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The Start of the 2008 Total 24 Hours of Spa

Spa 24h: The First 12 Hours

Hour 12

• The #1 Vitaphone Maserati and BMS Scuderia Italia secure the second allocation of points as they lead at half distance
• The #102 McDonalds Porsche Bi-Turbo takes the lead in the G2 class
• The #122 Eurotech Ascari has an extended pit stop to repair radiator

Hour 11

• Thirty minutes were spent under safety car conditions after the #51 AF Corse Ferrari crashed heavily at Blanchimont and retired
• The #102 McDonalds Porsche Bi-Turbo reemerges from the pit lane to be the only G2 car on track. The Gillet Vertigo headed the class at that time.

• The #182 JMB Ferrari crashed at Raidillon and retired. The Safety Car was deployed for a short time
• A short rain shower occurred
• The #2 Vitaphone Maserati got a punture, lifting the #1 Vitaphone Maserati to the lead and the Gigawave Aston Martin to second.

Hour 9

• Another short rain shower hit the track although no drivers changed to wet tyres

Hour 8

• The #101 Gillet Vertigo stopped at Eau Rouge and did not continue

Hour 7

• The #33 Jet Alliance Aston Martin loses control under braking at Les Combes, hitting the #6 Phoenix Corvette. The Jet Alliance car was out on the spot but the Phoenix car limped back to the pits, losing eight laps
• The #122 Eurotech Ascari spins, losing a lap
• The #2 Vitaphone Maserati spins without losing a place
• The weather is variable, between dry and light rain

Hour 6

• The #1 Vitaphone Maserati and the #77 BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari lead at the 6 hour mark, taking the first allotment of points for the race
• The #175 Garage Sport Ferrari hit the barrier at Raidillon
• The safety car was deployed for the first time as the #5 Phoenix Corvette was on fire on the track. This car had been competitive but was now out of the race

Hour 5

• The sun set but there was no other major changes in this hour

Hour 4

• The rain continued to come and go but the racing was close as when the pit stops happened, there were five different leaders in five laps

Hour 3

• The #102 McDonalds Porsche Bi-Turbo was given a penalty for a tyre infingement

Hour 2

• The first rain of the race swept across the track but the drivers did not change tyres

Hour 1

• The start saw no major incidents, although the #7 Larbre Saleen was not present after a heavy warm up crash
• The #5 Phoenix Corvette had a small spin, dropping it and the innocent #51 AF Corse Ferrari down the order
• The #3 SRT Corvette hit the wall at final chicane, becoming the first retirement of the race

Sam Tickell