BMW continues to lead this year's Spa 24 Hours while the American-owned Audi squad has taken the GT3 class lead as the race enters its final third, after accidents and mechanical troubles accounted for several of their rivals.
The No. 78 BMW M3, which fought for the lead in the early stages, is now fourth, seven laps down after ignition and starter motor problems in the hours of darkness.
During the night, three leading cars were eliminated in accidents. The No. 13 Prospeed Porsche clashed with a backmarker while Richard Westbrook was driving. The team fixed the 911, but it retired shortly after returning to the track. Then, early this morning, the GT3 pacesetting No. 50 Phoenix Audi and the polesitting GT2 AF Corse Ferrari were both eliminated in a crash involving a slower car, bringing out the safety car That accident gave the lead in GT3 to No. 73 WRT Audi of Stephane Ortelli, Kurt Mollekens, Stephane Lemeret and Francois Verbist, in fifth overall.
However, that car was sidelined by engine problems, and the No. 99 Marc VDS Racing Ford GT required a starter motor change at 11 a.m., so the United Autosports Audi of Mark Blundell and Eddie Cheever, sharing the No. 68 with Richard Dean and Zak Brown, has seized the class lead in fifth overall.