The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa returns for its 78th edition in 2026 with 70 GT3 cars representing 10 manufacturers across a packed schedule. The field will race from Saturday afternoon through the night before reaching the finish at 16:30 on Sunday.
Before the race begins, teams will complete Testing, Practice, four Qualifying sessions, night running, Superpole and a final warm-up. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s traditional parade will bring the cars and drivers into Spa city before attention returns to the circuit.
2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – full schedule
All times in CEST, one hour ahead of BST. The timetable remains provisional.
Tuesday, 23 June
- 14:40–16:40: Paid Test Session
- 16:55–17:55: Bronze Test
Wednesday, 24 June
- 18:00: Parade departs Spa-Francorchamps for Spa city
- 21:00: Parade returns from Spa city to the circuit
Thursday, 25 June
- 10:10–11:40: Free Practice 1
- 16:10–17:10: Free Practice 2
- 19:45–20:05: Qualifying 1
- 20:10–20:40: Qualifying 2
- 20:45–21:15: Qualifying 3
- 21:20–21:50: Qualifying 4
- 22:10–23:40: Night Practice
Friday, 26 June
- 15:05–15:55: Superpole
- 19:20–19:50: Warm-up
Saturday, 27 June
- 14:30–16:25: Start ceremony
- 16:30: CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa begins
Sunday, 28 June
- Overnight and daytime: CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa continues
- 16:30: Race finish and podium ceremony
Testing and the Spa parade begin the build-up
Tuesday’s paid test gives teams two hours to establish an initial setup before Bronze drivers receive a separate one-hour session. Although the test does not determine any grid positions, it provides valuable running before the competitive programme begins.
On Wednesday, the focus moves away from lap times. The traditional parade takes the GT3 field from Spa-Francorchamps into the city, where spectators can see the cars and meet drivers before the convoy returns to the circuit that evening.
Thursday delivers Practice, Qualifying and night running on the schedule for the 2026 CrowdStrike 24H of Spa
Thursday contains the busiest programme for the main event. Two practice sessions allow teams to evaluate tyre behaviour, balance and fuel consumption before qualifying begins shortly before sunset.
Each driver then receives a qualifying segment, with the combined performance determining which cars advance to Friday’s Superpole. As darkness arrives, the 90-minute Night Practice becomes essential. Drivers must adapt to reduced visibility, changing temperatures and the heavy traffic they will encounter during the race.
Friday sets the front of the grid
Friday’s Superpole decides the leading positions on the starting grid. With clear track and limited opportunities, each selected driver must produce a precise lap while avoiding mistakes around Spa-Francorchamps.
Later, the 30-minute warm-up gives teams one final opportunity to check the cars before the race. Pit walks, autograph sessions and the night track walk also bring spectators closer to the event before the competitive focus shifts fully towards Saturday.
Saturday begins the 2026 Crowdstrike 24H of Spa
The start ceremony begins at 14:30 before the race gets underway at 16:30. From that point, the 70-car field must manage traffic, strategy, driver changes and reliability across a complete day and night.
Lamborghini returns as the defending winner after Grasser Racing Team claimed the manufacturer’s first overall Spa victory in 2025. However, Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, Audi, Corvette and Ford will all attempt to take the trophy in 2026.
The race continues alongside Saturday evening’s concert and fireworks. However, teams cannot lose concentration as darkness, cooler track temperatures and fatigue create some of the event’s most demanding hours.
Sunday brings the final push to the finish
Morning light begins the closing phase, but the remaining hours can still transform the classification. Strategy calls, penalties, mechanical problems and late incidents often decide the result after teams have already completed most of the race.
The chequered flag falls at 16:30 on Sunday, exactly 24 hours after the start. The podium ceremony will then conclude a weekend that combines one of GT racing’s toughest endurance contests with Spa’s traditional festival atmosphere.
Spa prepares for another demanding endurance test
The schedule builds steadily from early testing and the traditional city parade towards qualifying, night practice and Friday’s decisive Superpole session. By Saturday afternoon, however, preparation will give way to a much greater challenge as 70 GT3 cars begin 24 hours of racing around Spa-Francorchamps.
Success will require far more than outright speed. Teams must manage traffic, changing track conditions, driver fatigue, strategy and reliability while avoiding mistakes through the night. With 10 manufacturers represented and several class battles unfolding alongside the overall contest, the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa promises another unpredictable edition before the chequered flag falls at 16:30 on Sunday.
Watch the race live here and follow along with Pit Debrief‘s live blog.
