Over the weekend of 27-28 June I experienced the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps up close, the 79th edition of the Belgian classic, following ROWE Racing alongside two drivers who need no introduction: Augusto Farfus and Raffaele Marciello.
In front of more than 132,000 spectators, ROWE Racing's BMW M4 GT3 EVO #98 fought for 24 hours in the Pro Cup, with Farfus, Marciello and Jake Dennis at the wheel, from the Saturday heat to the cold of the night in the Ardennes.
A race of resilience
Despite a competitive pace, the #98 crew had to deal with two punctures that ended their podium hopes, still finishing ninth overall. The second BMW M4 GT3 EVO, #998 driven by Ugo de Wilde, Tim Tramnitz and Jens Klingmann, won the Gold Cup and finished eleventh overall. Victory went to Lionspeed GP's Porsche 911 GT3 R #80, after a remarkable comeback from a pit-lane start.
Telling the story of 24 hours
At Spa the light never stops changing: afternoon sun on Raidillon, headlights in the night, dawn over the paddock. Being in the garage means telling what the grandstands never see: driver changes, tyres waiting on their trolleys, the tension on the pit wall at every stop.
Thanks to ROWE Racing for their hospitality and to Augusto Farfus for his trust. The gallery collects the images of the weekend.