Porsche Secures Strong Position at 2025 24 Hours of Spa Race

In a remarkable display of performance, Herberth Motorsport's Porsche 911 GT3 R achieved a notable ninth-place finish during the Superpole session of the 2025 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, held on June 27, 2025. Driven by Joel Sturm, Tim Heinemann, and gentleman driver Rolf Ineichen, this result marks the highest position for any Porsche in the event, as the trio also secured pole position in the Gold Cup category.

The Superpole session, a critical part of the 24-hour endurance race, allowed the top 20 qualifiers to compete in individual time trials on the 7.004-kilometer Grand Prix circuit, which is renowned for its challenging layout in the Belgian Ardennes. Each of the eleven Porsche 911 GT3 R vehicles entered in the race had to earn their spot in this elite qualifying session through previous rounds, showcasing the intense competition among GT3 teams.

In the Superpole's 30-minute session, the air temperature hovered around 18°C, with asphalt temperatures reaching 26°C, providing favorable conditions for a strong performance. Joel Sturm set a remarkable lap time of 2:16.127 minutes, which allowed him to claim the first position in the Gold Cup category. Sturm's performance was particularly impressive, as he improved his lap time significantly during the session, underscoring the capabilities of the Herberth Motorsport team.

Sebastian Golz, Project Manager for the Porsche 911 GT3 R, expressed mixed feelings about the results. "We didn’t quite meet our expectations – though Joel Sturm’s performance stands out. Securing ninth overall and first among the Gold Cup participants is a great achievement. Unfortunately, Laurin Heinrich made a minor driving error on his fast lap, which meant a top time was no longer within reach. Fifteenth place for Patric Niederhauser and the Rutronik Racing team is a solid result. Mathieu Jaminet was unlucky to encounter a red flag on his flying lap. On his second attempt, he couldn’t get the tyres back into the optimal temperature window. Never mind: our full focus is now on the race. At Spa-Francorchamps, nothing is decided on this demanding circuit until the checkered flag after 24 hours,” he stated.

Following Herberth Motorsport, other Porsche customer teams also showed strong performances, with Schumacher CLRT qualifying 11th, Rutronik Racing 15th, and Dinamic GT 17th. Notably, Laurin Heinrich from Schumacher CLRT had a challenging session, recovering from a misjudged braking point that affected his initial lap time but managed to secure a competitive position for the race.

With 75 cars entered, the 24 Hours of Spa represents the world’s largest GT3 event and serves as the third round of both the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (GTWC) and the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). Championship points will be awarded at the 6, 12, and 24-hour marks of the race, further heightening the stakes for all teams involved.

As the race looms, the anticipation builds, with live coverage available at www.intercontinentalgtchallenge.com. Teams will need to strategize effectively, as the unpredictable nature of endurance racing means that the outcome can shift dramatically over the course of 24 hours.

In conclusion, the 2025 24 Hours of Spa promises to be an enthralling display of motorsport prowess, with Porsche teams poised to make a significant impact. The results from the Superpole session have set the stage for an intense battle, with teams eager to demonstrate their capabilities on one of the most challenging racing circuits in the world.