After a racing break of almost four weeks, ROWE RACING is back in action on the track this weekend (30th/31st July) at the second 24-hour classic of the season: The 68th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa is the second highlight of the season for the team from St. Ingbert after the Eifel marathon at the Nürburgring and also the highlight of the Blancpain GT Series. With 65 competitors in total, the race at the tradition-steeped and extremely demanding Formula 1 track in the Belgian Ardennes is like the Le Mans of GT racing.

The high density of power of the numerous GT3 cars of a variety of manufacturers is one of the major challenges in Spa, making both overtaking manoeuvres and lapping a difficult task. On top of this, compared with the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the 65 cars in Spa-Francorchamps are spread over a much shorter track length of 7.004 kilometres. Heavy traffic is guaranteed.

Spa is a good hunting ground for both ROWE RACING and BMW Motorsport. BMW has celebrated a total of 22 overall wins on the roller coaster track, most recently last year when the BMW Z4 GT3 said its goodbyes. ROWE RACING was doing really well for a long time in 2015, until a technical defect an hour before the end of the race cost them their third place. ROWE RACING and BMW Motorsport are keen to build on last season’s performances together this year.

In particular, Dutchman Nick Catsburg, who was part of the victorious Z4 crew the previous year, would love to repeat this triumph in the successor BMW M6 GT3 with #98. He will share the cockpit with his fellow countryman Stef Dusseldorp, who was a member of the unlucky ROWE RACING crew in 2015, as well as German BMW works driver and former DTM driver Dirk Werner.

In the sister car with #99, ROWE RACING regular duo Philipp Eng from Austria and Alexander Sims from Great Britain will once again receive back-up from BMW DTM driver Maxime Martin. The Belgian would love to finally win his home race for the first time, and in doing so make up ground in the family battle with his father Jean-Michel, who triumphed a total of four times in Spa.

Nick Catsburg (ROWE RACING, #98 BMW M6 GT3):
“The BMW M6 GT3 is a really great car and we have a fantastic team. This car is still in its first season, but I believe we have what it takes to mix it with the very fastest in the field. It would be fantastic if I could repeat last year’s win, but that will be anything but easy. Since the victory in 2015, this race has always had a special place in my heart. Spa-Francorchamps is a special track, with high-speed and flowing corners. I think every racing driver likes the circuit. It is just a really cool event.”
 
Stef Dusseldorp (ROWE RACING, #98 BMW M6 GT3):
“The standard is pretty high in Spa. All the manufacturers turn up with good teams and good drivers. As such, it will not be easy to make it onto the podium. However, we are well prepared. Our performance was good in recent races. I think the circuit ought to suit the BMW M6 GT3.”
 
Dirk Werner (ROWE RACING, #98 BMW M6 GT3):
“I am really looking forward to this race and hope we can challenge for a place on the podium. I have a good feeling. I already know the ROWE Racing team from the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where they made a very positive impression. We are well positioned for Spa, as far as the car, team and drivers are concerned. The BMW M6 GT3 has already proven on the Nordschleife that it is competitive. Spa is one of my favourite tracks. I really enjoy driving there, particularly in this special race with so many GT3 cars.”
 
Philipp Eng (ROWE RACING, #99 BMW M6 GT3):
“Probably the greatest GT3 race in the world awaits us at Spa-Francorchamps. The field consists of over 60 cars and the standard is immense. It would obviously be awesome if we could repeat BMW’s victory from last year. However, that will be extremely difficult. The BMW M6 GT3 is good-natured to drive. That helps, as it takes a lot of pressure off the driver, as you need not always be absolutely on the limit, but can instead focus on the traffic. That is important in Spa. Despite this, the race is still physically tiring. Every lap of this track is a new challenge.”

Maxime Martin (ROWE RACING, #99 BMW M6 GT3):
“I love Spa, although I have never really had much luck at my home race so far. I have always been in with a chance of winning, but it was simply never meant to be. I hope that changes this year. We obviously have a new car in the BMW M6 GT3, so we don’t really know where we stand on this track. Furthermore, the race is really tough. However, I am hugely looking forward to it. The atmosphere at the circuit is unique and the fans are fantastic.”

Alexander Sims (ROWE RACING, #99 BMW M6 GT3):
“It will be very exciting to drive the BMW M6 GT3 for the first time in Spa. BMW is always very strong there, and I hope we can continue that with the new car this year. I have raced in the Pro-Am class for the past two years, and made it onto the podium on both occasions. It would be great to push for a top finish in the overall standings this time. However, we will have to wait and see what our pace is like. Only then will we be able to realistically evaluate our chances.”