Scorching Spa 24 Hours pits drivers, cars and strategy against extreme heat

The 78th running of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa kicks off today at 16:30 under a brutal 35 °C heatwave that will test every element of the endurance classic. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport rolls out eleven GT3 cars across PRO, BRONZE, SILVER and PRO-AM classes, including the line-up of Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Maro Engel, who is tackling his 11th Spa 24 Hours since 2008. Engel admits he can’t recall another Spa weekend where man and machine faced such relentless heat. Speaking in our “Three Questions” series ahead of the green flag, the 40-year-old outlines how drivers and crews prepare for the punishing conditions and why the soaring temperatures will reshape strategy, car setup and recovery plans. “I’ve kept up my regular fitness programme, but with the current race schedule there’s honestly no better training for this than racing itself,” Engel says. “From the build-up to the event and right through race week I’ve been hyper-focused on fluid intake—drinking constantly and loading up on electrolytes. Skip that and the fluid loss after each stint becomes brutal, raising the risk of muscular and mental fatigue.” Inside the cockpit the heat is amplified; Engel fights back with cooling vests, pre-race soaking of his base layers and constant access to shade or air-conditioned recovery zones. A dedicated physiotherapist shadows the car with chilled towels and electrolyte drinks after every stint. Engel cautions that the extreme heat—still below the 40 °C he once endured in British F3 in 2006 but well above typical Spa norms—will ripple through strategy. Teams may shorten individual stints to protect drivers from dehydration or fading concentration, while mechanics work overtime to keep engines and brakes cool. Track grip also drops as the asphalt softens, forcing crews to recalibrate their approach. Over the full 24 hours Engel expects to lose roughly 2–2.5 kg of body weight despite aggressive hydration. Recovery becomes critical immediately after the flag drops: sleep, balanced nutrition, continued fluid intake and minimal exertion are the priorities to bounce back in time for the following DTM round at the Norisring.