We begin with a lost wheel on the No. 8, somewhere near Eau Rouge. Rusinov has made it back for a spare. Then we have drops of rain at La Source. Then we have the leader’s next stop. Then we have a stop and go penalty for the No. 174 Ferrari, the last runner bar the Coupe du Rien nonsense.

Sure enough, twenty minutes into the hour, ye olde familiar light drizzle returns. And it gets a bit heavier. All of the field opts for full wets. Lap times are raising close to three minutes. As is typical at Spa, the rain is uneven over space and times, alternately lightening up and intensifying.

The No. 145 Porsche and the No. 8 Lamborghini are among those taking unorthodox lines around the seven-kilometre circuit. The excursions for both Griesch and Rusinov are harmless.

The impending end of the race causes most teams to simply throttle back as all the positions have been decided. Debris has become increasingly an issue as the circuit is littered from La Source around to La Source. The evidence for this is that several of the cars circulating at this late hour have more duct tape than bodywork covering their chassis, with enough errant parts scattered hither and yon to allow for construction of a new vehicle.

By the end of the hour the rain is nearly gone—back to dry tyres and faster lap times.

Positions after 22 hours:

1 1   GT1 Bertolini/Bartels/Sarrazin/Van De Poele Maserati MC 12 22:02:20.668 532  169.06
2 2   GT1 Negrao/Ramos/Lemeret/Pierguidi Maserati MC 12 22:02:37.340 531 1 LAP 168.71
3 10  GT1 Turner/Simonsen/Peter/Thompson Aston Martin DB9 22:04:32.671 527 5 LAPS 167.20
4 15  GT1 Ferte/Aucott/Daoudi Maserati MC 12 22:03:35.335 517 15 LAPS 164.14
5 77  GT2 Malucelli/Ruberti/Camathias/Rigon Ferrari F430 22:04:22.957 511 21 LAPS 162.14
6 61  GT2 Collard/Westbrook/Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 22:04:03.483 509 23 LAPS 161.55
7 50  GT2 Bruni/Vilander/Melo/Salo Ferrari F430 22:03:29.509 507 25 LAPS 160.98
8 55  GT2 Mullen/Niarchos/Piccini/Shedden Ferrari F430 22:03:35.384 501 31 LAPS 159.06
9 57  GT2 Moser/Del Monte/Vannelet/Palma Ferrari F430 22:02:16.922 498 34 LAPS 158.27
10 8  GT1 Kox/Rusinov/Lammers/Enge Lamborghini Murcielago 22:04:26.977 498 34 LAPS 158.01
11 56 GT2 Kirkaldy/Bell/Mueller/Sutton Ferrari F430 22:04:21.485 493 39 LAPS 156.43
12 123 G3 Thomas/Bermes/Basseng/Hemroulle Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 22:02:52.868 477 55 LAPS 151.52
13 76 GT2 Lietz/Narac/Long Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 22:01:43.752 475 57 LAPS 151.02
14 124 G3 Huisman/Khan/Voerman/Van Splunteren Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 22:03:03.345 473 59 LAPS 150.23
15 112 G3 Campbell/Jakubowski/Barde/Zangarelli Ferrari 430 GT3 22:00:45.471 468 64 LAPS 148.90
16 160 G3 Heylen/Dermont/Lamot/Loix Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 22:02:42.280 461 71 LAPS 146.46
17 6  GT1 Fassler/Hezemans/Deletraz/Gollin Corvette Z06 20:17:43.784 460 72 LAPS 158.74
18 62 GT2 Davies/Babini/Monfardini Ferrari F430 22:02:19.422 460 72 LAPS 146.19
19 145 G3 Kelders/Duval/Greisch/Kerkhove Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 22:02:15.620 458 74 LAPS 145.56
20 75 GT2 Baird/Twigg/Juniper/Forbes Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 22:04:24.194 432 100 LAPS 137.07
21 141 G3 Noziere/Brouard/Stepec/Samon Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 22:02:00.624 429 103 LAPS 136.37
22 106 G3 Coens/Fumal/Schroyen/Faggionato Ferrari 430 GT3 21:59:51.271 417 115 LAPS 132.77
23 174 G3 Brandela/Lesoudier/Peyroles/Lester Ferrari 430 GT3 22:03:07.556 393 139 LAPS 124.82
24 59 GT2 Pompidou/Williams/Sugden/Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 17:19:12.372 382 150 LAPS 154.47
25 70 GT2 Baguette/Basso/Tenchini/Plati Ferrari F430 17:13:53.132 350 182 LAPS 142.26
26 122 G3 Jones/Jones/Jordan Ascari KZ1R 17:40:56.600 323 209 LAPS 127.94
27 108 G3 Duez/Sougnez/Wauters/Muytjens Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 12:35:10.099 267 265 LAPS 148.58
28 4  GT1 Longin/Kumpen/Mollekens/Bouvy Saleen S7 11:21:51.922 255 277 LAPS 157.15
29 182 CdR Scheier/Ballay/Kuteman/Garbagnati/Comar/Rambeaud Ferrari 430 GT3 22:03:38.108 236 296 LAPS 74.92
30 116 G3 Geofroy/Chaillet/Galand/Rosoux Dodge Viper CC 11:04:12.328 229 303 LAPS 144.88
31 102 G2 Kaufmann/Talkanitsa/Ullmann/Heyer Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo (GT2-R) 15:21:35.203 229 303 LAPS 104.42
32 51 GT2 Biagi/Montanari/Farnbacher/Russo Ferrari F430 9:53:52.223 225 307 LAPS 159.21
33 115 G3 Rich/Knauss/Kraihamer/Kuzminykh Lamborghini Gallardo 11:59:15.418 196 336 LAPS 114.51
34 60 GT2 Henzler/Palttala/Forsten/Horion Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 7:53:13.529 183 349 LAPS 162.51
35 33 GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp/Muller/Lichtner-Hoyer Aston Martin DB9 6:15:17.975 151 381 LAPS 169.08
36 101 G2 Leinders/Kuppens/Martin Gillet Vertigo 7:18:34.615 145 387 LAPS 138.93
37 5  GT1 Menten/Margaritis/Schlunssen/Alzen Corvette Z06 5:35:23.106 140 392 LAPS 175.42
38 175 G3 Renard/Hissom/Lacroix Wasover/Thirion Ferrari 430 GT3 5:49:06.330 122 410 LAPS 146.85
39 140 G3 Fournet/Baron/Corbel/Ferreira Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 4:15:20.727 92 440 LAPS 151.41
40 121 G3 Helary/Desbrueres/Desbrueres/Radermecker Ferrari 430 GT3 2:21:10.236 31 501 LAPS 92.28
41 3  GT1 Maassen/Soulet/Pillon/Bouchut Corvette Z06 55:40.024 12 520 LAPS 90.59

Hour 23

Fifteen minutes in and the rain has returned. Times are now in the 2:35 range for the GT1 cars and not much slower for the GT2s. Had the rain lasted longer through the race then this closeness in times might have had more effect on the outcome.

This particular shower lasts about 20 minutes. While the rain completely stops, the conditions remain quite greasy.

Eric van de Poele brings the presumptive winner in at the 90-minute mark for presumably the penultimate stop. It’s for fuel only, carrying veteran tires for its quite veteran driver. The Belgian should add to his total of 4 victories in this endurance classic.

We have possibly another retirement as Gael Lesoudier stops the No. 174 Ferrari at the exit to the old pit complex. He’s busily twirling a wrench in the engine compartment while getting instructions from a crew member who arrived on the scene but is properly stationed on the other side of the fence. It’s all in the hopes of getting going again.

Heading towards Rivage, Henri Moser has a brief off in the No. 57 Kessel Ferrari. Most are circulating at around 2:40 per lap while our Coup du Riem friend is a scintillating 3:19.

With about 65 minutes left, Stephane Lemmeret brings No. 2 for undoubtedly its last stop. Alessandro Pier Guidi steps aboard for the finishing stint. The decidedly untidy Allan Simonsen is next. He had been carefully nursing the third place No. 10 Aston Martin along, not worrying about being passed by GT2 cars, the nine-lap cushion is plenty with an hour to go.

Tomas Enge pops in to the press room to hand over a long promised hat for dsc’s ALMS correspondent Gary Horrocks: “I really like the Lamborghini. It needs a little more power and some tweaks here and there, but it is a good package; good to drive and if we hadn’t had some small problem it could have been a really good finish for us.”

Positions after 23 hours:

1 1   GT1 Bertolini/Bartels/Sarrazin/Van De Poele Maserati MC 12 23:00:03.213 554  168.69
2 2   GT1 Negrao/Ramos/Lemeret/Pierguidi Maserati MC 12 23:00:45.729 553 1 LAP 168.30
3 10  GT1 Turner/Simonsen/Peter/Thompson Aston Martin DB9 22:59:48.464 547 7 LAPS 166.59
4 15  GT1 Ferte/Aucott/Daoudi Maserati MC 12 23:01:31.214 539 15 LAPS 163.95
5 77  GT2 Malucelli/Ruberti/Camathias/Rigon Ferrari F430 23:01:07.950 532 22 LAPS 161.87
6 61  GT2 Collard/Westbrook/Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 23:00:55.703 530 24 LAPS 161.28
7 50  GT2 Bruni/Vilander/Melo/Salo Ferrari F430 23:01:01.408 528 26 LAPS 160.66
8 55  GT2 Mullen/Niarchos/Piccini/Shedden Ferrari F430 23:00:20.283 521 33 LAPS 158.61
9 8   GT1 Kox/Rusinov/Lammers/Enge Lamborghini Murcielago 23:01:47.039 520 34 LAPS 158.14
10 57 GT2 Moser/Del Monte/Vannelet/Palma Ferrari F430 23:01:41.798 519 35 LAPS 157.85
11 56 GT2 Kirkaldy/Bell/Mueller/Sutton Ferrari F430 23:01:24.210 514 40 LAPS 156.36
12 76 GT2 Lietz/Narac/Long Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 23:00:53.505 497 57 LAPS 151.25
13 123 G3 Thomas/Bermes/Basseng/Hemroulle Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 23:00:57.770 497 57 LAPS 151.24
14 124 G3 Huisman/Khan/Voerman/Van Splunteren Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 23:01:11.301 492 62 LAPS 149.69
15 112 G3 Campbell/Jakubowski/Barde/Zangarelli Ferrari 430 GT3 23:02:09.594 489 65 LAPS 148.67
16 160 G3 Heylen/Dermont/Lamot/Loix Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 22:59:15.144 482 72 LAPS 146.85
17 62 GT2 Davies/Babini/Monfardini Ferrari F430 23:00:41.195 481 73 LAPS 146.40
18 145 G3 Kelders/Duval/Greisch/Kerkhove Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 23:02:13.997 479 75 LAPS 145.63
19 6  GT1 Fassler/Hezemans/Deletraz/Gollin Corvette Z06 20:17:43.784 460 94 LAPS 158.74
20 75 GT2 Baird/Twigg/Juniper/Forbes Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 23:01:43.969 452 102 LAPS 137.47
21 141 G3 Noziere/Brouard/Stepec/Samon Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 23:00:48.486 449 105 LAPS 136.65
22 106 G3 Coens/Fumal/Schroyen/Faggionato Ferrari 430 GT3 23:00:14.349 438 116 LAPS 133.35
23 174 G3 Brandela/Lesoudier/Peyroles/Lester Ferrari 430 GT3 22:32:05.482 402 152 LAPS 124.94
24 59 GT2 Pompidou/Williams/Sugden/Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 17:19:12.372 382 172 LAPS 154.47
25 70 GT2 Baguette/Basso/Tenchini/Plati Ferrari F430 17:13:53.132 350 204 LAPS 142.26
26 122 G3 Jones/Jones/Jordan Ascari KZ1R 17:40:56.600 323 231 LAPS 127.94
27 108 G3 Duez/Sougnez/Wauters/Muytjens Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 12:35:10.099 267 287 LAPS 148.58
28 4  GT1 Longin/Kumpen/Mollekens/Bouvy Saleen S7 11:21:51.922 255 299 LAPS 157.15
29 182 CdR Scheier/Ballay/Kuteman/Garbagnati/Comar/Rambeaud Ferrari 430 GT3 22:59:55.526 253 301 LAPS 77.04
30 116 G3 Geofroy/Chaillet/Galand/Rosoux Dodge Viper CC 11:04:12.328 229 325 LAPS 144.88
31 102 G2 Kaufmann/Talkanitsa/Ullmann/Heyer Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo (GT2-R) 15:21:35.203 229 325 LAPS 104.42
32 51 GT2 Biagi/Montanari/Farnbacher/Russo Ferrari F430 9:53:52.223 225 329 LAPS 159.21
33 115 G3 Rich/Knauss/Kraihamer/Kuzminykh Lamborghini Gallardo 11:59:15.418 196 358 LAPS 114.51
34 60 GT2 Henzler/Palttala/Forsten/Horion Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 7:53:13.529 183 371 LAPS 162.51
35 33 GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp/Muller/Lichtner-Hoyer Aston Martin DB9 6:15:17.975 151 403 LAPS 169.08
36 101 G2 Leinders/Kuppens/Martin Gillet Vertigo 7:18:34.615 145 409 LAPS 138.93
37 5  GT1 Menten/Margaritis/Schlunssen/Alzen Corvette Z06 5:35:23.106 140 414 LAPS 175.42
38 175 G3 Renard/Hissom/Lacroix Wasover/Thirion Ferrari 430 GT3 5:49:06.330 122 432 LAPS 146.85
39 140 G3 Fournet/Baron/Corbel/Ferreira Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 4:15:20.727 92 462 LAPS 151.41
40 121 G3 Helary/Desbrueres/Desbrueres/Radermecker Ferrari 430 GT3 2:21:10.236 31 523 LAPS 92.28

Final Hour

Darren Turner grabs the No. 10 Aston Martin for the final run to third place. The skies remain quite cloudy for 20 minutes, then get considerably lighter. Most cars continue to toss-up large rooster tails. Some are even having their troubles, including—yep-leader Eric van de Poele who has the slightest little bauble while lapping the Lamborghini.

It’s enough to get Michael Bartels pacing about in the pit area. At the 35-minutes to go mark the No. 1 Maserati takes on a splash and a set of intermediates. Van de Poele remains aboard.

All the stops are done and prudence takes hold. Ange Barde has a problem and has stopped at Blanchimont with the No. 112 AS Events Ferrari. His third in G3 is in jeopardy with Jan Heylen two laps back in the No 160 Prospeed Porsche. However, Barde is able to get going again—just. He’s slow but should have enough in reserve to hold off Heylen.

With exactly 15 minutes to go, Eric van de Poele comes back in for another quick splash and a bit of tidying up the body. He goes back out and on the very next lap he passes the 4000-kilometer mark for the race. It will be the third time on the current short circuit that this milestone has been passed, all with Maseratis.

Meanwhile, Matteo Malucelli remains aboard for the run to the flag for the GT2 class winning No. 77 BMS Ferrari. Richard Westbrook takes the second in class Porsche to the checkered while Toni Vilander trails in the No. 50 AF Corse F430. J-F Hemroulle brings the G3 winning No. 123 Porsche to the flag with teammate Roeland Voerman in second place No. 124, then Barde going quite slowly.

Eureka, we do have one last chase at the end—two cars on the same lap. With 6 minutes to go, Peter Kox’s Lamborghini is about 22 seconds behind the No. 55 Ferrari of Tim Mullen. They’re in two different classes but still fighting for overall spots (8^th), that is if Mullen bothers to contest it.

Amazingly, Malucelli comes in for a splash and at least two new tires with less than 4 minutes to go. He weaves out of a now crowded pit lane and gets out just behind the two overall leaders, now running in slow formation. So slow that Heylen, still hoping against hoping to get another shot at third in class, weaves past the two Maseratis. Indeed several cars do as well.

Coming through the Bus Stop with seconds to go, the two blue cars slow almost to a crawl, but it is not slow enough. They come to the line and the clock still shows 7 seconds to go, so they have to go back around once more.

They come back around to complete the 577^th lap for No. 1 (4041 km.), with No. 2 two laps back. Behind them Kox took the spot from Mullen. Turner comes across the line with Ben Aucott alongside, a fine 4^th place finish for the JMB Maserati.