DTM racer Gary Paffett gets Spa 24 Hours debut with Mercedes

Paffett's drive in a works-backed HTP Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3, exclusively revealed by Autosport last week, has been announced along with a raft of factory drivers for the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup round on July 30/31.

The Briton will race the additional HTP entry together with fellow DTM driver Maximilian Gotz and Mercedes stalwart Thomas Jager.

Paffett said: "I am looking forward to my debut in GT racing, and in such a classic race, no less.

"I've already been able to test the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and I felt at ease straight away - now I am eager to find out what it will be like in the race."

Maro Engel, winner of last year's FIA GT World Cup at Macau, will race an additional works-back Mercedes fielded by the Black Falcon team alongside Bernd Schneider and Yelmer Buurman.

Renger van der Zander has been placed with the French ASP squad to race a works-supported car alongside DTM reserve driver Felix Rosenqvist and Tristan Vautier.

DTM driver Daniel Juncadella will be the fourth driver in Black Falcon's pro-am car.

Audi DTM driver Edoardo Mortara is another addition to the Spa entry list.

The Italian will drive alongside Filip Salaquarda and Marlon Stockinger in the ISR team's lead Audi R8 LMS.

He fills the seat vacated in ISR's Spa line-up by Frank Stippler, who is racing the Phoenix team's factory Audi entry alongside Marcus Winkelhock and Christopher Mies at Spa.

The Belgian WRT Audi team's factory car will be raced as planned - and contrary to the published list - by Laurens Vanthoor, Rene Rast and Nico Muller.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Will Stevens, who races with Rast in the BGTS, will move over to share with Frederic Vervisch and Dries Vanthoor in one of WRT's fleet of Audis.