SRO to Assist Teams Affected by N24-24H Spa Double Header

Photo: Gruppe C Photography

Teams competing in both the Nürburgring 24 and the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa will receive logistical help from SRO Motorsports Group, with Stephane Ratel saying the organization is open to help them work through the “unfortunate but unique situation” of having the two events on back-to-back weekends.

Ratel, SRO’s CEO and founder, told Sportscar365 that teams have made “specific requests” to help lighten the logistical challenges faced as a result of the unique calender situation, although he wouldn’t go into specifics.

Traditionally, the two major 24-hour enduros have always had separate placement on the annual calendar and have enjoyed notable crossover presence from teams and drivers alike.

Last year, eight teams teams took part in both events, while both ROWE Racing and Haupt Racing Team have already publicly confirmed plans to do so again this year.

Meanwhile, Dinamic GT, GetSpeed Performance and Walkenhorst Motorsport all have full season GTWC Europe efforts, raced at the N24 last year and also entered the recent four-hour NLS season opener.

Further teams could also be impacted, with Rinaldi Racing for example operating the Realize Kondo Racing Ferrari effort in the N24 but also fielding a single Endurance Cup car under its own banner.

ROWE boss Hans-Peter Naundorf has previously been vocal about the schedule, recently citing the “unprecedented organisational challenges” caused by the calendar as the reason to downscale to a single car each in GTWC Europe and the N24.

Speaking with Sportscar365 at the GTWC America season opener in Sonoma, Ratel indicated the organization is working to aid teams that are affected by the tight turnaround between the Nürburgring and Spa events.

“We’re arranging that,” said Ratel.

“We’ve had some specific requests and we have placed them in a place where it’s easier to access. It’s not easy but we have to do it.”

One particular point of contention is the build-up schedule for the 24H Spa, with timetable documents from last year’s event showing teams gain access to garages on the Sunday evening before race week, with scrutineering commencing the following day.

A repeat of a similar schedule would directly impact N24 teams, with the 53rd running of the Eifel endurance classic set to wrap up at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Naundorf cited this as a particular concern to Sportscar365 last year, describing it as “impossible.”

“I think they can arrive quite rapidly,” Ratel said. “But some have asked, and we want to have them of course.

“It’s an unfortunate but unique situation. We already have the [N24] date for the following three years and it’s in May and we have no problem. But this year is a bit crazy, I have to say.”

Another factor in the discussion is the place of the 24H Spa on the annual calendar, which has changed in recent years.

Traditionally, the Belgian blue riband event has always been held at the end of July. This changed in 2023, when Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix occupied that slot, forcing SRO to change its event date.

When asked if the 24H Spa will remain on the current slot at the last weekend of June, Ratel replied:

“Yeah. Unless Formula 1 kicks us out again! I really hope that is over and we stay on that date.”

That, in turn, is likely to set up a significant date clash between the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year.

Confirmed as part of IMSA’s release of its 2026 schedule last month, the Six Hours of the Glen will move back to its traditional, end-of-June slot, thus lining it up to fall on the same weekend as the 24H Spa.

“What can we say,” said Ratel.

“We stay on our date. I spoke with John [Doonan, IMSA President] and he said it’s been discussed with the manufacturers and teams and it’s not a problem.

“So if it’s not a problem, then it’s not a problem. It’s not impacting our grid and if it impacts there, then it means there’s enough money and everything… Even if we will see what the future will be, you never know.”

Ratel Expects 24H Spa Grid to be “Over Capacity”

Ratel also gave an optimistic prediction regarding entry numbers for the 78th running of the 24H Spa, stating he expects the event to be oversubscribed.

Last year, the initial entry drew 67 cars, which later dropped to 66 after the withdrawal of the Iron Dames in the wake of Sarah Bovy’s crash at Watkins Glen.

This time, Ratel hinted that the event could see “over 70 cars” taking part, with garage space at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit the limiting factor.

“It will be over capacity,” Ratel said.

“It’s huge. We have so many requests that we will issue the final grid. It’s all the question of garages.

“We came to the point where we tell teams, ‘Listen, the garage allocation is done. If you want an extra car, it’s your garage. If you want to put three cars in a two-car garage, or if you want to put six cars in a four-car garage, it’s your call.’

“It sort of depends on the garage.

“On paper, we can have many more cars but it’s the garages that are limited.

“The garage allocation is down to the teams that are entered. If they want an extra car, they can eventually have it.

“There could be over 70 cars, yes. We have a lot of requests. It’s very difficult for me to turn away entries but we have to do it.”

John Dagys contributed to this report