- Porsche takes first win since 2020 from seemingly impossible position
- ROWE Racing, Rinaldi Racing, Kessel Racing and JMR celebrate class glory
- Record number of spectators enjoy five-day festival in the Ardennes
- Final Result: 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
A record-breaking 132,000 spectators experienced the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, which delivered Porsche its first victory since 2020 thanks to an incredible charge from the back of the 69-car field.
Lionspeed GP conquered the biggest GT race in the world with its 911 GT3 R, which was shared by Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining and Bastian Buus. They were among the early favourites, but an engine change on Thursday forced the #80 Porsche to start from the pit lane, seemingly ending any hope of victory.
But a faultless performance brought the car to the front of the pack and it was the clear pick for the win by Sunday morning. It faced a stern challenge from some of the best teams and drivers in the sport – particularly Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter and AF Corse Ferrari – but had the pace to defeat both over the closing stages.
The #48 Mercedes-AMG drove an equally perfect race to finish as this year's runner-up, never putting a foot wrong across the 24 Hours. In contrast the #51 Ferrari was incredibly fast but suffered a number of setbacks, ultimately securing a third successive Spa podium having started from pole.
As ever, the battle for overall glory was complemented by four enthralling class battles. The Gold Cup went to the #998 ROWE Racing BMW of Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde and 24 Hours rookie Tim Tramnitz, who fought the #58 Garage 59 McLaren until the British squad retired on Sunday morning.
The Silver Cup produced a thrilling conclusion as the #45 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari beat the #30 Team WRT BMW to victory with its crew of David Perel, Dylan Medler, Rafael Duran and Alessandro Balzan, while the Italian marque also won in the Bronze Cup where Dustin Blattner, Dennis Marschall, Ben Tuck and Mathys Jaubert shared the Kessel Racing entry.
Finally, the Pro-Am class went to JMR, which secured the first victory for Corvette since the American heavyweight triumphed overall in 2009. The Ibrahim brothers, Jeffri and Abu Bakar, were joined by their regular teammates Ben Green and Jordan Love in the winning machine.
On and off the track the record 132,000 spectators enjoyed a spectacular edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. It began with Wednesday's parade to Spa town, which brought tens of thousands of passionate fans into the streets to see the cars and meet their drivers. A fundamental part of the Spa experience, this free event has become bigger and more popular than ever.
There was plenty more to see and do at the circuit with the Fan Zone open from Thursday providing activities for every kind of fan. There were three nights of music, including the essential Saturday night electro concert and two new additions: the Rooftop Party and the Raidillon Party. The latter – which saw the most famous corner in motorsport transformed into a dancefloor – was a particular hit with partygoers.
The event also featured a wealth of activity in the paddock. Of particular note, Porsche unveiled its new 911 GT4 R ahead of the car's global racing debut in 2027. There was also an array of supercar machinery on display on the roof of the pit building, while the new Uhoda Tower was officially inaugurated during the weekend.
The support line-up was also full, with action-packed races for the GT4 European Series, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, McLaren Trophy Europe and GT3 Legends. All in all, there was never a spare moment at the track.
The 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa underscored the success of modern sportscar racing. On the grid before the race, SRO Motorsports Group Founder & CEO Stéphane Ratel was joined by François Cornelis, President of the RACB; Pierre Fillon, President of de l'Automobile Club de l’Ouest; and Mirco Hansen, Head of Organisation for the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring. Pierre Fillon waved the Belgian flag to give the official start at 16:30.
This brought together the organisers of Europe's three biggest 24-hour races – at Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, and the Nürburgring – while IMSA President John Doonan spoke via video during the annual press conference. It is clear that global sportscar racing has a bright future ahead.
Beyond dreams, only memories