The Haupt Racing Team clinched a podium finish in the Gold Cup category at the 76th edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa with third place. After an initial setback, Arjun Maini (IND), Jusuf Owega (GER) and Michele Beretta (ITA) in the #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3 fought their way back into the leading group and finished a creditable third in their class and 17th overall.
- Third place in Gold Cup for HRT at the 24 Hours of Spa
- P17 in the overall standings for the #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3
In an eventful race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which was characterized by changeable weather conditions and many safety car phases, the Haupt Racing Team took third place in the Gold Cup class with the #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3. HRT drivers Arjun Maini, Michele Beretta and Jusuf Owega already showed good form in qualifying and managed to qualify in the multi-part qualifying session on Thursday evening for the Superpole on Friday afternoon, where the top 20 grid positions for the endurance classic on the Ardennes circuit were decided.
Arjun Maini took the wheel of HRT's Mercedes-AMG GT3 in Superpole, which was racing this weekend in the full livery of mobility partner Merbag. The Indian put the #77 car in 13th position on the grid, but moved up to tenth place overall following time penalties for several competitors.
In a strong opening phase, Maini, who was also at the wheel at the start of the 24 Hours of Spa, fought for positions in the top ten. However, the team from Drees suffered a setback shortly afterwards. The #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3 slid into the gravel after contact with a competitor, losing important time and resuming the race one lap down. However, despite very changeable weather conditions and long safety car phases, the team fought its way forward in the overall standings and was already back among the top 20 cars in the morning hours. The track largely dried out in the morning and the black and white Mercedes-AMG GT3 continued to catch up with its rivals. After just under 18 hours, the #77 car initially took second place in the Gold Cup. Although the team tried to attack the leader in the final section of the race, damage sustained in this hard-fought race meant that they were unable to make a decisive impact in the battle for class victory. At the end of the 24-hour race, final driver Arjun Maini crossed the finish line after 476 laps in 17th place overall, giving HRT a strong podium finish in its class.
The next challenge for the Haupt Racing Team is coming up next weekend. The team from Drees will line up at the Norisring under the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT banner for the DTM season highlight.
Arjun Maini, #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3: "It was a very strange race. After we initially ended up in the gravel, I thought it was over. But we were able to resume the race with a lap down. Despite the many safety car phases, we actually got back onto the lead lap. Thanks to the whole team and to Mercedes-AMG. The car was very good this weekend. Unfortunately, we had some damage that cost us some performance. Otherwise, we could probably have done even better."
Jusuf Owega, #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3: "We had so many setbacks that I couldn't even list them all in retrospect. After around four hours, we had a contact and lost a lap in the gravel. We were able to work our way back onto the lead lap in the dark in the rain. Because we weren't in the PRO class, we were allowed to lap back during the numerous safety car phases. We always hoped that we would be able to catch up again. In the morning, on a drying track, we were even among the fastest. That shows again that you simply can't give up."
Michele Beretta, #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3: "A difficult and also strange race with all the neutralizations. First of all, the setback, which unfortunately I was partly responsible for. The night was extremely difficult with the bad weather, but we got through everything well. We were able to make up a lot of ground, but we suffered damage again, which prevented a better result. The team definitely deserved that."
About HRT
HRT stands for HAUPT RACING TEAM. The motorsport team was founded in July 2020 by racing driver and entrepreneur Hubert Haupt and has firmly established itself in international GT3 sport within a very short time. As well as numerous race wins and top results, HRT’s greatest success came in 2021 when it won the Drivers’ Championship in the DTM. In 2023, the team celebrated its most successful season to date, competing in the DTM, the Nürburgring Endurance Series, the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe and the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps, among others. Many of these race outings are as a Mercedes-AMG Performance Team with extended factory support. HRT is also involved in professional sim racing and is a sought-after partner for technical development projects and motorsport events of all kinds. The HAUPT RACING TEAM is based in Drees, which is located at the Nürburgring.