Mercedes-AMG revient au sommet avec la victoire Akkodis ASP sur les TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa

Mercedes-AMG returns to the top as Akkodis ASP finally conquers the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa
  • Marciello/Gounon/Juncadella en conquérants des Ardennes. Mercedes-AMG assure le doublé
  • La Silver Cup revient à l’Audi Team WRT de Neubauer/Goethe/Simmenauer
  • L'équipe entièrement féminine des Iron Dames remporte la Gold Cup avec Frey/Bovy/Gatting/Pin
  • AF Corse s’impose à nouveau en Pro-Am avec la Ferrari #52 de Machiels/Bertolini/Costantini/Rovera
  • La bagarre en Bronze Cup débouche sur la victoire de Kurtz/Juffali/Pierburg/Müller au volant de la Mercedes-AMG #20 SPS automotive performance

 

Mercedes-AMG célèbre sa première victoire sur les TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa depuis 2013 après la victoire de l’équipe AMG Team Akkodis ASP au terme d’une 74ème édition passionnante de la classique d'endurance belge. La course s'est déroulée devant de très nombreux spectateurs et dans des conditions météorologiques parfaites du début à la fin.

La marque allemande réalise un doublé sur la plus grande course GT au monde alors que la voiture victorieuse Akkodis était suivie sur la ligne d’arrivée par celle de l’équipe AMG GetSpeed. Iron Lynx termine troisième avec la Ferrari #71, un beau résultat après sa victoire au général il y a 12 mois.

La victoire sur cette course était devenue une sorte d'obsession pour Jérôme Policand et son équipage Akkodis ASP, en particulier après avoir échoué en partant de la pole position en 2020 et 2021. Voulant soulever le trophée des vainqueurs, Policand a réuni Raffaele Marciello, Jules Gounon et Dani Juncadella, l'un des équipages les plus solides de la course GT mondiale, afin d’optimiser sa quête de victoire à Spa. 

La Mercedes-AMG #88 a une nouvelle fois débuté la course depuis la pole, mais a été reléguée presque immédiatement en deuxième position par Klaus Bachler au volant de la Porsche #54 Dinamic Motorsport. Le pilote autrichien est resté en tête durant le premier relais, mais la course s’est définitivement terminée pour cette équipe durant la nuit. 

La voiture Akkodis ASP s’est placée aux avant-postes tout au long de la première moitié de course, terminant troisième au passage des six et 12 heures pour marquer d'importants points au championnat. Contrairement aux dernières éditions, la voiture a continué à rouler sans problème majeur et en étant toujours en lice pour la victoire alors que le soleil se levait sur Spa-Francorchamps.

C’est la BMW #98 ROWE Racing qui était en tête aux six et 12 heures de course. L'équipage composé de Nick Catsburg, Augusto Farfus et Nick Yelloly s'est placé devant grâce à une stratégie décalée, puis a affiché un rythme impressionnant aux commandes du peloton. En effet, la nouvelle M4 GT3 semblait être la voiture la plus rapide en piste par des températures fraiches, propulsant également la voiture sœur #50 dans la course à la victoire.

La Porsche #47 KCMG est également apparue comme une sérieuse prétendante à la victoire malgré un départ en fond de grille suite à un problème de freins lors des qualifications. La remarquable montée en puissance de l'équipe de Hong Kong s'est accélérée au fil de la matinée, Nick Tandy ayant dépassé Davide Rigon (Ferrari #71 Iron Lynx) vers 7h du matin pour s'emparer de la tête.

À ce stade de la course où généralement les favoris abandonnent et où une poignée d’outsiders émergent, cette année les choses se sont compliquées. La BMW #98 était toujours en tête à 16 heures après que Yelloly ait poussé Marciello à commettre une erreur et lui ait repris la tête en roulant vers Blanchimont.

La voiture #88 Akkodis ASP a connu son seul sérieux problème au cours de la 20ème  heure lorsqu'elle a été touchée à l'arrêt de bus par la Mercedes-AMG #93 Sky Tempesta Racing pilotée par Jonathan Hui. Ce dernier a coupé la trajectoire de Gounon en tentant de plonger vers les stands, recevant plus tard une pénalité pour cette erreur.

À ce moment là, tout pronostic était encore impossible. Avec différentes stratégies de ravitaillement, aucun leader ne se détachait vraiment. Outre la Mercedes-AMG #88, la Porsche #47, la BMW #98, la Ferrari #71 et l'Aston Martin #95 Beechdean AMR composaient toutes le peloton de tête.

Cette dernière était impliquée dans l'un des incidents les plus spectaculaires de la course, après que Gounon ait rattrapé Nicki Thiim (Aston Martin #95) et qu’ils se soient retrouvés côte à côte à l’Eau Rouge. Le Français semblait avoir pris de l'avance dans le Raidillon, mais Thiim n’a pas levé le pied et a touché légèrement le côté de la Mercedes-AMG. L'Aston Martin est parti en toupie et a traversé la piste. Après être sorti de la voiture, le Danois a déclaré qu'à ce stade de la course, il ne pouvait tout simplement pas lever le pied.

Alors qu'un candidat à la victoire s’effaçait, un autre apparaissait. AMG Team GetSpeed roulait jusque là tranquillement, mais en optimisant la longueur de ses relais, la Mercedes-AMG #2 est devenue un sérieux challenger pour la victoire. Alors que l'épreuve entrait dans ses deux dernières heures, la compétition semblait se réduire à une bataille à trois voitures. Mais l'équipe ROWE a vu ses espoirs ruinés lorsque Nick Yelloly a crevé. Le pilote britannique a du repasser par les stands et même si la voiture a pu continuer, ses espoirs de victoire ont été anéantis.

Mais après s'être lancée dans la bagarre pour la tête grâce à sa stratégie, la #2 AMG Team GetSpeed n'avait pas vraiment le rythme pour combattre Akkodis ASP. Avec des pneus plus frais, Marciello s’est confronté à Luca Stolz et a fait une tentative à La Source. Les deux voitures ont roulé côte à côte, mais la GetSpeed a tassé la #88 et Marciello est allé mordre le gravier, un incident pour lequel Stolz s'est excusé plus tard.

Malgré une perte de temps considérable, la voiture Akkodis a pu saisir sa chance de passer au tour suivant. Cette fois, le pilote suisse est passé. La #55 AMG Team GruppeM menait jusqu'à 30 minutes de l’arrivée mais l'équipage Akkodis en avait fait suffisamment pour sécuriser son résultat. Une fois que la #55 s'est arrêtée, Marciello a réalisé un sans faute jusqu'à l'arrivée, passant finalement sous le drapeau à damier avec 31 secondes d’avance.

AMG Team GetSpeed permet à Mercedes-AMG de réaliser un doublé. L’équipe Iron Lynx complète le podium avec l’équipage #71 composé de Davide Rigon, Antonio Fuoco et Daniel Serra. La voiture la plus rapide avant la course n'a jamais été une sérieuse prétendante à la victoire après un drive through dans la matinée pour une infraction sous safety-car. Néanmoins, elle avait le rythme pour rester dans le groupe de tête alors que Fuoco accélérait encore un peu en fin de course quand Maro Engel l’a pris en chasse sur la Mercedes-AMG #55.

Engel dépassait Dan Harper sur la BMW #50 ROWE Racing, qui terminait cinquième permettant à l’équipage junior de signer un superbe résultat pour sa première course à Spa. La voiture sœur BMW se classait derrière, suivie de la Porsche #47 KCMG et de la McLaren #38 JOTA, qui une fois de plus a roulé sur un rythme de métronome pour obtenir un bon résultat dans les Ardennes. La Ferrari #51 Iron Lynx et l'Aston Martin #95 Beechdean AMR complètent le top 10. 

La victoire en Silver Cup revient à l'Audi #30 du Team WRT qui après une compétition difficile a vu un certain nombre de prétendants tomber les uns après les autres. Al Manar Racing by HRT a dominé les premières heures, atteignant la sixième place du classement général avec Fabian Schiller au volant de la Mercedes-AMG #777, mais a été éliminé après un accrochage au début d'une période de Full Course Yellow.

Tresor by Car Collection fut le suivant à prendre la tête, mais l’Audi #11 s'est retrouvée dans le rail juste avant les sept heures de course. Haupt Racing Team a pris le contrôle toute la nuit, mais sa Mercedes-AMG a rendu l’âme dans la matinée. La course s’est alors transformée en bagarre entre l'Audi #30 Team WRT, l'Audi #99 Attempto Racing et la Lamborghini #14 Emil Frey Racing.

Cette dernière était une surprise en raison d’une stratégie totalement décalée, mais ses chances ont été anéanties par une crevaison à 45 minutes du damier. Cela a laissé les deux équipes Audi se disputer la victoire jusqu'à l'arrivée, l'équipage Team WRT composé de Thomas Neubauer, Benji Goethe et Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer remportant une victoire Silver Cup méritée. Après avoir géré les derniers moments de course, Neubauer était submergé par l'émotion après le drapeau à damier.

Iron Dames remporte une victoire retentissante et immensément populaire en Gold Cup. Le premier équipage entièrement féminin de l'ère GT a roulé sans rencontrer de problèmes majeurs pendant les premières heures, puis a pris la tête de la catégorie durant la nuit. La Ferrari #83 s’est placée en tête à 11 heures de l’arrivée sans plus être menacée par la suite avec deux tours d’avance tout au long de la seconde moitié de course.

Ainsi, Rahel Frey, Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting et Doriane Pin purent rouler à leur main jusqu'au bout et seuls des problèmes techniques ou un excès d’optimisme auraient pu les arrêter. Elles sont passées sous le drapeau à damier avec trois tours d’avance.

La bagarre en Pro-Am a débuté de manière relativement calme, mais de nombreux incidents se sont produits dimanche matin. La Ferrari #52 AF Corse s'est imposée en tête du peloton, remportant la sixième victoire dans la catégorie de l'équipe depuis 2011 et la troisième pour les fidèles de l’écurie, Louis Machiels et Andrea Bertolini. La Porsche #24 d'Herberth Motorsport était aux commandes depuis le début, progressant de façon significative avec l'as belge Alessio Picariello au volant, mais tout s’est effondré à la 18ème heure.

Lorsque la course a repris après une voiture de sécurité, la #24 était au milieu d'un petit groupe, dont la Lamborghini Pro #19 Emil Frey Racing. Arthur Rougier a essayé de passer à l'intérieur face à Niki Leutwiler mais il y a eu un contact entre les deux voitures, envoyant la Porsche  dans le gravier. Elle a été extraite par un véhicule de sécurité, mais a du abandonner peu de temps après lorsque sa roue arrière gauche s'est détachée.

Cela a permis à Garage 59 de prendre la première place, mais un autre changement est intervenu peu de temps après quand Andrea Bertolini a dépassé Miguel Ramos, propulsant la Ferrari #52 AF Corse en tête de la catégorie. La course semblait calée jusqu'à ce que le contact entre la voiture Garage 59 et la Ferrari #93 Sky Tempesta Racing n’envoie Ramos dans le rail, détruisant l'avant de la McLaren et nécessitant une longue réparation sur le circuit.

Cela a donné à AF Corse trois tours d’avance en tête du peloton et, comme l’équipe Ferrari des Iron Dames, ils en ont profité au maximum. Machiels et Bertolini ont été rejoints sur la Ferrari #52 par Stefano Costantini et Alessio Rovera, ce dernier établissant un nouveau record de l'ère GT3 avec le tour le plus rapide en course.

La bagarre en Bronze Cup fut la preuve qu'il suffit de deux voitures pour faire une course automobile. La Mercedes-AMG #20 SPS automotive performance et la BMW #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport sont restées au contact pendant la majorité des 24 Heures, souvent séparées de quelques secondes seulement et échangeant leurs places à plusieurs reprises. C'est finalement une petite erreur qui a décidé du vainqueur, une sortie de piste endommageant la BMW et l'envoyant aux stands pour réparer. Cela a permis à la Mercedes-AMG #20 de remporter la victoire avec son équipage composé de George Kurtz, Reema Juffali, Valentin Pierburg et Tim Müller.

Avec une fréquentation officielle confirmée de 73 000 spectateurs, l'édition 2022 a marqué le retour des TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa à son meilleur niveau. Le défilé, le concert du samedi soir et l'ambiance animée du paddock ont proposé une semaine spéciale dans les Ardennes. Avec un doublé en course, près d'une décennie après son dernier triomphe, Mercedes-AMG a fait un retour spectaculaire.

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Silver Cup honours went to the #30 Team WRT Audi after a tough contest that saw a number of contenders fall by the wayside. Al Manar Racing by HRT dominated the early stages, running as high as sixth overall with Fabian Schiller at the wheel of its #777 Mercedes-AMG, but was eliminated by a crash at the start of a full-course yellow period. 

Tresor by Car Collection was the next to take the lead, but its #11 Audi found itself in the barriers just before the seven-hour mark. Haupt Racing Team assumed control through the night, but its Mercedes-AMG expired during the morning. This made the race into a battle between the #30 Team WRT Audi, the #99 Attempto Racing Audi and the #14 Emil Frey Racing Lamborghini.

The latter was a dark horse due to its off-sequence pit strategy, but its chances were ended by a dramatic puncture with 45 minutes left on the clock. This left the two Audi squads to run to the finish, the Team WRT crew of Thomas Neubauer, Benji Goethe and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer taking a deserved class win. After handling the closing stages, Neubauer was overcome with emotion after the chequered flag. 

Iron Dames secured a resounding and immensely popular Gold Cup win. The first all-female crew of the GT era ran without encountering major problems during the early stages and then cycled to the front of the class order during the night. The #83 Ferrari held the lead at 11 hours and was not challenged thereafter, holding a two-lap advantage throughout the second half of the race. 

As such Rahel Frey, Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Doriane Pin could effectively cruise to the end, with only technical problems or complacency able to stop them. They suffered from neither, taking the chequered flag three laps clear of the competition.    

The battle for Pro-Am honours began in relatively calm fashion, but there was plenty of drama on Sunday morning. The #52 AF Corse Ferrari emerged at the head of the pack, clinching the team's sixth class win since 2011 and a third for stalwart drivers Louis Machiels and Andrea Bertolini. The #24 Herberth Motorsport Porsche led early on, making significant progress with Belgian ace Alessio Picariello at the wheel, but disaster struck during the 18th hour. 

When the race went back to green after a safety car the #24 was amid a gaggle of cars, including the Pro class #19 Emil Frey Racing Lamborghini. Arthur Rougier went up the inside of Niki Leutwiler and there was contact between the pair, sending the Porsche spinning into the gravel. It was removed by a safety vehicle, but retired soon after when its left-rear wheel became detached.

This promoted Garage 59 back to top spot, but there was another change shortly after when Andrea Bertolini made a pass on Miguel Ramos, elevating the #52 AF Corse Ferrari to the class lead. The race was finely poised until contact between the Garage 59 machine and the #93 Sky Tempesta Racing Ferrari fired Ramos into the barrier, destroying the front end of the McLaren and necessitating a lengthy repair. 

This gave AF Corse a three-lap advantage at the head of the field and, like fellow Ferrari squad Iron Dames, they made the most of it. Machiels and Bertolini were joined in the #52 Ferrari by Stefano Costantini and Alessio Rovera, the latter recording the outright fastest lap of the race and setting a new GT3 era record in the process. 

The Bronze Cup battle was proof that you only need two cars to make a motor race. The #20 SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG and the #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW remained together for the majority of the 24 Hours, often split by only a few seconds and swapping places on a number of occasions. Ultimately it was a small mistake the decided the race: an off-track excursion damaged the floor of the BMW, sending it into the pits for repairs. This allowed the #20 Mercedes-AMG to capture the win with its crew of George Kurtz, Reema Juffali, Valentin Pierburg and Tim Müller. 

With the official attendance confirmed at 73,000 spectators, the 2022 edition was the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa back at its very best. The parade, Saturday night’s music concert and a bustling paddock atmosphere ensured a special week in the Ardennes. A one-two finish in the marquee race, almost a decade after its last triumph, was an equally spectacular comeback for Mercedes-AMG.

Quotes

Raffaele Marciello, #88 AMG Team Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG: “I didn’t win in 2017, last year I had an issue, year before was the same and I’ve always seen somebody else winning this race and it became frustrating watching other drivers and brands win when I’ve come so close and not won it until now. Perhaps we weren’t as fast here this year as we have been before, but we did a good job with the tyres and my team-mate did an amazing job, plus the team was perfect on the pit stops and we hardly had any track limits problems. We were pretty much as perfect as we could be today.”

Jules Gounon, #88 AMG Team Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG: “The emotion is pretty amazing. Last year was very difficult for us, but we knew we had the car for it, but it was heartbreaking when we had the mechanical failure. But I was lucky enough to win this race when I was 22 and at the time I didn’t realise quite how tough it was to win this race. Then coming here in years since and not winning it you see the challenge and you know that winning here is something very special. I think to win this race you need everything; the team-mates, the team, the car… everything to succeed. I think it was just our day today.”

Dani Juncadella, #88 AMG Team Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG: “You could see the emotion of the team and Jerome. He’s been chasing this win for so long and had a super-quick car in qualifying the last three years, and great driver lineups, yet we didn’t seem to make it happen before. It’s such a long race with so many things happening. I always have the feeling that Spa chooses you and all race I had the feeling that things were going our way. There was one situation I want to explain. Before the red flag I got in and the pedal box was fully loose, and I could not drive as the pedals were moving up and down and I was trying to go flat-out. After three corners there was a full course yellow, and I tried to fix it then but couldn’t, and then the safety car I couldn’t do it either, but then the red flag came and I could stop and get out and work with my mechanic to fix it. Otherwise it would have been race over pretty much, and these are the little bits of luck you need to win a race like this. My team-mates did such a great job and the team was great with the strategy. This time we put in a perfect show and things played our way and here we are, winners of Spa.”

Maxi Götz, #2 AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG: “It was time to win for AMG, been a while: nine years now since my last win back in the day, so to get a double podium and double finish for AMG is really great. We couldn’t believe it before we started the weekend. We hoped for a result like this and we pushed for it but you never know and nothing is guaranteed in races like this. Of course we also had issues with the car and the pedal box and contact in the pitlane, which got us a penalty we had to fight back from. It was not a clear race and we lost a bit of pace due to damages on the car and ultimately we didn’t deserve P1, but we did deserve P2. The team did a great job and also Steijn and Luca did a great job and we didn’t give up. We were far back we changed the strategy a little bit during the race to say ‘ok, it’s all-in now, finish on the podium or be last’ and it paid off in the end. This is something special. On this track you need to believe in yourself and hope that you get some luck.”

Luca Stolz, #2 AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG: “Actually, the fight with Raffaele at the end was a little too close. We had some shitty traction and then the two of us touched and he went in the gravel a little, which wasn’t on purpose and I already apologised for it. But the lap after he got me because he just had a stronger car and they deserved to win so congrats to them.”

Steijn Schothorst, #2 AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG: “Yeah this counts as a career highlight. This is my first podium in a 24-hour race so I’m really happy and to have it on this race, such a big race, is a great feeling. I have to thank the team and my team-mates for giving me the chance to be here.”

Antonio Fuoco, #71 AF Corse Ferrari: “At the beginning of the weekend we looked quite strong, but we lost a bit of pace before the other sessions and didn’t improve as we wanted and lost a little pace. But we are quite happy with the podium because we maximised our pace and did a good job with the track limits and we have to thank the team for doing an amazing job throughout the weekend.”

Davide Rigon, #71 AF Corse Ferrari: “The drive-through was a key point for the race for us, and I found that frustrating because I didn’t feel I did anything wrong to earn it, but we have to respect the rules the race director gives to us to and the marshalling system. I felt sorry because we were leading at the time, but to be honest we didn’t have the pace of the Mercedes this weekend. So in the end this podium makes us very happy because the race was not easy after the penalty but we look at the positive things and to be here on the podium, scoring big points, is great. We also have a great team here and I love driving with Daniel and Antonio and the whole Iron Lynx team.”

Daniel Serra, #71 AF Corse Ferrari: “For sure the objective is to go for the Endurance Cup title. I want to thank the team and my team-mates for this weekend. We didn’t have the pace to fight for the victory as we’d have liked but we had to do the best we could do and I think we did a good job. The points are very important for the team and I don’t know exactly where we are in the championship now, anyway I’m probably not in for the full season as I have my stock car commitments in Brazil so I won’t be in for the next one but I wish the best luck for Davide and Antonio for the next race.”

Thomas Neubauer, #30 Team WRT Audi: “I’m not so much into the emotions, but this one was like I did everything. Honestly, it’s just the work we have done with the team, my team-mates, the engineers, the mechanics, everybody just everybody in WRT did a crazy job. I think we have had an amazing season in terms of luck, but clearly this one is not about luck. We made no mistake, no penalty, nothing, we really worked hard with our heads down, really focused on ourselves. I’m giving everything on every lap, every corner I’m trying to push as much as I can, I’m giving everything. So, yes, in the end it feels like a big win.”

Jean-Baptiste-Simmenauer, #30 Team WRT Audi: “It was not that easy, we had to fight to keep the pace. It was good, good to finish like this, we had a lot of stops during the race, sometimes dropping back a lot of places, so we had to fight to come back to where we are. So it’s good to be here.” 

Benjamin Gothe, #30 Team WRT Audi: “Honestly, coming into this weekend I was dreaming of this situation. The 24 Hours of Spa is the biggest GT3 race in the world and to be standing on the top step of the podium. It’s such a big achievement for the team and us drivers. Yeah, it’s a dream come true for all of us.” 

Andrea Bertolini, #52 AF Corse Ferrari: “On the emotional side, this one is special because I won Spa five times, two times overall when I was young in GT1 and three times with Louis. But every year is more tough because the level is increasing year by year, and this year was really difficult. From the beginning we had a problem and we started from the pit, but Friday night I sent a picture to Louis because we won here ten years ago and we started then from the pit as well. So probably the next race we can start from the pit.”

Louis Machiels, #52 AF Corse Ferrari: “Of course, it was quite difficult, especially the track limits. I think it is a good system. In the meantime, congratulations to the guys who didn’t have any track limits. The track changed quite a lot, it’s nice. Especially with the gravel, the thing is if you get in the gravel, then you are finished. If I were to come back in ten years, I would do it again but then I am 61 so I hope to be back.”

Stefano Costantini, #52 AF Corse Ferrari: “For me, it’s a dream here. I can’t believe we won the race in Pro-Am. It was a very difficult race as we started from the pit. My team-mates did a real good job and Alessio set the fastest lap and did an amazing job. The car was very very fast and we didn't have a problem for the race. The track changed completely in the race because of the gravel. Maybe we are very lucky with the weather because we had good weather all week.”

Sarah Bovy, #83 Iron Dames Ferrari: “It’s amazing. I was Doriane’s age the first time I did this race. 15 years later I’m so proud to be back here with this amazing team, and you know, my team-mates. Our whole crew did such a brilliant job over the whole week. Every single decision that was taken by the engineers was great and everything went smooth. We couldn’t dream of a better race and we fought hard, right until the last lap. I’m just so happy that I can live this with my friends and family here. It’s fantastic.”

Rahel Frey, #83 Iron Dames Ferrari: “This feels like a big result historically. It’s a very good sign and a very good message to send out. We want to motivate more girls to come and achieve the same, to encourage them to join us within the motorsport world. We drive in pink suits in a pink car and this is just underlining the message we want to spread about getting females involved in motorsport. But as Sarah said, it was a tough race and we keep fighting as hopefully more successes can follow this.”

Doriane Pin, #83 Iron Dames Ferrari: “It was just amazing. The race was incredible and so emotional. We did an amazing job and made no mistakes and had good pace. I also got to do my first stint in the night and it was just an amazing job from my team-mates and the team. I want to cry every second right now…”

Michelle Gatting, #83 Iron Dames Ferrari: “I struggled with a few track limits, and I think I was probably the only one on the team getting the warning – I got two, which was actually quite impressive for a 24-hour race. But in the end leading by two laps of advantage meant it wasn’t too bad getting those warnings. But as the others have said we are so proud of this. It’s actually a little bit difficult to believe we are here and have stood on the top of the podium. When the week started and after qualifying the pace was not really as we expected. Honestly, I didn’t expect we would win this specific race. This race is one of the ones I feared most in my career, but also one that I always wanted to do. Now we did it for the first time as Iron Dames and we won it as Iron Dames on our first try. We’ve set the bar quite high because of this, but we’ll use it as motivation to keep achieving for the rest of this project.”

George Kurtz, #20 SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG: “It was just a great race. Coming from the U.S., this has always been a bucket list, so kudos to my entire team and the SPS team for putting a great car together. We’ll be the title sponsor next year, so to see CrowdStrike here, actually have our guests here and get the results in such a brutal race, it’s really special.” 

Reema Juffali, #20 SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG: “It’s the first thing I said to them [the Iron Dames], it makes me proud and happy to see them on the podium, and hopefully we’ll see more and more females out there in all facets of the sport. I also have to thank my team-mates and SPS, it was a super, super tough race for us. At 12 hours, oh my god, there’s another 12 hours and it was brutal. It was super tough but super fun at the same time, and rewarding. I’m just really happy to finish the race and come up to the top step. I’m definitely up for more of this and hopefully we’ll see more women up there, congratulations girls again.”

Valentin Pierburg, #20 SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG: It was a really tough race and we had a lot of problems during the race and we managed them very well. The pit crew did an amazing job and thank you to all you guys. It was a great experience and I’ve ticked that part of my bucket list as well now, so you won’t see me again in Spa.”

Tim Müller, #20 SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG: “It’s hard because it is a different level. Also, you do your race and win your race, on the other hand you have professional race drivers around you, so you have to find out a way to manage all this. I’m proud to be in this team and proud that we have a lady in our team and I’m looking forward to working with more ladies with such performance.