machine in the Ardennes. Further factory firepower from the Stuttgart brand is expected to join the entry list in time for the 25-28 July event.
Am Cup squad Tech 1 Racing has completed the full Spa line-up for its Lexus RC F GT3, with regular Endurance Cup racers Fabien Barthez and Bernard Delhez joined by Eric Cayrolle and Timothé Buret. Cayrolle already has experience with the team having competed at the recent Circuit Paul Ricard 1000kms
Jenson Team Rocket RJN has also signed a familiar face to complete its Silver Cup line-up. Ricardo Sanchez will resume his relationship with the British outfit, having previously driven for Bob Neville's squad in 2015, 2016 and 2018. He will link up with regular racers Philipp Frommenwiler, Matt McMurry and Struan Moore.
Many recently-confirmed drivers will be present for the official test days. Beginning on Tuesday, track activity is scheduled to take place from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 13.00 to 18.00 CET, with the circuit open to the public throughout and admission offered free of charge.