The list of twelve cars competing for the manufacturers points in the Intercontinental GT Challenge during the Total 24 Hours of Spa has been known for a few weeks, and during the last couple of days, the list of drivers competing for the points in the AM Cup has been finalised as well. No fewer than 46 drivers will vie for the AM Cup points.
With twelve cars entered for the manufacturers title of the inaugural season of the Intercontinental GT Challenge - and its drivers aiming to score points for the drivers title - the fight during the second round of the only global competition exclusively reserved for GT cars was always going to be exciting to watch.
McLaren only has a slender three-point lead over Bentley and an advantage of ten points over Audi, but the result of the Total 24 Hours of Spa might turn these standings upside down. The same goes for the drivers’ standings, where Shane Van Gisbergen leads from Bentley Boys Guy Smith and Steven Kane, with Audi-drivers Markus Winkelhock and Laurens Vanthoor (competing in different cars in Spa) in third. Remember, for the Intercontinental GT Challenge points are only awarded at the end of the Belgian endurance classic, not at the 6-hour or halfway mark.
But the Intercontinental GT Challenge also has an AM title, reserved for Bronze drivers at the wheels cars entered by the different manufacturers. There's no fewer than 26 cars competing for AM points in Spa, and on those cars 46 drivers are eligible to score points.
And although only one of the drivers that scored points in the Pro-Am category at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour is competing in Spa - Roger Lago and his #132 Lamborghini Gallardo finished in second Down Under - plenty of the other teams and drivers driving at the Total 24 Hours of Spa have already made it clear they intend to be part of the final round of the 2016 Intercontinental GT Challenge, the Sepang 12 Hours, as well. So keep an eye out for the cars with the distinctive Intercontinental GT Challenge-logo, for this race-in-the-race will be very interesting to watch.