Sandy heads to Spa 24-Hours, targeting Pro success with top Italian Team VSR

Lamborghini factory driver Sandy  bids for more endurance success this weekend (June 29/30) when he tackles the Blue Riband event of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

The 25-year-old from Forfar, fresh from impressing in his GTD Pro debut in the US-based IMSA championship at Watkins Glen last weekend, reunites with fellow Lamborghini factory drivers, Italian Marco Mapelli and Frenchman Franck Perera in the No163 Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 GT3 prepared by top Italian team Vincenzo Sospiri Racing. And the trio will be battling for overall victory in the elite Pro class.

Labelled the “biggest GT race in the world”, 75 cars will line up for the Ardennes classic race with teams and drivers from around the globe battling to dominate the full day and night race.

And the Scot is itching to return to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, home of the F1 Belgian Grand Prix, where he has previously finished on the Spa24H podium in various classes four times, twice winning his class.

“It’s a circuit I absolutely love,” former British GT champ Mitchell, personally backed by Tunnocks and Dama Fortuna Tequila, stated. “This is, without question, the biggest race of the year for us. Spa has been really good to me in my career. We arrive in Belgium having bagged a top-six finish last time out in GTWCE at Monza, where we again showed the speed of the Lamborghini despite our race being impacted by an unfortunate Full Course Yellow. I know Marco and Franck, plus all the crew at VSR are really fired-up for this weekend. Last year Franck set a new qualifying lap record for the event, so we know we all have the pace. It would certainly be fantastic to score our first podium of the season in the biggest GT3 race of the year.”

Sandy, who has previously won the Silver Cup and Pro-Am classes at the Spa24H, is only too aware of the unforeseen challenges which can rear their heads in a round-the-clock race.

“A 24-hour race is always demanding, but on the fast, sweeping Spa circuit with 75 cars all battling for space on track it will be super-demanding. I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed the demands and disciplines of racing for 24 hours. I’ve been fortunate to win two classes, and finish on the podium on two other occasions, but to finish on the podium in Pro would be a dream. The Lamborghini has always been fast round Spa, and we’ll be looking to maximise that this weekend. Qualifying, as always, will be crucial to ensure we’re at the front of what is a massive field. Then we can focus on staying out of trouble, getting through the night and making sure we’re in the fight over the closing hours. As I’ve said before, a 24-hour race is the ultimate challenge, and I can’t wait to get back.”