Press release
Emil Frey Racing gearing up for jewel-in-the-crown Spa 24 Hours race
- Action begins with the return of traditional parade to Spa town on Wednesday
- Place in top 20 Super Pole session the aim for all three cars prior to race
- Team eager to bounce back from difficult 2021 edition
Safenwil (Switzerland), July 26th 2022
Emil Frey Racing returns to action after a short summer break for the standout endurance event of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe season, the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa this weekend.
The Spa 24 Hours is the jewel-in-the-crown race on the GT3 calendar and one which every team wants to win. For Emil Frey Racing, the around-the-clock race has proven to be bittersweet over the years, with 13th the best finish achieved in 2018.
The team is equally motivated to bounce back from a disappointing 2021 edition in which all three cars suffered incidents; two cars were forced out following a high-speed crash inside the opening hour of the race.
Situated in the middle of the Ardennes Forest in Belgium, the 7.004km Spa-Francorchamps circuit is known for its challenging corners and unpredictable weather. Rain has heavily affected two out of the last three editions, with torrential rain falling in the closing stages of last year’s race. Corners such as Eau Rouge, Pouhon and Blanchimont, tricky in the dry, are particularly difficult when the track becomes wet.
Emil Frey Racing maintains its three-car line-up for the 24 Hours, with Lamborghini Factory Drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Albert Costa Balboa again teaming up with Jack Aitken in the #63 Pro entry. The #19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO is also competing in the Pro class, with Factory Driver Giacomo Altoè partnered by Lamborghini GT3 Junior Arthur Rougier and compatriot Léo Roussel.
Fighting for Silver Cup honours will be the #14 combination of Konsta Lappalainen, Tuomas Tujula and Stuart White, all three having shown exceptional overall pace in 2022 so far and all of whom entering the weekend with prior experience in the Spa 24 Hours.
The Spa weekend is quite unique in the GTWC calendar, with track action beginning on Thursday morning following the traditional parade from the circuit to the town of Spa on Wednesday evening. Free practice, therefore, takes place on Thursday at 10:50, while pre-qualifying will start at 16:15. After suffering tyre issues at the last Endurance Cup race, as well as during the official 24 Hours test day last month, understanding the tyre performance will be the main priority during practice and pre-qualifying.
Then it’s onto qualifying, which will be run in four segments, starting at 20:40. The cumulative times from all four qualifying sessions will be key as the fastest 20 cars go through to Friday’s Super Pole session. An additional night practice session takes place on Thursday evening, before a 30-minute warmup prior to Super Pole (for all cars). The race itself will begin on Saturday at 16:45, with the team hoping all three cars will see the chequered flag at the same time on Sunday afternoon.