Spa 24 Hours tipped to be most open in Blancpain GT's history
More manufacturers than ever are going into this month's Spa 24 Hours with a chance of victory, according to Blancpain GT Series boss Stephane Ratel
Ratel is predicting an "amazing level of competition" at the double-points Endurance Cup round of the BGTS on July 29/30 in which nine manufacturers are represented with factory-backed cars in the pro class.
"I don't think we have ever had so many manufacturers able to win the race," Ratel told Autosport.
"We have a big grid and a very competitive grid, so we are heading for an amazing event."
Ratel's comments follow Porsche's decision to field a factory 911 GT3-R at Spa run by LMP1 driver Timo Bernhard's Team 75 squad.
Ferrari has also joined the pro class of the Endurance Cup this year with the AF Corse-run Kaspersky Motorsport 488 GT3 raced by a line-up including works drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and James Calado.
In addition, Ferrari has placed factory drivers in a second AF car and SMP Racing's pro class entry.
"After last year's Spa, everyone asked me what I wanted and I said factory-supported cars from Porsche and Ferrari in the pro class," said Ratel.
"Now I have them and we are going to have a fantastic race."
The Bernhard-run Porsche driven by Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen ended up quickest in Tuesday's official test.
Vanthoor posted a 2m19.451s in the afternoon session, which was less than a tenth quicker than the Kaspersky Ferrari.
Eleven cars were within a second in the afternoon and 13 in the morning session headed by the Barwell team's pro-am class Lamborghini Huracan shared by Richard Abra, Phil Keen, Miguel Ramos and Leo Matchitski.
A total of 66 cars have been entered for the Spa 24 Hours.
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