Optimum Motorsport carried its Qualifying momentum into the race and now holds a commanding overnight lead after part one of the 2026 Michelin 12H Spa-Francorchamps. The McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, driven by Salman Owega, Freddie Tomlinson and Harry George, sits more than a minute and a half clear after five and a half hours of racing.
Owega made a strong start from pole position and immediately controlled the pace. Although the team made an early pit stop during the first Code 60 period, the strategy ultimately worked in their favour. As the race unfolded, the McLaren crew executed consistently and built a significant advantage heading into Sunday.
Rivals stay within striking distance
Despite Optimum’s dominance, several teams remain in contention behind. The HAAS RT Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II holds second place overall and leads the GT3-AM class after a disciplined performance. Meanwhile, Comtoyou Racing’s Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO sits third, maintaining steady pressure on the leaders.
Further down the order, Proton Competition leads the GT3 PRO-AM category in seventh overall. At the same time, strong competition across classes ensures that the outcome remains far from decided.
Intense battles define GT3 action in opening half of race at 2026 Michelin 12H Spa-Francorchamps
The opening hour delivered relentless action, with multiple Code 60 interruptions shaping strategy. Owega initially led, closely followed by GetSpeed’s Mercedes-AMG and Proton Competition’s Porsche. However, an early pit sequence reshuffled the order and allowed Comtoyou Racing to briefly take control.
As the race progressed, positions changed frequently. Drivers traded overtakes through traffic and capitalised on restarts. Notably, Proton Competition repeatedly fought its way back to the front, while Comtoyou’s entries remained aggressive throughout.
Midway through the race, a high-speed incident at Blanchimont involving the Era Motorsport Ferrari brought concern. Fortunately, the driver escaped injury, although the car sustained heavy damage.
In the later stages, strategy played a decisive role. Optimum Motorsport steadily regained control and extended its lead, while the HAAS RT Audi entries surged into contention. By the end of part one, the McLaren stood firmly at the front.
QMMF by HRT leads 992 Class
The 992 category delivered equally compelling action. Mühlner Motorsport initially led from pole, but early pit stops opened the door for QMMF by HRT Performance to move ahead.
As the race developed, several teams cycled through the lead due to pit strategies. Red Camel-Jordans.nl and Mühlner Motorsport both enjoyed time at the front, particularly as they climbed the overall standings during GT3 pit cycles.
However, consistency proved decisive. By the halfway point, QMMF by HRT established control and gradually built a one-lap advantage. The team now leads both the 992 and 992 AM classes overnight, with Mühlner Motorsport in pursuit.
GTX and TCE-TCX battles shift dramatically
In GTX, NM Racing initially dominated with its Mercedes-AMG GT2. However, technical issues disrupted its progress and allowed the No.701 Vortex to take control. From that point onwards, the Vortex entry built a solid lead and now heads the class heading into Sunday.
Meanwhile, the TCE-TCX category saw Not Only Motorsport maintain its advantage with the Ligier JS2 R. Although the J-Mec Engineering BMW challenged early on, it encountered difficulties that ended its push for victory.
As the race continued, other contenders gained ground. The asBest Racing entries improved steadily, while the CWS Engineering Ginetta briefly climbed into contention before suffering a costly tyre issue late in the session.
All to play for on Sunday as 2026 Michelin 12H Spa-Francorchamps comes to its end
With part one complete, Optimum Motorsport sits in a strong position. Nevertheless, endurance racing often produces surprises, and the remaining six and a half hours will test every team’s reliability and strategy.
Crucially, rivals remain close enough to capitalise on any mistakes. Therefore, while the McLaren squad leads comfortably, the battle for victory at Spa-Francorchamps is far from over.
