This weekend, the 24H SERIES’ European championship, both overall and per-class, finally comes to a head. And as we discuss HERE, this year’s season finale could be one for the ages. 

Series newcomer Atlas BX Motorsport will take on both RD Signs – Siauliai racing team and Buggyra ZM Racing for overall and GT4-class honours, all part of the South Korean team’s “big target” as we discuss with Steven Cho. Spain’s E2P Racing will take the fight to CP Racing for GT3-AM Teams’ honours, a battle of which E2P Group CEO Javier believes his team is more than capable. And one year from winning the 992 Teams’ title, Red Ant Racing’s Ayrton and Yannick Redant are keen to defend their crowns in Catalunya, as they mention in their ‘Head-to-Head’ interview. 

Factor in WTM Racing, which took its first series win in Barcelona last year and is hoping to canter Ferrari’s 296 GT3 to another victory after a successful weekend in Estoril, and this could be one of the most tantalising editions of the Hankook 24H BARCELONA yet. Not that this should come as too much of a surprise. There are many reasons after all why the Hankook 24H BARCELONA is arguably the most intriguing event on CREVENTIC’s European calendar every year. 

Heritage, for one thing. When you have a moment, we urge you to check out our ‘Wall of Fame,’ which celebrates the winners of all 23 editions of the event held since 1998. A reflection not just of the ‘humble’ beginnings of Spain’s biggest annual 24-hour motor race, but also the calibre of competitor required to hold the Trofeu Fermín Vélez aloft.

Depth of competition is another reason. Hankook 24H BARCELONA grids in the past have often ballooned past 50, providing radiolemans.com’s Joe Bradley with oh-so-many stories to track down behind closed doors. There’s no shortage of talent in 2023 either, with no less than four Hankook 24H DUBAI winners and six reigning/former overall series champions on the entry list. 

Atmosphere? A stone’s throw from one of the most culturally rich cities in Europe and with Spain well-represented on the entry list, Barcelona’s grid walk positively groans with it. Drama? Last year’s event was only metres underway when there was a collision on the start-finish straight, and between championship rivals no less! Challenges? There’s a reason the 
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and its tight, technical yet still rapid layout has remained a Formula 1 winter hub for so long…

And then, there’s the heat. Though the mercury often nudges the high 20s on pitroad, this rises sharply to low-to-mid 40s in the car, providing drivers with an emotional and physical challenge arguably harder to overcome across 24 hours than wrestling these cars to their absolute limits. While discussing Lapidus Racing’s win at the 2012 24H BARCELONA for example (a first for McLaren since Le Mans 1995), even Adam Christodoulou was adamant that managing Barcelona’s heat was crucial to a good result…

“I’m a true believer that it’s the heat that wipes out the driver rather than how difficult it is to drive these cars for 24 hours. It can get to the point where, it doesn’t matter how fit you are, if you’re in the car and you’re cooking like a chicken, you’re not going to last long!”

Heritage. A championship finale. Drama. Atmosphere. Gruelling emotional and physical perseverance. The 2023 Hankook 24H BARCELONA really does have it all.