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Bentley Ready for 24 Hours of Spa

Blancpain Endurance Series competitors from around the world are in for a tremendous challenge this coming weekend, where they will spend 24 hours lapping the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.  The race will be a pivotal one for all competitors, as points will be awarded at the six, twelve and twenty four hour marks, meaning that more points will be awarded here than anywhere else on the championship calendar.  Bentley aims to hold and increase their overall points lead with a strong performance at the event.

Read the full release below.

  • Bentley Team M-Sport ready for TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa
  • Headline event of the Blancpain Endurance Series
  • Bentley leads Team standings ahead of endurance marathon
  • Car #7 drivers currently in second place in Drivers’ championship

(Crewe, 20th June 2015) Bentley Team M-Sport is on its way to Belgium for the most significant challenge of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series – the TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa. As the blue-riband event of the season, the 24-hour marathon rewards the quickest competitors with more points than any other race in the championship – with points for positions at the six, 12 and 24-hour marks. The larger volume of points available means that the contest is the focal point of Bentley’s season, and the team is looking to improve on a difficult race in 2014 when both cars suffered misfortune but still finished P9 and P11 in class.

Bentley will race with four Continental GT3 cars – two from Bentley Team M-Sport and a second pair run by the Bentley Team HTP customer outfit. The Bentley Team M-Sport drivers continue, with car #7 driven by the all-British trio of Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick and Steven Kane and car #8 piloted by Maxi Buhk, Andy Soucek and Maxime Soulet.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, comments:“The 24 Hours of Spa is the biggest race of the season for us, and we’re hoping to be able to fight for a top five finish this year. We know from last year that the car is quick at Spa, especially in the dry, and it’s vital for our championship challenge that we do well here. Given our very encouraging position in both the teams and drivers championships, and the number of points available here, the whole team is absolutely focused on delivering a great result this weekend.”

Bentley’s trackside hospitality continues at Spa, with a sold-out programme to Bentley customers that includes an on-track parade of Bentleys (including the race-inspired Continental GT3-R) just before the start of the 24 hour race.

Updates from Bentley can be followed live on Twitter (@BentleyComms) and regular bulletins will be issued throughout the race.

Driver Quotes

Steven Kane, car #7: “In the winter when I’m training hard in the cold, this is the race that pushes you on to achieve that extra mile or cycling or the next set of weights. This is the biggest GT race in the world and this year I believe we will be right at the sharp end, and in a good position to achieve a great result at what is one of the world’s toughest race tracks. Guy, Andy and I feel very good about the car after a productive test at Spa at the end of June.”

Maxi Buhk, car #8: “Spa is one of my favourite tracks, and the medium- and high-speed corners really suit the Bentley so I’m confident we’ll have good race pace. Doing a 24-hour race is always an extra challenge, but in the moment you just concentrate and enjoy it. The team has worked incredibly hard to prepare the cars, and despite being one of the fastest crews in the pit lane they’re still refining their pit stops – Andy, Maxime and I will be matching their commitment on track this weekend. I can’t wait!”

Blancpain Endurance Series Round 4, Spa – Schedule

Thursday 23rd July (all times local)

Session Start Time Finish Time Duration
Free Practice 12:00 13:30 1h 30
Pre-Qualifying 18:10 19:10 1 h
Qualifying 20:30 21:45 1h 15
Night Qualifying 22:15 23:45 1h 30

Friday 24th July

Session Start Time Finish Time Duration
Super Pole 15:30 15:55 25m

Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th July

Session Start Time Finish Time Duration
Race 16:30, 25th 16:30, 26th 24h

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