- Aston Martin in the spotlight for sixth CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa collector’s edition poster
- Winner of the first post-war edition in 1948 now aiming to triumph at the centenary
- Magic of Spa at night encapsulated, poster now available for sale
The brand symbolises luxury and sportiness – with a quintessentially English twist. Indeed, what would the biggest GT race in the world be without Aston Martin? From June 25 to 30, the Gaydon marque will launch a major comeback at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa with the objective of fighting for overall victory.
Though it has been a key figure throughout the GT era, Aston Martin has just one victory in the Belgian endurance classic – and that was all the way back in 1948. St. John Horsfall and Leslie Johnson triumphed at the event’s first post-war edition with their 2-Litre Sports, battling through atrocious weather as rain and fog added an extra challenge for drivers and teams alike.
This is the car featured on the latest collector's edition poster, designed by Guillaume Lopez, which celebrates the upcoming centenary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The 2-Litre is shown climbing Raidillon at night, alongside the all-new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 which will make its debut in 2024. The modern car shown on the poster carries the colours of Belgian squad Comtoyou Racing, which joined the manufacturer this year.
Since Spa became a GT race in 2001, Aston Martin has often been a front-runner without taking the biggest prize of all. There have been two pole positions (Stefan Mücke in 2013 and Maxime Martin in 2018) and three overall podiums. The first two came courtesy of the DBR9 with its captivating V12 engine, which finished second in 2006 and third in 2008.
After GT3 became the premier category in 2011, the British manufacturer had to wait 10 years before returning to the podium, with Garage 59 earning a fine third position in 2021. This year, Comtoyou Racing and 2018 winner Walkenhorst Motorsport will each enter a Pro crew with the ambition of taking Aston Martin back to the top.
As well as Aston Martin, this collector's edition poster highlights the unique atmosphere of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa at night. If you have never done it, we suggest you head to the foot of Raidillon at nightfall to watch the cars being pushed to their limit by the best GT drivers in the world. They approach the legendary corner at high speed, followed by a stream of red taillights and often few sparks. This is the kind of magical moment that you can experience during the night of Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June.
Each of the 10 collector’s edition posters will be available to purchase at the official stores during the centenary running of the Belgian endurance classic. If you can't wait that long, they are already on sale in the merchandising section of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa website.
Did you know?
Alongside the Ford Mustang, the Aston Martin Vantage will be one of two new cars making their first appearance at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The result of the collaboration between Aston Martin Racing and Aston Martin Performance Technologies, it has retained the architecture of its predecessor, using the same aluminium chassis, 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, and gearbox.
In terms of aerodynamics and suspension, the 2024-spec Vantage GT3 is very different from the car that finished on the podium at Spa in 2021. It is intended to be easier to drive for professionals and amateur drivers alike. According to engineers, it can also be used in a wider window, allowing the car to better adapt to all conditions.
This should prove to be a major asset during the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, where the change in temperatures between day and night makes a significant difference. There is also the question of the weather in the Belgian Ardennes, which can be entirely unpredictable. So, will Aston Martin finally secure its first GT victory? We’ll find out on Sunday 30 June.
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