The GT4 European Series round at Spa-Francorchamps was a weekend of extremes for W&S Motorsport. Over 40 degrees Celsius, a special night race as part of the legendary 24h race, and two podium finishes for Blickle & Kronberg – Spa had it all.
Tuesday – An Early Test Start
The weekend began earlier than usual for W&S Motorsport. As early as Tuesday, the cars rolled onto the tarmac at Spa for the first time – valuable test kilometres to prepare for the demanding weekend ahead. During practice, #30 (Kronberg/Blickle) suffered a tyre blowout which also damaged the brake line – the team repaired the damage quickly in the pit lane and were back up and running in time.
A Special Programme
As part of the support programme for the 24h race at Spa, the team experienced a truly special format: for the first time this season, a night race was on the schedule – a one-of-a-kind highlight that gave the weekend its own unique character.
Qualifying 1 – A Solid Starting Position
The first qualifying session went solidly for all four cars. The heat – even more intense than at the previous round in Monza – posed real challenges for the Porsche. Competition was strong, but the team was able to find good positions.
#32 (Bölting/Still) – P5 Class / P11 Overall
#27 (Nillson/Hellsten) – P14 Class / P31 Overall
#31 (Horrell/Gabbay) – P17 Class / P38 Overall
#30 (Kronberg/Blickle) – P2 Class / P41 Overall
Qualifying 2 – A Strong Statement from #30
In the second qualifying session, #30 (Kronberg/Blickle) made a strong statement and secured P1 in class (P20 overall). #32 (Bölting/Still) also impressed once again with P13 in class (P33 overall). #31 (Horrell/Gabbay) lined up P12 in class (P32 overall), while #27 (Nillson/Hellsten) took P18 in class (P39 overall).
Race 1 – Night Race in Changeable Conditions
The night race had a few surprises in store. With rain setting in and oil on the track, conditions became highly demanding. #31 (Horrell/Gabbay) was forced to retire early due to a tyre failure. #30 (Kronberg/Blickle) also retired from the race. #32 (Bölting/Still) battled with numerous track limit violations but brought the car home solidly. #27 (Nillson/Hellsten) of Nova Racing found a good balance and also came through well.
Race 2 – Double Podium and a Strong Team Performance
The second race went considerably better for W&S Motorsport. All four cars reached the finish line. #30 (Kronberg/Blickle) crowned the weekend with another class victory – P1 in class, P19 overall. #27 (Nillson/Hellsten) finished P7 in class (P18 overall), #32 (Bölting/Still) P10 in class (P24 overall), and #31 (Horrell/Gabbay) P13 in class (P28 overall).
A Special Moment on the Sidelines
Away from the track, the unveiling of the new Porsche 911 GT4 R caused great excitement within the team. Expectations are high – W&S Motorsport is eager to see what the future holds.
Quotes
Daniel Blickle (#30 – Kronberg/Blickle):
“The weekend was great. Overall we really struggled with the Porsche due to the high temperatures. We fought our way from P43 to P19 – and after the accident in Monza, a win like this means a lot.”
Edvin Hellsten / Daniel Nillson (#27 – Nova Racing):
“A good weekend – we found a good balance. The first race was really difficult: rain, night conditions, oil on the track. But Race 2 was great. If we keep this up, it’s going to be a strong season.”
Joachim Bölting (#32 – Bölting/Still):
“It was incredibly hot. I had too many track limit violations, but it was good to be back on solid ground after the accident in Monza. Misano is going to be just as hot – we’re preparing for that.”
Tim Horrell (#31 – Horrell/Gabbay):
“It was very tough and things didn’t work out the way we had hoped – but we gave everything. The team did a fantastic job. We’re looking forward to Misano.”
Daniel Schellhaas – Team Chief W&S Motorsport:
“A challenging weekend for all of us. Team and drivers kept a cool head – which was far from easy in these conditions. See you in Misano.”
