8-Hour Update: Mercedes-AMG Team AKKA ASP leads into Sunday at Total 24 Hours of Spa

8-Hour Update: Mercedes-AMG Team AKKA ASP leads into Sunday at Total 24 Hours of Spa

Mercedes-AMG Team AKKA ASP continued its superb showing at the Total 24 Hours of Spa to lead shortly after one-third distance. 

It took over top spot when the #66 Audi Sport Team Attempto car of Frederic Vervisch stopped just after the eight-hour mark. The German squad is running an alternate strategy but remains in the hunt.

Raffaele Marciello was at the wheel of the #88 Mercedes-AMG, which re-passed the #63 Orange1 FFF Lamborghini at La Source after the positions had been switched during a pit stop cycle. Dennis Lind also stopped on the hour in the #63 machine, moving on to the same sequence as the #66 Audi.

Nick Tandy held second in the #98 ROWE Porsche, which gained time during a full-course yellow and then made further progress thanks to a short pit stop. Alessandro Pier Guidi was third in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari, which continued to run within striking distance of top spot. 

The #78 Barwell Lamborghini remained at the head of the Silver Cup order, though Frederik Schandorff was only 20 seconds clear of the rival #5 HRT Mercedes-AMG at the eight-hour mark. The #89 AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG had moved up to P3 having slipped back from class pole.

The #188 Garage 59 Aston Martin lead in Pro-Am with Chris Goodwin at the wheel, but the #93 Sky Tempesta Ferrari also remained firmly in the hunt on an alternate strategy. The #10 Boutsen Ginion BMW, which is running an art car livery this weekend, sat third. The #129 Raton Lamborghini led Am Cup, four laps clear of the #108 CMR Bentley.

Watch the race live on the Total 24 Hours of Spa website, the event's official Facebook page and the GT World YouTube channel.