At 16:30 on Saturday, 28 June, more than 70 screaming GT3 cars plunged down Eau Rouge and ignited the 77th CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Fans call it “the Ardennes Marathon”: Europe’s last big party before the summer break, famous for mercurial weather, 19 iconic corners and 24 hours in which absolutely anything can—and usually does—happen.

A century of drama, from carbide lamps to factory GT3s

The inaugural race in 1924 ran on a 15-km public-road loop lit by 200 acetylene lanterns; regulations even required a mechanic to stay seated in the car all race long. Layouts and classes have changed (Sports Cars, Touring, GT), but the aura remains. Today Spa crowns both the GT World Challenge Europe and the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendars.

Who came in wearing the crown?

In 2024 Comtoyou Racing’s #007 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO ended Gaydon’s 76-year drought, taking a historic win in front of 99 500 spectators. The same crew—Drudi, Thiim, Sørensen—returned in 2025, but faced factory-fresh evolutions from BMW, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Key numbers for the 2025 edition

• Date: 25–29 June (race start 16:30 Sat 28 → 16:30 Sun 29)
• Format: 24 hours, open stint lengths, GT3 Balance of Performance
• Grid: record 73 cars, 10 manufacturers
• Must-watch sessions: Night Practice Thu 26 23:05, Super Pole Fri 27 16:10
  

Spa-Francorchamps: poetry in 19 corners

Blanchimont is taken flat in 7th at 270 km/h; La Source hairpin is 45 km/h. Through Raidillon drivers pull nearly 4 g laterally—no other European track delivers such a speed swing in just 7 km. Add sudden rain, dawn fog and hours of total darkness and you understand why pros call Spa “endurance graduation day.”

What to watch—on site or on the stream

• Golden Hour at Eau Rouge (20:30–22:00): brake discs glow red as the sun sets behind Raidillon.
• Wet track, slick tyres (02:00–04:00): Spa tradition promises at least one nocturnal downpour; strategy pivots on full-course yellows and pit-lane chess.
• Brussels Corner sunrise (05:30): the circuit climbs into pine-lined altitude; low fog swirls in the first orange light.
  

Why Spa belongs in your display case

Older than Le Mans and rich in variety—from Alfa 33/2 prototypes to modern GT3s—Spa produces liveries often limited to 300–500 pieces, giving every miniature strong appreciation potential.