Samwise Sportscar & Endurance Newsletter
Saturday, June 20, 2026
CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa: 70-Car Field Set for June 24, Lamborghini Temerario to Make 24-Hour Race Debut
The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, the 79th running of the Belgian classic, features a 70-car GT3 grid when racing begins June 24 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Ten manufacturers compete across Pro, Gold Cup, Silver Cup, Bronze Cup and Pro-Am classes. The headline is Lamborghini’s Temerario GT3 making its first 24-hour race appearance, with the Grasser Racing Team entry of Mirko Bortolotti, Maximilian Paul and Franck Perera carrying the defending Spa champion’s hopes. Porsche leads manufacturer representation with 16 entries, ahead of Mercedes-AMG on 11. BMW, Ferrari and McLaren each field eight cars. A new knockout Superpole qualifying format debuts on Friday afternoon.
Sources: CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
Ferrari Fields Eight 296 GT3 Evo Machines at Spa, with AF Corse Slotting Arthur Leclerc into Pro Lineup
Ferrari brings eight 296 GT3 Evo cars to the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa across all five classes. Factory-supported AF Corse fields two Pro entries: the No. 50 of Arthur Leclerc, Lilou Wadoux and Sean Galael, and the No. 51 of Alessio Rovera, Nicklas Nielsen and Tommaso Mosca. The 296 GT3 Evo receives substantial updates for 2026, with revised front and rear aerodynamics, a new front splitter and bumper appendages, a reworked rear diffuser, and a new gear ratio cascade for improved torque delivery. Updated cooling and suspension geometry complete the package. Almost all of Ferrari’s 2026 GT3 bodywork has been revised ahead of the June 24 race weekend.
Sources: Ferrari
Le Mans 2026 Analysis: “The Fastest Car Didn’t Win” — How Toyota’s Strategy Outsmarted BMW’s Outright Pace
Toyota’s strategy handed the No. 7 GR010 Hybrid the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours victory despite it not being the outright fastest machine. Post-race analysis shows the No. 20 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Robin Frijns, Rene Rast and Sheldon van der Linde held a pace advantage on the long straights, while Cadillac demonstrated the strongest single-lap performance in high-temperature conditions. Toyota started both cars 14th and 15th after Hyperpole and built its race around offset fuelling and opportunistic timing. Two Full Course Yellows in the 19th and 22nd hours were decisive, allowing Nyck de Vries to build a 20-second lead Kamui Kobayashi then managed to the chequered flag.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Toyota’s Le Mans Win “Almost Never Happened”: Safe Mode Crisis and Twin FCY Periods Sealed Sixth Victory
The winning No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans nearly did not finish. A driveshaft torque sensor problem triggered a power-limiting safe mode, dropping performance so severely the crew temporarily abandoned hope of victory. Kobayashi confirmed the car ran in safe mode for extended periods, with the team unable to override the limiter without risking further damage. Two Full Course Yellows in the 19th and 22nd hours brought Toyota back into contention by equalising pit stop windows. The FCY in hour 22 allowed Nyck de Vries to vault into a 20-second lead, which Kobayashi managed to the finish for Toyota’s sixth Le Mans victory.
Sources: Crash.net
IMSA GTP Title Battle Poised for Watkins Glen as Aitken Holds 144-Point Lead over Heinrich
Jack Aitken and the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen team carry a 144-point championship lead into Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, the sixth round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Watkins Glen International on June 28. Aitken, who shared with Earl Bamber to win in Detroit earlier this season, holds 1,760 points ahead of Laurin Heinrich on 1,616. Julien Andlauer and Felipe Nasr are third with 1,606 points. In manufacturers’ standings, Cadillac leads Porsche by 25 points. The race marks the halfway point of the 11-round season and is Round 3 of the Michelin Endurance Cup, with all four classes competing at the Finger Lakes circuit.
Sources: IMSA
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. Conway / Kobayashi / de Vries — 75 pts
2. Frijns / Rast / Van der Linde — 71 pts
WEC Hypercar — Teams
1. Toyota Racing — leads championship
2. BMW M Team WRT — chasing
After Round 3 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. Jack Aitken — 1,760 pts
2. Laurin Heinrich — 1,616 pts
3. Andlauer / Nasr — 1,606 pts
IMSA GTP — Manufacturers
1. Cadillac — 1,797 pts
2. Porsche — 1,772 pts
3. Acura — 1,676 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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