Samwise Sportscar & Endurance Newsletter
Sunday, June 21, 2026
CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa: Stage Set for Spectacular 2026 Edition with Temerario Debut and New Qualifying Format
With action beginning in three days at Spa-Francorchamps, the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa shapes up as one of the most formidable GT3 endurance showdowns in years. Seventy cars from ten manufacturers—Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche—will contest the Belgian classic from June 24–28. Defending champion Lamborghini debuts its new Temerario GT3 in a 24-hour race for the first time. A new knockout Superpole qualifying format will crown the pole-sitter through successive elimination rounds. Jules Gounon, a two-time winner, lines up under Verstappen Racing colours alongside Valentino Rossi, Arthur Leclerc, and the four-driver Nürburgring 24 Hours winning crew.
Sources: CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
Conway Reportedly Edging Toward Toyota WEC Exit After 11-Year Partnership
Mike Conway appears increasingly likely to leave Toyota Racing at the end of the 2026 FIA WEC season, according to Sportscar365. The 42-year-old has been a Toyota fixture since 2015, claiming the 2019/20 and 2021 WEC titles and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021. He also won this year’s Le Mans alongside Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries. When asked about his future in the lead-up to Le Mans, Conway told Sportscar365: “I can’t quite say yet. I have my plans of things I’m going to do, but I can’t reveal anything until later in the year.” Ford and McLaren are named as potential destinations for the Irishman.
Sources: Sportscar365
Asian Le Mans Series Could Move Entire 2026–27 Season to Europe Amid Middle East Uncertainty
The 2026–27 Asian Le Mans Series faces a potential wholesale relocation to Europe after championship director Frederic Lequien disclosed at Le Mans that the series may be unable to secure its traditional Middle East venues. Lequien set a mid-summer deadline to confirm whether the planned doubleheader weekends in the United Arab Emirates and a season finale at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit will proceed. If the Middle East venues cannot be arranged, the entire season would be moved to Europe. Separately, LMP3 is being phased out of the series for the upcoming campaign and replaced with a new Asian Le Mans Cup support category, marking a significant structural change to the programme.
Sources: Sportscar365
Michelin 12 Hours of Nürburgring Draws 33-Car Grid for Inaugural Running in July
The inaugural Michelin 12 Hours of Nürburgring has attracted a 33-car field as the Michelin 24H European Series approaches its penultimate round of 2026, scheduled for July 3–5 at the legendary German circuit. The event marks the first time the Creventic-operated series has staged a 12-hour race at the Nürburgring, bringing its multi-class format—spanning GT3 and prototype categories—to a venue renowned for endurance racing. Thirty-three cars will contest the race across the series’ standard class structure. The Nürburgring event falls the week after the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, delivering back-to-back major European endurance weekends through early July.
Sources: Sportscar365
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. Kobayashi / Conway / de Vries — 75 pts
2. Rast / Frijns — 71 pts
3. van der Linde — 61 pts
4. Hartley / Hirakawa / Buemi — 56 pts
5. Pier Guidi / Giovinazzi / Calado — 39 pts
WEC Hypercar — Teams
1. Toyota — 132 pts
2. BMW — 96 pts
3. Ferrari — 62 pts
4. Alpine — 38 pts
5. Cadillac — 32 pts
6. Aston Martin — 26 pts
7. Peugeot — 15 pts
8. Genesis — 6 pts
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. Jack Aitken — 1,760 pts
2. Laurin Heinrich — 1,616 pts
3. Julien Andlauer — 1,606 pts
4. Felipe Nasr — 1,606 pts
IMSA GTP — Teams
1. Cadillac — 1,797 pts
2. Porsche — 1,772 pts
3. Acura — 1,676 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency