The Total 24 Hours of Spa (July 25th-30th) is much more than the biggest GT race in the world. It is also a week of entertainment, music and other exciting activities for the whole family. And just so you can enjoy this unique week to the utmost, we have made this handy summary for you.
A brand-new Music Festival
Many a spectator will gather in the Fan Zone on Saturday evening, for one of the major attractions of the Total 24 Hours of Spa week: the Saturday music festival. This year will see a combination of rock and electronic music, to cater for all musical tastes. The festivities kick off at 17.30, when The Planes take to the stage with their unmistakable sound of banging on a Fender guitar hooked up to a tube amp. Always relevant, always cool, always fun. The Planes will be followed by Mel Gaynor. The long-time Simple Minds drummer visited the Total 24 Hours of Spa last year and he promised he’d be back. After enjoying the magnificent start of the race, he will entertain the fans with a unique two-hour set.
From around 21.30 Simon Le Saint will take to the turntables, after which it is up to Henri PFR. The young DJ/producer’s knack for melody, combined with his sunny disposition, shines through in his music that has a lightness of touch rarely found in the electronic dance music world. His set will take the fans through to past midnight, after which world-renowned and Aruba-based DJ and Producer Chuckie will get the mercury rising even higher.
The Parade gets even bigger!
It is a unique event in the whole of the motorsport world: all the cars entered in the Total 24 Hours of Spa will take part in the traditional parade on Wednesday afternoon. The GT3 machines will use the public roads, starting from the circuit’s endurance pitlane to drive to the scenic Spa town centre and back again! This year the GT3 cars will be joined by cars from the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the Peugeot 308 Racing Cup and the Blancpain GT Sports Club, together with all the official cars. The parade will be followed by a huge party in the heart of the city with music, autograph sessions, podiums and driver interviews. Some drivers from the support races will be among them, and we might have a visit from rising F3 star Mick Schumacher.
The Fan Zone with a new look
Once again, the Fan Zone at the bottom of the Raidillon will be the epicentre of the off-track entertainment during the biggest race of the Blancpain GT Series and Intercontinental GT Challenge, with plenty of activities for the whole family. Simulators, racing cars, drink and food stands, official merchandising shops: you can find everything in the newly clad Fan Zone. Coyote and Pepsi bring some entertainment, Ladbrokes an F1-simulator and there obviously is the official Total 24 Hours of Spa store. For the kids there will be a circus, lunaparks, and even a mini-bungee jump. However, their parents will not have to miss a single moment of the on-track action, because there are plenty of giant screens on site.
Pirelli Activation Area
Apart from the traditional activities we described above you can also participate in the Pirelli Challenge in the Fan Zone, which gives everybody the chance to drive a miniature GT3 car on one of the most spectacular slot racing tracks around.
Can I have an autograph, please?
If you want a close up look at the cars and drivers taking part in the Total 24 Hours of Spa, be sure not to miss the pit walks. The pit lane will be open to the public on Thursday (18.55-19.55) and on Saturday from (13.25-14.25), together with an autograph session.
And remember, those fortunate enough to get their hands on a Grid Walk ticket will be able to join the drivers and cars on the starting grid. You can order them here.
An Air Show too
We might have some impressive machinery on the starting grid, but wait until you see what the Belgian Air Force is bringing to Spa: not only will they be present in the paddock, but they will also give an impressive demo with their Agusta A109 Hirundo helicopters.
GT parades on track
But don’t forget to look at the track once in a while, for in between the nine (!) support races for the Total 24 Hours of Spa there is also time for some impressive parades of road-going GT machinery. Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Nissan, Porsche and lots more unique cars from the Curbstone Track Events stable will grace the Ardennes circuit.
Want to race yourself?
If you want to get behind a racing wheel yourself, you can always get over to the Francorchamps Karting track. It’s open all week and even during the night over the weekend, for there will be a 500 km race during the night of the Total 24 Hours of Spa. Teams of five can enter through www.francorchamps-karting.be . You can even follow the GT race from the karting track , for there will be a giant screen on site.
Fireworks and air balloons
It’s part of the tradition of the Total 24 Hours of Spa: at 22.50 on Saturday evening the sky above the racing track will be lit up by some impressive fireworks. Earlier that evening the sky will be filled with the air balloons that will lift off from the outside of La Source corner.
Don’t forget to eat! Or drink!
You might be busy enjoying all the track activities, but you should keep your energy levels up. That’s why we have plenty of drink and food stands around the track, and the most (in)famous of them all, L’Arbre Qui Tue, is back as well. It has been completely refurbished and is back at its usual spot in the endurance paddock.
Keep an eye on the race. And an ear.
The Total24hours.com and Blancpain-GT-Series.com websites are the best way to follow the race. Entry list, results, news, pictures… that’s where to get it. During the race there will be a live timing and live stream. Or you could download the free Blancpain GT Series app.
As far as social media is concerned, you can follow the race on Twitter accounts @BlancpainGT & @24hoursofspa, Facebook-pages 24hoursofSpa, Blancpain Endurance Series and Intercontinental GT Challenge. Instagram accounts @blancpaingtseries and @intercontinentalgtchallenge will get you some great pictures. Use the hashtag #spa24h !
Radio station Classic 21 is broadcasting live from the Total 24 Hours of Spa. 106.5 FM gives you the official radio of the track, where you can listen to the circuit speakers.
And if you are sitting in a grandstand, or somewhere else around the track, chances are you will have one of the eleven giant screens opposite you!
Always put up your tent…
…before you indulge in anything else. There are two official camping sites for the Total 24 Hours of Spa (bookings through www.ticketmaster.be ).
Watch where you’re going…
Or you might stumble upon a supercar or two in the paddock. Ferrari, McLaren, Honda NSX, Gillet Vertigo, Lamborghini Centenario, Mercedes-AMG, Audi R8, Porsche, Bentley, the new GT4 racing machines from Mercedes-AMG, BMW and Audi, you could spend the whole weekend taking pictures of these cars! And sshhh, don’t mention it, but there is also two top secret European premieres somewhere in the paddock…
Start the week for free!
So you see, there is plenty to do during the race week of the Total 24 Hours of Spa. So get there early, especially since entry on Tuesday is completely free! You will see plenty of track action on that first day, for there is the three-hour Bronze Test for the Total 24 Hours of Spa and a couple of training sessions for the young wolves of the FIA European F3 championship. Don’t miss it!
