Total 24 Hours of Spa delivers record-breaking 72-car entry list to confirm status as world's premier GT race

The Total 24 Hours of Spa will confirm its status as the world's premier GT race at this year's edition thanks to a phenomenal 72-car entry list.

The grid for the 2019 running of the Belgian endurance classic establishes a new benchmark for the GT era, while the total of 11 globally significant automotive brands speaks to the ever-increasing importance placed on the July 25-28 event.

As the marquee race for both the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli, the grid will feature some of the most accomplished competitors from international motorsport. A field of 36 cars will compete in the top-tier Pro class, with many entries receiving manufacturer backing for the biggest race of the year.

They will dispute the most challenging and competitive GT contest in global motor racing, while strong grids for the Silver Cup, Pro-Am and Am Cup classes will ensure close racing from the start through to the chequered flag. What's more, a total of 28 cars across eight full-season manufacturers will compete for Intercontinental GT Challenge honours, eight more than the previous benchmark.

With an entry list that breaks multiple records, this year's event promises to once again set the gold standard in long-distance GT racing.

ASTON MARTIN (VANTAGE AMR GT3)

• Iconic British brand represented in all four classes
• New-for-2019 car set for maiden test at daunting Spa-Francorchamps circuit
• 6 entries: 3 Pro | 1 Silver Cup | 1 Pro-Am | 1 Am Cup

British brand Aston Martin has a new car this season and will be represented by three Pro efforts as it goes in search of its first overall win at the Total 24 Hours of Spa since 1948. R-Motorsport will bring a pair of new Vantage AMR entries to the Pro class, with past race winner and local star Maxime Martin featured among the driving talent. A third car comes from the Garage 59 squad, which has switched to the Aston Martin camp for 2019 and will also field its leading Am Cup machine. The brand will have Silver Cup representation thanks to a third R-Motorsports crew and will compete in Pro-Am via Oman Racing with TF Sport.

AUDI (R8 LMS GT3)

• GT heavyweight targets more success at Total 24 Hours of Spa
• Three factory-backed cars competing for glory in the Ardennes
• 11 entries: 6 Pro | 3 Silver Cup | 1 Pro-Am | 1 Am Cup
• 4 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

When it comes to firepower, Audi has left no stone unturned this year. Six Pro cars will contest the race, four of which will compete for Intercontinental GT Challenge honours and with three factory-backed efforts among them. The brand will enjoy full class representation, with three Silver Cup entries joined by one each in Pro-Am and Am Cup. Audi is the only marque to appear on the overall Total 24 Hours of Spa podium at every running since the Blancpain GT Series was launched in 2011 and will look to extend that sequence with another heavyweight effort.

BENTLEY (CONTINENTAL GT3)

• Four Pro class cars confirmed for major 100th anniversary assault
• M-Sport to anchor Pro attack, Team Parker Racing adds Pro-Am effort
• 5 entries: 4 Pro | 1 Pro-Am
• 4 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

In the year that it celebrates its centenary, Bentley will launch its biggest assault yet on the Total 24 Hours of Spa. The British marque expands its efforts to four Pro class Continental GT3s run by the M-Sport squad, with a combination of established talent and fresh faces among its roster. They will include two past Spa winners, with Jules Gounon lining up in the #107 and Markus Palttala aboard the #108. The brand will be further represented by Pro-Am effort Team Parker Racing as Bentley looks to celebrate its landmark birthday in style.

BMW (M6 GT3)

• Spa's most successful brand bidding for more Ardennes glory
• Potential winners in both Pro and Am Cup classes
• 5 entries: 2 Pro | 3 Am Cup
• 4 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

BMW's motorsport exploits will forever be linked with Spa. The Bavarian marque is the most successful brand in the race's history and has also clinched more wins than its rivals since the GT era began in 2001. It will shoot for overall honours at this year's event with a pair of M6 GT3s run by reigning champions Walkenhorst Motorsport and factory-backed Team Schnitzer. A further trio of Am Cup machines will ensure that BMW is once again a major factor in the Ardennes.

FERRARI (488 GT3)

• Expanded Pro effort as Maranello marque targets Spa glory
• Full class representation for popular 488 GT3 machine
• 10 cars: 3 Pro | 1 Silver Cup | 3 Pro-Am | 3 Am Cup
• 4 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

Ferrari will launch a bolstered effort at the Total 24 Hours of Spa this year as the Italian firm hunts its first overall win since 2004. SMP Racing enters the event following a win at Silverstone and with its drivers at the top of the Endurance Cup standings. The Russian-backed squad will be joined by additional cars from AF Corse and HubAuto Corsa, while the Prancing Horse also remains popular across the classes with three efforts each in Pro-Am and the Am Cup, plus a further Silver Cup entry from brand loyalist Rinaldi Racing.

HONDA (NSX GT3 EVO)

• Honda launches top-tier assault as part of Intercontinental GT Challenge programme
• Jenson Team Rocket RJN adds leading Silver Cup contender
• 2 cars: 1 Pro | 1 Silver Cup
• 2 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

After returning to the grid at last year's race with a Pro-Am effort, Honda steps up to a full-blooded assault on this year's Total 24 Hours of Spa. The Japanese marque will deploy the 2019-spec NSX GT3 Evo as part of its full-season Intercontinental GT Challenge programme, while a second car also competes for Silver Cup honours thanks to Endurance Cup squad Jenson Team Rocket RJN.

LAMBORGHINI (HURACAN GT3 EVO)

• Italian marque targets first overall win with trio of Pro challengers
• Major representation in Silver Cup, further contenders in Am Cup
• 11 entries: 3 Pro | 5 Silver Cup | 3 Am Cup

Lamborghini machinery has demonstrated impressive consistency during the Endurance Cup this term, with series newcomer Orange1 FFF Racing securing podiums at all three events and leading the teams' standings ahead of the journey to the Ardennes. The Chinese squad will field two Huracan GT3 Evo machines, while Grasser Racing adds a third potential winner to the grid. The Italian marque is well represented across the classes, particularly through its five Silver Cup machines. A further three Huracan GT3 Evos will fight for Am Cup honours.

LEXUS (RC F GT3)

• RC F GT3 returns to Spa after strong debut in 2018
• Tech 1 Racing to field Am Cup effort with Fabien Barthez among driving talent
• 1 entry in Am Cup

Lexus will once again tackle the Total 24 Hours of Spa this term thanks to a new programme led by French outfit Tech 1 Racing. The team will field an Am Cup effort that includes the driving talent of Fabien Barthez, who returns for another assault on the Belgian endurance classic. The RC F GT3 showed pace at Spa last year and should prove to be among the leading class contenders in 2019.

MERCEDES-AMG (AMG GT3)

• Multiple reigning champions and past Spa winners among all-star line-up
• German brand targets victory in final year for current-spec AMG GT3
• 10 entries: 6 Pro | 2 Silver Cup | 2 Pro-Am
• 4 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

In terms of star power, Mercedes-AMG will be among the leading lights at this year's race. Its six-car Pro effort includes two past Total 24 Hours of Spa winners, as well as reigning champions from the Blancpain GT Series and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. The brand will also be represented by two Silver Cup entries – including the class-leading AKKA ASP – and a pair of Pro-Am machines.

NISSAN (GT-R NISMO GT3)

• Two-car Pro class assault from Hong Kong outfit KCMG
• Japanese brand targeting first win since 1991 triumph with Skyline R32 GT-R
• 2 entries in Pro
• 2 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

Japanese marque Nissan will chase its first Total 24 Hours of Spa victory since 1991 with a two-car assault on the Pro class. A pair of GT-R NISMO GT3 machines will be run by the KCMG squad, with 2015 Endurance Cup champion Katsumasa Chiyo among its impressive driver line-up. Having secured an equal-best finish of the Blancpain GT Series era in 2018, the brand will now target a new high as part of its full-season assault on the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

PORSCHE (911 GT3 R)

• Stuttgart marque shows commitment to Spa glory with six-strong Pro entry
• Host of factory racers among driver line-up
• 9 entries: 6 Pro | 3 Pro-Am
• 4 Intercontinental GT Challenge entries

Porsche will chase its seventh Spa win and its first since 2010 with a renewed effort, as six Pro class cars challenge for outright glory in the Ardennes. Having taken victory in the season-opening Blancpain GT Series event at Monza, the brand will arrive with fresh hope of a strong showing. A wealth of Porsche factory talent is among the driver roster, including past winners Romain Dumas and Laurens Vanthoor. In addition, a trio of Porsche efforts will gun for Pro-Am honours at this year's race.

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The first official session for this year's Total 24 Hours of Spa will take place on Tuesday 23 July when the Bronze Test gets underway. Attention moves off the circuit on Wednesday for the annual parade from the circuit to Spa town centre and the always-popular driver autograph session.

From Thursday 25 July the attention shifts back to matters on-track with a busy practice and qualifying for the Total 24 Hours of Spa contenders, while the decisive Super Pole session is scheduled for 18.30 on Friday evening. The event will reach a crescendo on Saturday 27 July as the Total 24 Hours of Spa begins its 71st running at 16.30.

As ever, there will also be a wealth of support action that includes Formula Renault Eurocup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Championnat de France FFSA GT. What's more, the new GT2 concept will launch with a one-make race for the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport.

With so much on-track entertainment, as well as extensive activities on offer in the Fan Village, this year's Total 24 Hours of Spa promises to deliver an event worthy of the world's premier GT race.

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➢ Provisional entry list

➢ Provisional timetable 

➢ Poster