Predicting a class winner at the CrowdStrike 24H of Spa always presents a challenge, but the Silver Cup raises that uncertainty to another level in 2026. The category brings together 17 cars from eight manufacturers, with many crews relying on ambitious young drivers who want to establish themselves on one of GT racing’s biggest stages.
That determination often produces fearless racing and bold overtaking. However, the same approach can create problems during a 24-hour contest in which patience, consistency and traffic management matter just as much as outright speed. The Silver Cup can therefore deliver spectacular performances, sudden changes of fortune and unexpected winners.
The category has also developed several drivers who later earned major factory roles. Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, Ricardo Feller, Mattia Drudi, Simon Gachet, Arthur Rougier and Benjamin Goethe all built experience in the Silver Cup before progressing further in international GT racing.
The 2026 field contains another generation of drivers hoping to follow that path. Tresor Attempto Racing arrives after a sensational overall victory at Monza, while Pure Rxcing and Team WRT have already demonstrated strong Endurance Cup form. Walkenhorst Motorsport returns to defend its class victory, and several experienced international teams add further depth to an already unpredictable contest.
What is the Silver Cup?
The Silver Cup allows teams to field a maximum line-up of four Silver-rated drivers. Unlike the Pro category, the class does not permit established Platinum- or Gold-rated professionals to lead the crew. Instead, it places responsibility on developing competitors who still need to prove themselves at the highest level.
That format makes the Silver Cup one of the most important development categories in GT racing. Drivers must learn how to manage long stints, changing weather, night-time running and constant traffic without relying on a highly experienced professional team-mate to handle the most difficult moments.
Every Silver Cup squad will use four drivers at Spa. The additional competitor helps teams distribute the physical demands of the race and gives them more flexibility when planning stint lengths. However, each crew must also maintain a consistent level across four different drivers.
The strongest teams can challenge well beyond the class classification. Tresor Attempto Racing proved that point by winning overall at Monza, while previous Silver Cup crews have regularly competed inside the leading group. Nevertheless, the drivers must balance their overall ambitions with the need to protect their class position across 24 hours.
The Silver Cup at a glance
- Entries: 17 cars
- Manufacturers: Eight
- Maximum line-up: Silver / Silver / Silver / Silver
- 2025 winner: Walkenhorst Motorsport – Aston Martin Vantage
- Race start: 16:30 on Saturday, 27 June
McLaren leads the manufacturer representation with four Silver Cup entries. Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari and Porsche each bring two cars, while Ford completes the field with one Mustang GT3 EVO.
Several teams enter with strong recent form. Tresor Attempto Racing tops the class standings after its overall Monza victory, while Pure Rxcing and Team WRT finished first and second respectively at the opening Endurance Cup round at Circuit Paul Ricard.
However, Walkenhorst Motorsport knows how to win the category at Spa, and experienced organisations such as AF Corse, Saintéloc Racing, Rinaldi Racing, Dinamic GT, Team RJN and HRT can all influence the result. Meanwhile, Team Motopark joins the series for the first time with a particularly intriguing driver line-up.
Tresor Attempto Racing: Monza winners lead the way
Tresor Attempto Racing enters the 24H of Spa as the most obvious starting point for any discussion about the Silver Cup favourites. The team secured a sensational overall victory at Monza, where Rocco Mazzola, Ariel Levi and Sebastian Øgaard defeated the entire field rather than simply winning their class.
That result placed the trio at the top of the Silver Cup standings and gave the team considerable momentum before Spa. It also proved that the #66 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II can compete at the front when the drivers and team execute a clean race.
Mark Kastelic joins the regular crew as its fourth driver for Spa. His arrival allows Tresor Attempto to spread the workload across a complete four-driver line-up while retaining the core combination that delivered the Monza victory.
The team also brings an impressive record at Spa-Francorchamps. Tresor Attempto won the Bronze Cup in 2024 and finished second overall in 2020, so it understands the strategic and operational demands of the event. That knowledge should help the young crew manage the transition from a shorter Endurance Cup race to a full day and night of competition.
Monza success will naturally increase expectations, but it will also place a target on the #66 Audi. The drivers must avoid chasing the overall result too aggressively during the opening hours. If they remain patient and reach Sunday morning in contention, Tresor Attempto should mount a serious challenge for Silver Cup victory.
Pure Rxcing: Porsche builds on its Paul Ricard victory
Pure Rxcing opened the Endurance Cup season with a Silver Cup victory at Circuit Paul Ricard and remained in the fight at Monza. Those performances established the Porsche squad as one of Tresor Attempto Racing’s strongest rivals.
Aleksei Nesov, Enzo Trulli, Aliaksandr Malykhin and Max Hofer share the #9 Porsche 911 GT3 R. The line-up combines drivers with experience across GT racing, prototypes and single-seaters, giving Pure Rxcing a varied but competitive four-driver rotation.
The team has already shown that it can manage an endurance race effectively. Its Paul Ricard victory required consistent pace and disciplined execution, while its Monza performance confirmed that the opening result did not come by chance.
Pure Rxcing must now transfer that form to a much longer and more demanding event. The team needs to manage the car carefully through traffic and ensure that all four drivers maintain a similar rhythm across their stints.
The Porsche possesses the performance required to compete at the front, while the team has developed a strong reputation in international endurance racing. If Pure Rxcing avoids mistakes and mechanical problems, the #9 should remain among the class leaders throughout the race.
Team WRT: a Belgian crew targets home success
Team WRT finished second to Pure Rxcing in the opening Endurance Cup round and also featured prominently at Monza. The Belgian squad now approaches its home event with one of the most popular line-ups in the Silver Cup.
Amaury Cordeel, Matisse Lismont and Mathieu Detry give the #30 BMW M4 GT3 EVO a strong Belgian identity. Argentine rookie Ignacio Montenegro completes the four-driver crew and adds another highly rated young competitor to the team.
Cordeel, Lismont and Detry should receive considerable support from the local crowd, but their familiarity with Spa-Francorchamps also provides a practical advantage. Each understands the circuit’s changing grip levels, unpredictable weather and unique demands.
Montenegro faces a significant test during his first 24H of Spa. However, he joins one of the most experienced teams in GT racing, and WRT can guide him through the event’s most difficult phases.
The team’s operational strength makes the #30 BMW a major contender. WRT understands how to prepare for Spa, adapt its strategy and execute under pressure. If the drivers match that standard, the squad can turn its home support into a serious class challenge.
Walkenhorst Motorsport: the defending winner returns
Walkenhorst Motorsport returns to defend the Silver Cup victory it secured with Aston Martin in 2025. The German team has changed part of its driver line-up, but it retains both knowledge of the category and direct experience of winning at Spa.
Mateo Villagomez returns as the defending class winner and shares the #35 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO with Ethan Ischer, Gaspard Simon and Maxime Robin. Villagomez can provide the crew with valuable insight into the approach that delivered last year’s success.
Simon also arrives with significant expectations after winning the SRO GT Academy. That achievement marked him as a promising young driver and earned him an opportunity to test his ability in one of the toughest races on the calendar.
Ischer and Robin complete a balanced four-driver combination. Each member must settle into a consistent rhythm, but Walkenhorst can use its 2025 experience to help the crew manage the pressure.
Defending a class victory rarely proves straightforward, especially in a 17-car field filled with ambitious young drivers. Nevertheless, Walkenhorst understands the route to success and should remain a factor if the #35 completes a clean race.
Comtoyou Racing: another Belgian challenge
Comtoyou Racing gives Aston Martin a second opportunity in the Silver Cup. The Belgian team enters Sébastien Baud, Arthur Dorison, Kobe Pauwels and Oliver Söderström in the #21 Vantage AMR GT3 EVO.
Pauwels provides the line-up with local interest and considerable potential. The young Belgian has already demonstrated strong pace in GT racing and now faces an opportunity to impress in front of his home supporters.
Baud, Dorison and Söderström add further speed to a crew that should compete near the front of the class. However, Comtoyou must ensure that all four drivers maintain a controlled approach throughout the race.
The team knows how to succeed at Spa after winning overall with Aston Martin in 2024. Although the Silver Cup programme presents a different challenge, Comtoyou can apply that experience to its preparation, pit work and strategic decisions.
The #21 may not enter as the leading favourite, but the combination of a proven team, competitive machinery and a talented line-up makes it a credible challenger.
AF Corse: Ferrari’s experience supports a young crew
AF Corse can never escape consideration at a major GT endurance race. The Italian organisation has extensive experience with Ferrari machinery and understands how to manage the strategic demands of the 24H of Spa.
Francesco Braschi, Jeff Machiels, Matías Zagazeta and Gilles Stadsbader share the #52 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO. Machiels and Stadsbader give the entry a Belgian connection, while Braschi and Zagazeta add further international experience.
The crew must compete against several teams with stronger early-season results, but AF Corse’s operational quality can help close that gap. The team knows how to maintain its cars, respond to changing conditions and preserve an opportunity until the closing hours.
Ferrari has also performed strongly at Spa in recent seasons. That record provides the Silver Cup crew with a proven platform, even though it must still execute across four young drivers.
The #52 may emerge gradually rather than lead from the opening stages. If AF Corse keeps the car clean and within reach of the leaders, its experience could become especially valuable when fatigue and pressure increase on Sunday.
GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros: Mercedes-AMG adds speed and experience
GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros strengthens its regular line-up for Spa by adding rapid Polish driver Karol Basz. He joins Anthony Bartone, Aurélien Panis and César Gazeau in the #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Basz brings considerable GT racing experience and should provide the crew with a strong reference point. Panis and Gazeau also possess the pace to challenge, while Bartone continues to develop within the programme.
GetSpeed understands the demands of major endurance events and knows how to operate the Mercedes-AMG package. That background should help the team manage driver rotations and maintain a consistent level across the full race.
The #6 may not carry the same pre-event momentum as Tresor Attempto, Pure Rxcing or WRT, but its combination of drivers and team experience makes it a serious outsider. A clean opening half could place GetSpeed in a strong position when the class battle enters its decisive stages.
Rinaldi Racing and Saintéloc bring proven class winners
Rinaldi Racing and Saintéloc Racing add significant experience to a field dominated by emerging talent. Both teams can call on drivers who already understand how to win their categories at the 24H of Spa.
Rafael Duran, Dylan Medler, Alessandro Balzan and David Perel share the #45 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO. Perel brings particular value to the crew after previously winning at Spa in both the Am and Pro-Am categories.
His experience should help the younger drivers manage risk and understand the changing character of the race. Balzan also brings extensive GT knowledge, giving Rinaldi a line-up that combines development potential with experienced guidance.
Saintéloc Racing enters Ezequiel Pérez Companc, Etienne Cheli, Ivan Klymenko and Lucas Légeret in the #25 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. Pérez Companc won the Silver Cup at Spa in 2021 and therefore knows exactly what the class demands.
Saintéloc also has a long history with Audi machinery and understands how to maximise the R8 over long distances. Neither entry may begin the weekend as the clear favourite, but both possess enough experience to capitalise if the leading crews encounter trouble.
Dinamic GT, Team RJN and HRT add international depth
Several established international teams give the Silver Cup further strength. Dinamic GT, Team RJN and HRT each bring extensive experience from major GT competitions and should play an important role in the class battle.
Loris Cabirou, Tanart Sathienthirakul, Francesco Simonazzi and Angus Whiteside share the #54 Dinamic GT Porsche. The Italian team understands the 911 GT3 R and has competed successfully in high-level endurance racing, which gives its young crew a strong foundation.
Team RJN enters Wyatt Brichacek, Horatio Fitz-Simon, Maxwell Lynn and Ben Dörr in the #23 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO. RJN has a long history of developing drivers and running competitive GT programmes, making the Silver Cup a natural fit for the British squad.
HRT Ford Racing completes this group with Finn Wiebelhaus, Max Reis, Maxime Oosten and Eduardo Coseteng in the #65 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO. The Mustang has shown impressive pace during the season, and HRT has the technical ability to turn that performance into a class challenge.
Each of these crews must prove that it can deliver consistency across four drivers. However, their teams have enough experience to guide them through the busiest and most demanding phases of the race.
McLaren brings four opportunities for Silver Cup success
McLaren has the largest presence in the Silver Cup, with Optimum Motorsport, Team RJN, Greystone GT and CSA Racing giving the manufacturer four chances to win.
Optimum Motorsport enters Salman Owega, Dante Rappange, Guilherme Oliveira and Mikey Porter in the #5 McLaren. The team understands the 720S GT3 EVO and brings a line-up capable of producing strong pace across the race.
Greystone GT fields Zac Meakin, Jayden Kelly, Tommy Pintos and Josh Rattican in the #44. The young crew faces a significant test, but Greystone has built considerable experience in British and international GT competition.
CSA Racing completes McLaren’s Silver Cup representation with Baptiste Moulin, Sai Sanjay, Romain Andriolo and Lorens Lecertua in the #555 car. The team also competes in the Gold Cup, which gives it additional data and experience across the weekend.
McLaren’s numerical advantage gives the marque several strategic routes to success. However, each team operates independently and must overcome the same traffic, reliability and consistency challenges as its rivals.
The 720S GT3 EVO has the speed to challenge, but one of the four crews must convert that pace into a complete 24-hour performance if McLaren wants to secure the class victory.
Team Motopark makes its series debut
Team Motopark will make its series debut at Spa with the #20 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. The team enters one of the most intriguing Silver Cup line-ups in Levente Révész, Christian Mansell, Yannick Mettler and Rui Andrade.
Mettler gives the crew direct knowledge of Silver Cup success after winning the class in 2024. His experience should prove invaluable as Motopark adapts to a new championship and the demands of its first 24H of Spa.
Mansell arrives with a strong record in single-seater competition and faces one of the biggest tests of his young career. He must adjust to GT machinery, driver changes and the discipline required during long endurance stints.
Révész and Andrade complete a crew that combines different levels of experience and several racing backgrounds. Motopark must bring those elements together quickly during practice and qualifying.
A series debut at Spa creates a formidable challenge, but the team has assembled enough talent to make an impression. If Motopark adapts quickly and avoids early mistakes, the #20 could become one of the class’s most interesting outsiders.
Paradine Competition gives BMW another contender
Paradine Competition adds a second BMW to the Silver Cup field alongside Team WRT. Josh Rowledge, Jop Rappange, Christian Hahn and Ian Aguilera share the #992 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
The crew combines four young drivers who want to establish themselves in international GT competition. Rowledge and Rappange bring considerable potential, while Hahn and Aguilera complete a line-up capable of maintaining competitive pace.
Paradine may not carry the same history or local profile as WRT, but the team has a strong technical package and a car that has already proved itself in major endurance races.
The #992 must remain disciplined during the opening stages and avoid becoming involved in unnecessary incidents. If the crew settles into the race, Paradine could move steadily through the field and challenge the more highly rated entries.
The full 2026 24H of Spa Silver Cup entry list
- #5 Optimum Motorsport — McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Salman Owega / Dante Rappange / Guilherme Oliveira / Mikey Porter
- #6 GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros — Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: Anthony Bartone / Aurélien Panis / César Gazeau / Karol Basz
- #9 Pure Rxcing — Porsche 911 GT3 R: Aleksei Nesov / Enzo Trulli / Aliaksandr Malykhin / Max Hofer
- #20 Team Motopark — Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: Levente Révész / Christian Mansell / Yannick Mettler / Rui Andrade
- #21 Comtoyou Racing — Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO: Sébastien Baud / Arthur Dorison / Kobe Pauwels / Oliver Söderström
- #23 Team RJN — McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Wyatt Brichacek / Horatio Fitz-Simon / Maxwell Lynn / Ben Dörr
- #25 Saintéloc Racing — Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II: Ezequiel Pérez Companc / Etienne Cheli / Ivan Klymenko / Lucas Légeret
- #30 Team WRT — BMW M4 GT3 EVO: Ignacio Montenegro / Amaury Cordeel / Mathieu Detry / Matisse Lismont
- #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport — Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO: Ethan Ischer / Gaspard Simon / Mateo Villagomez / Maxime Robin
- #44 Greystone GT — McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Zac Meakin / Jayden Kelly / Tommy Pintos / Josh Rattican
- #45 Rinaldi Racing — Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO: Rafael Duran / Dylan Medler / Alessandro Balzan / David Perel
- #52 AF Corse — Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO: Francesco Braschi / Jeff Machiels / Matías Zagazeta / Gilles Stadsbader
- #54 Dinamic GT — Porsche 911 GT3 R: Loris Cabirou / Tanart Sathienthirakul / Francesco Simonazzi / Angus Whiteside
- #65 HRT Ford Racing — Ford Mustang GT3 EVO: Finn Wiebelhaus / Max Reis / Maxime Oosten / Eduardo Coseteng
- #66 Tresor Attempto Racing — Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II: Mark Kastelic / Ariel Levi / Sebastian Øgaard / Rocco Mazzola
- #555 CSA Racing — McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Baptiste Moulin / Sai Sanjay / Romain Andriolo / Lorens Lecertua
- #992 Paradine Competition — BMW M4 GT3 EVO: Josh Rowledge / Jop Rappange / Christian Hahn / Ian Aguilera
The key Silver Cup storylines
Tresor Attempto carries overall-winning form: The #66 Audi arrives after defeating the entire field at Monza and leads the Silver Cup standings.
Pure Rxcing and WRT continue their early-season battle: The two teams finished first and second at Paul Ricard and remained competitive at Monza.
Walkenhorst defends its 2025 victory: Mateo Villagomez returns alongside SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon in the #35 Aston Martin.
Belgian drivers take centre stage: Team WRT fields three Belgian competitors, while Comtoyou and AF Corse also include prominent local talent.
Experienced drivers guide developing crews: David Perel, Ezequiel Pérez Companc, Karol Basz and Yannick Mettler bring valuable knowledge to their respective entries.
McLaren holds the numerical advantage: Four teams will represent the British manufacturer in the 17-car field.
Team Motopark begins a new programme: The squad makes its series debut with 2024 class winner Mettler and single-seater graduate Christian Mansell.
Four-driver crews add another challenge: Every Silver Cup team must maintain consistency across its complete line-up throughout the race.
A class built for breakthrough performances
Tresor Attempto Racing enters the 2026 CrowdStrike 24H of Spa with the strongest recent result after its remarkable overall victory at Monza. However, Pure Rxcing, Team WRT and defending winner Walkenhorst Motorsport have already demonstrated that they possess the pace and structure required to challenge.
Comtoyou Racing, AF Corse and GetSpeed bring strong line-ups, while Rinaldi Racing and Saintéloc can rely on drivers who have already won their classes at Spa. Dinamic GT, Team RJN and HRT add further experience, and McLaren’s four-car presence gives the manufacturer several opportunities.
Team Motopark could create a surprise during its series debut, while Paradine Competition has the potential to join BMW rival WRT near the front. With 17 cars and no obvious weakness among the leading crews, the class should remain open deep into Sunday.
The Silver Cup rewards talent, but it also tests maturity. Its young drivers must resist unnecessary risks, manage traffic and preserve their cars through the night. The crew that balances ambition with discipline will give itself the best chance of victory.
Whatever the final result, the class will almost certainly reveal another group of drivers ready to progress towards professional and factory careers. That possibility makes the Silver Cup one of the most compelling contests at the 2026 24H of Spa.
Full entry list
Weekend schedule
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