Rinaldi Racing clinched 24th overall at the 67th edition of the “Total 24 Hours of Spa”, the Ardennes rollercoaster.

In the world’s biggest GT3 race, the driver quartet of Marco Seefried, Norbert Siedler, Rinat Salikhov, and Stef Vancampenhoudt in the Ferrari 458 Italia took on the great challenge on the traditional 7.004-kilometre circuit in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. The team around Michele Rinaldi experienced ups and downs this weekend. Despite extreme conditions, the team finished in 24th place in the field of around 60 cars.

In extremely difficult weather conditions, the endurance classic started punctually at 16:30 on Saturday. After some lap times of other drivers had been canceled, Marco Seefried started from position 39 and convinced with a perfect lap. The 39-year-old fought his way up to six places after only one lap. Despite the easing rain and drying track, numerous accidents and retirements during the entire first half of the race caused many safety car phases and interrupted the race rhythm again and again.

In the early evening hours, Norbert Siedler took over the wheel of the Ferrari 458 Italia. Shortly after the start of his stint, he was hit by a competitor during an overtaking maneuver, slid off the track, and was only able to free himself from the gravel bed two laps later.

For the team from Mendig, things did not go optimally from the beginning of the weekend. Problems with the set-up in the practice and qualifying sessions ultimately resulted in a grid position at the back of the field. “Of course, it was not the grid position we had hoped for,” Marco Seefried explained. “We found the problem and then went into the race with confidence.”

But several setbacks also made life difficult for the German racing team in the race. “We were aware from the start that the race would not be an easy task. But right from the start of the weekend, things didn’t want to go right,” said team boss Michele Rinaldi. “After the poor qualifying, we worked hard to reduce the gap. Unfortunately, the tide was not to turn for the better. For example, we lost a lot of time after a competitor hit Steff Vancampenhoudt’s wheel during the night, and subsequently, the wheel carrier and tie rod had to be replaced in the pits. In the early hours of the morning, the crew replaced the splitter and the bumper after a collision. However, all our four drivers did not get discouraged and kept fighting. Rinat and Stef did a great job. Of course Marco, Norbert, and the whole crew as well. It was a great experience for all of us.”

Rinaldi Racing is now looking forward to a change of scenery: next Saturday (1 August) Marco Seefried and Norbert Siedler will start at the Nürburgring. In the fifth round of the VLN Endurance Championship, the two professionals will start in the itracker Porsche 911 GT3 R. “After the disappointment in Spa, we want to attack at the Nürburgring and achieve a top result,” says Michele Rinaldi with a fighting spirit.