KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) is set to take on the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa with two Porsche 911 GT3 R on July 29 – August 1.
The fearsome Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps boasts some of the most formidable and famous corners in the world. Winding through the Ardennes Forest, the quick nature of the track punishes mistakes and requires precision driving, making the 24 Hours of Spa one of the most prestigious endurance races to win.
The Hong Kong-based will take on the iconic Belgian enduro with two cars for a third year, with a trio of 24 Hours of Spa winners in the factory-supported #47 car. Porsche works driver Laurens Vanthoor stood on the top step in 2014 and 2020, sharing the second win with Nick Tandy, while Maxime Martin was victorious five years ago. Following their strong showing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in June, Alexandre Imperatori, Josh Burdon and Edoardo Liberati remain at the wheel of the #18.
The team will continue to run the iconic chrome livery used at the Nürburgring. The colours call back to KCMG’s LMP2 class victory at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans.
At the two-day Official Test last month, Liberati topped the timesheets on the first day as the team gathered data and experience. The test days also threw up another of the circuit’s variables, with mixed weather conditions throughout.
Action at Spa gets underway on Thursday 29 July, with Free Practice and Qualifying.
LAURENS VANTHOOR #47 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“Racing at the 24 Hours of Spa is always a highlight of the year. It’s great to be on the same team as Maxime, we always seem to be racing against each other, but we’re finally in the same car, and at our home race. After winning with Nick last year, our goal is clear, we want to take victory again. The test went smoothly, and I think we have the potential to fight for victory. Spa is a really tough race, the level of competition is so high, but we have to go in with confidence and give it our all.”
NICK TANDY #47 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“The 24 Hours of Spa is a really tough race and you need to be fully ready to compete at the front. I believe we have everything we need to have a successful weekend. We’ve got a fast car, a great team behind us and superb preparation. I’m excited to race alongside Laurens once again after our victory here last year, and I know Maxime is also an incredible driver, so hopefully we can have a good race.”
MAXIME MARTIN #47 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“I’m really looking forward to the race, it’s one of the biggest events of the year and I’m very happy that it can go ahead. The team is well prepared, we’ve got a great team and line-up so it’s looking good so far. We have a strong package, and did lots of analysis after the test so we’re in a good position ahead of the race.”
ALEXANDRE IMPERATORI #18 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“The Spa 24 Hours are finally upon us and I couldn’t be more excited! We had a solid test last month and are ready to tackle the biggest GT3 race in the world for the third time. It will be important to do a flawless job on and off the track. The level is incredibly high but we showed that we have what it takes to be in the game. The Spa area has recently suffered a lot from the floods and our thoughts are with the people affected. I hope the race will give people something to cheer about!”
EDOARDO LIBERATI #18 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“The 24 Hours of Spa is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited. We had a solid test last month and are ready to tackle the biggest GT3 race in the world for the third time. It’s incredibly competitive here, but we showed we are capable of competing at the front at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Spa area has recently had a tough time with the floods and our thoughts are with the people affected. I hope the race will give the fans something to cheer about.”
JOSH BURDON #18 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“I’m very excited to be representing KCMG in the 24 Hours of Spa next week. It’s an extremely competitive and tough race, with several strong teams and traditionally challenging conditions. Despite this, I’m feeling confident that we can have a strong weekend, given the work we have done in preparation and in the Official Test. I can’t wait to get on the track Thursday morning.”
MATT HOWSON TEAM MANAGER
“After another crazy season it’s been very sad to see the Spa community so affected by severe flooding, and we’re extremely grateful the event can still go ahead. After a strong test we’ve continued to work hard in preparation for the race itself. We’ve got a strong car and six mega drivers, so we’re confident KCMG can challenge for victory, as we did in 2020. Welcoming back fans is also great news and I hope we can put on a great show for them after such difficult times.”
PAUL IP KCMG FOUNDER
“I’m very excited for KCMG’s third attempt at the 24 Hours of Spa. It’s an amazing track and an incredible event and I’m really proud to have two very strong entrants this year. Alex, Josh and Edo showed their ability to compete at the Nürburgring last month, and Laurens, Nick and Maxime are all proven world-class drivers. We go to Spa targeting the top step of the podium and I believe it’s a realistic aim. We’ve done all the preparation necessary to have success here, and I have full trust in the team to put in a great performance.”
Timetable
Thursday
Qualifying – 20:50
Friday
Super Pole – 19:50
Saturday
Race start – 16:30
For more information about KCMG please visit www.kcmg.com.hk. To keep track of all the latest updates, please like KCMG’s Facebook page or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Who is KCMG?
KC Motorgroup Ltd (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organisations around the world to provide unrivalled motorsport services, equipment, team management and quality distribution in the automotive industry. For more information on all of the team’s activities please visit www.kcmg.com.hk or email info@kcmg.com.hk.
