24.07.2019Preview of the weekend: Highlights in Spa and Hockenheim

Next weekend it comes all together: Besides the Gran Prix of Germany at the Hockenheimring, the 24-hours-race in the Belgian Spa-Franchorchamps stands on the agenda of the motor sports fans. One of them is logically the two-time endurance World Champion Timo Bernhard, who will participate with his KÜS Team75 Bernhard in the race called Total 24 hours Spa in the Ardennes. The first edition of the event opened its doors in 1924. Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem were inspired of the one-year previously committed 24-hour race at Le Mans, where they transferred the idea to the 14.863-kilometer course on public roads between Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot. Of course, the organizer is the Royal Automobile Club Belgium, as it is today.

Now the KÜS Team75 Bernhard is looking forward to the season highlight on the 1979 shortened to 6.976 kilometers track, to whose partners we belong. This year's race will be started on Saturday at 4:30 pm. With the three Porsche factory drivers Timo Bernhard (38) from Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, Earl Bamber (28) from New Zealand and local hero Laurens Vanthoor (28) and the Porsche 911 GT3 R of the latest design, the team from Bruchmühlbach is in an excellent position. This was demonstrated by the two-day test drives in Belgium at the beginning of July, where starting number 117 was competitive from the start. Reason for anticipation and optimism so. But the competition is extremely tough, no less than 72 heavily occupied cars - a new record - are reported. First goal: to survive the 24 hours. Second goal: a podium finish.

The day after tomorrow, so on Thursday at 8:15 pm, the four qualifying sessions will begin on the challenging Ardennes roller coaster: the Super Pole will be extended to the fastest 20 teams on Friday at 6:30 pm. The race can be tracked on the internet on the official page of the 24 Hours of Spa (https://www.total24hours.com/live), on the SRO Motorsports Group website (https://www.sro-motorsports.com/ total-24-hours-of-spa) or on YouTube, certainly the easiest solution. Laurens Vanthoor: "At the 24 Hours of Spa, I ride for the second year in a row in the same line-up in our KÜS Team75 Bernhard. I know Timo and Earl very well, we get along great. This year, we now have the new car, which has already proven to be very good. I look forward to it!"

Timo Bernhard to the 24h in Spa 

And what does the team boss say? Timo Bernhard: "We had a very good two-day test in Spa. We were competitive at all times, but above all we were able to answer many questions regarding the race. The preparations are completed. Of course, we know that the race will be very fast and very hard, so a lot of the work is still ahead of us. Also, in such a race the necessary little luck is needed to achieve a good result. The team is positive and very motivated. We're sure to enjoy the week at one of the best races in the world, with one of the best teams, one of the best vehicles and two of the best teammates out there. It can start." By the way: In 2017, the 4th place jumped out for the team and the modelcars are still available in the format 1:43! Also the 2018 version!

Consequently, it is the No. 117, under which the brand new car go at the start this year. In the shop are also the modelcars of the ADAC GT Masters 2018, on which - we are proud - our logo can be seen. Not only the 24 Hours of Spa, but also the events broadcast live on RTL from 3:00 pm on Sunday at the Grand Prix Germany in Hockenheim will interest the fans of high-class motorsport. Lewis Hamilton comes with his 223 points as leader in the drivers' championship into the Motodrom of the Hockenheimring. Teammate Valtteri Bottas follows with 184 points; Sebastian Vettel is in fourth place with 123 converted four wins behind Hamilton. Would be great for Ferrari and Vettel to win in Germany! And our conclusion? We keep our fingers crossed for all drivers and teams and wish a successful weekend!

Here: Click to the Porsche 911 from KÜS Team75 Bernhard