Wet Bronze Test first track action in busy Total 24 Hours of Spa week

Wet Bronze Test first track action in busy Total 24 Hours of Spa week

The three-hour Bronze Test for the 2017 Total 24 Hours of Spa gave the drivers plenty of opportunity to familiarise themselves with the iconic Belgian circuit, even though it was wet for most of the time. The Bronze Test was the first session of an action-packed week, which continues on Wednesday with the traditional and unique parade towards downtown Spa.

The three hours of practice, mainly for the Bronze drivers, on the Tuesday of the Total 24 Hours of Spa week was introduced in 2015, with the aim of giving the less experienced drivers a feel of the Belgian circuit. With 27 cars participating in this year's Bronze test, drivers took the opportunity with both hands, most of them trying to maximise their track time. The most active of crews was the one of the #67 Attempto Racing Lamborghini, which lapped the 7.004 km Belgian track 48 times.

At the wheel of the #26 Sainteloc Racing Audi double Spa-winner Fred Bouvy set the fastest time in the rain, but when the track dried at the end of the session, his lap time was beaten. Eventually it was Christian Krognes in the #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW that set the fastest time, in 2’26.155. He was nearly two seconds quicker than David Perel in the #888 Kessel Racing Ferrari, with Gabriele Piana in the #18 Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG in third.

Wednesday sees the traditional parade start at 3pm local time, with all cars driving on public roads from the Spa track towards the town centre. All drivers will then participate in an hour-long autograph session from 4pm to 5pm, after which they will attend to the drivers briefing in the Casino of Spa. The cars will travel back to the paddock at 7.30pm. The next track action is on Thursday, with the 90-minute long free practice session starting at 11.50am.