• Two days of testing scheduled for 23–24 May
• Entry list for Prologue features 68 cars representing eight brands
• Public invited to attend free of charge
The start of the 2023 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa will move a step closer next week (23-24 May) when 68 cars gather at the legendary Ardennes venue to participate in the event's official Prologue.
The annual two-day test launches the final phase of preparation for the 75th edition of the twice-around-the-clock classic. Teams and drivers will take the opportunity to fine-tune their equipment at the 7km Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with little over a month remaining before the main event takes place on 29 June – 2 July.
The Prologue will feature machinery from each of the eight brands that will be present for this year's race, though the line-up does not reflect the full entry list for the 24 Hours, with a handful of contenders unable to participate next week.
The 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup regulars are set to be joined on-track by a number of one-off entrants, setting up what promises to be a truly global sporting contest. They include American outfit SunEnergy1 Racing (Mercedes-AMG), Uno Racing Team (Audi) from China, and Australian squad Grove Racing (Porsche).
Among the familiar names at the Prologue there will be three entries from Team WRT (BMW), while a 15-car Mercedes-AMG contingent is led by reigning overall winner Akkodis ASP. Fellow German brands Porsche and Audi are also well represented, with both set to be in double digits for the Prologue and the main event.
Two years on from a securing thrilling overall victory, Ferrari has unleashed the new 296 GT3 for the 2023 season, while the older 488 will also participate. The team that won in 2021, Iron Lynx, is now aligned with Lamborghini and leads a 10-car entry for the Sant'Agata Bolognese brand. McLaren's contingent includes Inception Racing and Garage 59, while its fellow British marque Aston Martin will be represented by newcomer Bullitt Racing.
The official test days will feature 16 hours of running, beginning on Tuesday at 09:00 CEST with a three-hour morning session. Track activity will resume at 13:00 and continue uninterrupted until 18:00, while Wednesday's schedule repeats the same format.
The circuit will be open to the public throughout with admission offered free of charge, giving fans a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of this year’s protagonists as they prepare for the world's toughest GT race. To find out more about tickets for this summer's race, please click here.
