The night of the 24 Hours of Spa 2026 was marked by an unexpected reign, with the #51 Ferrari returning to the lead lap after a tire incident on Saturday afternoon. The feared storms were reduced to a brief downpour at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit.
With multiple safety cars, light rains, and the withdrawal of several favored vehicles, the night was intense. By 6 a.m. on Sunday, the big news was the recovery of the #51 Ferrari from AF Corse, an extraordinary success considering the difficulties in recovering lost laps in such a demanding competition.
Moreover, the storms that were forecast passed to the northwest of the circuit without causing significant damage. Despite an impressive display of lightning, the rain was light and had little influence on the drivers.
Problems for McLaren
Before darkness settled completely, the #63 Lamborghini Grasser suffered engine failures, necessitating a pit stop. Later, the #59 Garage 59 McLaren held onto podium hopes when it withdrew due to a suspension axle failure.
Additionally, driver Benji Goethe collided with the CLRT Porsche of Matt Campbell, causing significant damage to the McLaren, resulting in its definitive withdrawal.
Difficulties for Garage 59
Despite the withdrawal of the #59, the #58 Garage 59 still held hopes of victory. Initially, the car was doing well during the night, but ended up having problems when driver Louis Prette was turned by a Porsche at the Bus Stop chicane, resulting in a penalty for dangerous driving.
The early hours of the morning were also difficult, with another pit stop for damage to the front of the vehicle, which caused coolant leaks.
Intense Activity with Safety Cars
The competition was marked by the presence of five periods of nighttime safety cars. The first of these occurred just before the seventh hour when the Aston Martin #21 crashed at Courbe Paul Frère.
After a brief race restart, another Porsche was involved in an accident at the Fagnes curve, resulting in the withdrawal of two vehicles. Additionally, the #51 Ferrari executed a strategic move that allowed it to recover the necessary lap to return to competition.
A Morning Full of Incidents
The day continued with more accidents, including the fall of the #84 Audi from Eastalent, which had an impact that left it out of competition. The Aston Martin #700 also suffered a crash against the barriers, but the driver emerged unscathed.
Although rain made an appearance during one of the Safety Car periods, most cars managed to adapt to the situation quickly, switching back to slick tires.
The situation was marked by unfortunate incidents, but also by moments of brilliant strategy, and while McLaren suffered, Ferrari leaned in, taking a decisive step towards recovery.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
