Round 3 — GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
2026

A continuous 96-hour endurance hospitality operation delivered by Luxentis DMC for agencies, corporate hosts and private partners — discreet white-label execution across the Ardennes, from arrival to departure.

Dates24 — 28 June 2026
CircuitSpa-Francorchamps, Stavelot
FormatWhite-label B2B / NDA-first

The most operationally demanding race weekend in European endurance.

The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is the headline endurance round of the GT World Challenge Europe season — and the only fixture in the European calendar that places guests inside a continuous 24-hour competitive window. For hospitality operators, this is not a three-day event. It is a 96-hour operational envelope in which guest experience, garage access, accommodation, transfers, catering and rest must all be coordinated across overlapping day and night cycles, without break.

The race

The 24 Hours of Spa is the longest-running GT3 endurance race in the world, contested over the full 7.004 km Spa-Francorchamps layout with a field typically exceeding seventy entries across Pro, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Pro-Am classes. The 2026 edition, sponsored by CrowdStrike, is positioned as a round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Practice and qualifying open the week from Wednesday onward; the 24-hour race itself begins Saturday afternoon and concludes Sunday afternoon under the chequered flag.

The Ardennes climate, the legendary Eau Rouge–Raidillon complex and the punishing transition from late-evening light into deep Belgian night make this race a different sporting product from Monaco, Le Mans or Silverstone. For guests, it means the experience itself runs twenty-four hours — and the operational support behind it must run longer.

The operational reality

Endurance hospitality at Spa cannot be improvised. Suite access, paddock accreditation and garage positioning are gated through SRO Motorsports Group and the participating teams, with allocation closing months before the race. Hotel inventory across Spa, Malmedy, Stavelot and the wider Liège belt is tightly held during race week; the strongest properties are pre-blocked twelve to fifteen months in advance.

Most importantly, the night cycle — Saturday evening through Sunday morning — is when guest fatigue, catering logistics, rest rotation and garage coordination compound simultaneously. A single uncovered shift transforms the entire programme. Continuous 24/7 desk coverage is not a premium feature at this event; it is the baseline operating condition.

White-label execution for the agencies, hosts and partners behind the programme.

Luxentis DMC operates exclusively in the B2B layer of the endurance hospitality market. We do not sell tickets, packages or experiences to end clients. We deliver the operational backbone — accommodation, transfers, paddock coordination, catering, staffing, rest infrastructure and continuous desk coverage — under your brand, your contract and your NDA.

Discretion

NDA-first by design

Every engagement starts under a signed confidentiality framework. Our team is not visible to your client. Branded materials, signage, staff identity and communication channels remain yours throughout the operation.

Continuity

One operations lead, three shifts

A single named Ground Operations Lead carries the file from briefing to debrief, with three overlapping shifts ensuring continuous coverage from Wednesday evening through Monday morning. No coverage gap, no handover failure.

Ardennes Network

Local depth, global standard

Our team carries fifteen-plus years of combined operating experience in the Spa region. Hotel relationships, paddock contacts, transport providers and emergency networks are all pre-validated and locally accountable.

Three overlapping shifts across 96 continuous hours.

From the first guest arrival on Wednesday or Thursday through the last departure on Monday morning, the Luxentis operations desk runs without interruption. The model is structured around three rotating shifts with handover overlaps of forty-five minutes, allowing real-time briefing transfer and zero loss of operational context.

Shift A — Day Operations

Daily 06:00 — 18:00

Arrivals processing, hotel coordination, paddock accreditation distribution, transfer dispatching, daytime catering, FIA gate liaison, supplier check-ins, and primary guest-facing presence during the principal viewing hours.

Shift B — Night Operations

Daily 18:00 — 06:00

The defining shift of the weekend. Night catering rotation, rest-area management, guest fatigue protocols, garage-side updates every two hours during the night phase, emergency response standby, and continuous coverage of guests choosing to sleep through the early-morning hours.

Handover Window

06:00 / 18:00 — 45-minute overlap

Live shift transfer with full documentation: outstanding guest requests, supplier status, incident log, race-relevant updates and any flagged guest-specific notes. The Ground Operations Lead participates in every handover, in person or remotely.

Operations Lead — Continuous

Wednesday — Monday

Cédric De Decker carries operational command across the full window. Single point of accountability for the partner agency, single point of escalation for any incident, and the only Luxentis voice in client-facing correspondence when required.

Three operating configurations, tailored per programme.

Luxentis operates across three structural configurations depending on partner brief, guest profile and contracted suite or garage access. All tiers are delivered white-label; pricing is built per file, on request, and never published publicly.

Paddock Programme
Standard Endurance Format
  • Three-night accommodation in pre-validated 4★ properties
  • Paddock Club or trackside suite access (subject to allocation)
  • Daily transfers to and from the circuit
  • Lunch and dinner service in suite
  • Night-cycle access until 01:00
  • Operations desk coverage Friday–Sunday
Garage Integration
Team-Linked / Sponsor-Level
  • Five-night accommodation with privacy-grade properties
  • Team-linked garage access, subject to team contract
  • Driver briefing exposure and engineer interaction (per team rules)
  • Private chauffeur availability throughout
  • Bespoke catering and private dining options
  • Full 96-hour operational coverage
  • Dedicated guest liaison per host group

All configurations subject to availability, SRO accreditation rules and team-level agreements. Programme structure confirmed on briefing.

The Ardennes inventory opens early and closes hard.

The accommodation map for the 24 Hours of Spa stretches from the immediate Spa-Francorchamps belt — Stavelot, Malmedy, Spa town — out toward Liège, Eupen and the Luxembourg border. Inventory at the top end is finite: there are no five-star international chains within twenty minutes of the circuit, and the limited boutique properties at Manoir level book out twelve to fifteen months before race week.

Luxentis maintains pre-blocked allocations across three property categories: privacy-grade boutique stays for ultra-discreet guests, established 4★ business hotels for working delegations, and full-service country properties for groups requiring on-site catering and meeting space. We allocate by guest profile rather than by stars.

For partners arriving from Brussels, Liège or Luxembourg airports, our preferred strategy is to position the principal accommodation within twenty-five minutes of the circuit and supplement with circuit-adjacent rest infrastructure on race day itself. This minimises overnight transfers during the most fatigue-sensitive window and allows guests to rotate between suite, rest and accommodation without long road exposure.

All properties are visited and validated by the Luxentis team in the months leading up to the event. Contracted blocks include flexibility clauses for late arrivals, early departures and tier upgrades, which we negotiate directly with the property rather than through aggregator platforms.

Pre-positioned vehicles, credentialed drivers, circuit-aware routing.

Transport logistics during the 24 Hours of Spa weekend are constrained by circuit access regulations, road closures, paddock entry windows and the high local traffic load that builds from Friday evening through Sunday morning. Our transport approach is built around three principles: pre-position vehicles before access windows close, use drivers with prior Spa-week experience, and maintain at least one rest-cycle vehicle on standby at all times.

Inbound transfers are typically organised from Brussels Airport, Brussels Midi (Eurostar), Liège-Bierset, Maastricht-Aachen or Luxembourg Findel. Vehicle classes are matched to guest profile and group size — Mercedes E-Class and S-Class for principals, V-Class for delegations of up to six, and Sprinter-class for full host groups with luggage.

During the race weekend itself, transfers between accommodation and circuit are scheduled around the night cycle. Drivers are briefed on alternate routings via the N62 and N640 corridors to avoid the principal congestion points around Francorchamps village. For partners with team-linked garage access, dedicated dispatch coordinates pit-lane drop-off windows directly with circuit security.

Standalone transport services are also available as separate engagements outside the full programme — for partners requiring chauffeur capacity only, without the full DMC operational layer.

From arrival to chequered flag and home.

Indicative master timeline for a Continuous Programme delivery. Adjusted per partner brief, guest profile and specific contracted access. All times CEST.

Wednesday 24 June — Evening

Pre-Operations Setup

Luxentis team on the ground. Final hotel walk-throughs, supplier briefings, suite equipment delivery, rest-area construction at circuit-adjacent location. Confirmation of all paddock accreditation with SRO and team-level garage liaisons.

Thursday 25 June — Free Practice Day

Early Arrivals and Circuit Familiarisation

First guest arrivals processed at Brussels, Liège or Luxembourg airports. Hotel check-ins coordinated with ops team present. Optional afternoon circuit familiarisation — Free Practice sessions accessible for guests arriving early. Welcome dinner at accommodation; programme briefing with Ground Operations Lead.

Friday 26 June — Pre-Qualifying & Qualifying

Paddock Day, Super Pole Build-Up

Full-day paddock access begins. Pit walks coordinated with team availability. Lunch in suite. Qualifying sessions through afternoon and evening, with Super Pole closing the day. Shift A hands over to Shift B at 18:00. Dinner service in suite or accommodation depending on guest preference.

Saturday 27 June — Morning

Pre-Race Build-Up

Late-morning arrival of any incoming race-day guests. Pre-race grid walk for accredited guests. Driver introductions where contracted. Lunch service. Final shift coordination and rest-area readiness check before the 24-hour window begins.

Saturday 27 June — 16:30

Race Start

The 24 Hours of Spa begins. All guests in pre-assigned suite or garage-side positions. Race-start hospitality service. Shift B holds the operational floor for the next twelve hours.

Saturday Night — Sunday Sunrise

The Night Cycle

The defining operational window. Continuous catering rotation. Rest-area open and staffed. Guests rotate between suite, paddock, rest and accommodation as preference dictates. Two-hour garage-side updates briefed to the ops desk and relayed to guests on demand. Sunrise at 05:27.

Sunday 28 June — Morning

Race Continues, Day Returns

Shift A back on duty from 06:00. Breakfast service. Guest re-energisation programme: showers, fresh clothing if pre-arranged, full daytime catering. Race entering its decisive final hours.

Sunday 28 June — 16:30

Chequered Flag

Race conclusion. Post-race photography, podium viewing where access permits, team congratulations for partners with team links. Initial guest departures begin Sunday evening; remainder overnight for Monday morning departure.

Monday 29 June — Morning

Departures and Debrief

Final breakfast and check-out coordination. Airport, station and onward transfers dispatched. Operations team holds post-event debrief on-site. Partner agency receives full operational debrief within forty-eight hours of last departure.

The night phase is where programmes are won.

Catering rhythm

Catering at the 24 Hours of Spa cannot run on standard meal hours. Guests are awake at irregular intervals across the twenty-four-hour window, and food fatigue sets in quickly if the same buffet runs from dinner through breakfast. Luxentis builds a rotating four-phase catering rhythm: evening service (19:30–22:30), night-cycle service (23:30–03:00, lighter and warm-centric), pre-dawn refresh (04:30–06:30, coffee and quick proteins), and full breakfast service from 07:00 onwards. All dietary requirements are mapped against the guest manifest before arrival and verified at check-in.

Rest-area design

A dedicated rest area is set up adjacent to the suite or within accommodation depending on programme. The area includes flat cots, blackout zoning, refresh facilities, secure storage for personal items and quiet protocols enforced by the night-shift team. Guests retain mobile signal and can be woken on race-event triggers — safety car deployment, lead changes, incident reports — at their own pre-stated preference. The objective is not to push guests through the full twenty-four hours; it is to give them control over when they engage and when they recover.

The programme is yours. The execution is ours.

Luxentis was built for the agency, the corporate host, the team sponsor and the private office that needs an operational partner in Belgium and the broader Benelux without losing brand control or guest relationship. Our model is structured around five operating principles:

1 — No client-side visibility

Luxentis branding does not appear on guest-facing materials, signage, vehicles, communications or staff identity unless specifically authorised. Your guest relationship is yours alone.

2 — Confidentiality framework upfront

Every operational engagement is opened with a signed NDA covering guest information, programme details, commercial structure and any sensitive operational data.

3 — Single point of accountability

The Ground Operations Lead is your one contact across briefing, build, execution and debrief. No layers, no handovers between departments at the partner-agency level.

4 — Net pricing, transparent margin

Programme pricing is delivered net to partner agencies, leaving you to set your own margin against your end client. Pricing detail is shared under NDA and never published publicly.

5 — Operational debrief delivered

Within forty-eight hours of last guest departure, you receive a full operational debrief covering accommodation, transfers, catering, supplier performance and any flagged guest moments worth carrying into future programmes.

6 — Belgian-resident operations team

The team executing the programme lives in Belgium, holds the local supplier relationships, drives the routes weekly and answers in the language of every credentialed contact across the paddock and the Ardennes.

Direct answers for partner agencies and hosts.

Factual answers to the questions we are most frequently asked during briefing calls. If your specific scenario is not covered, request a briefing call and we will work through it on the file.

When does the 2026 race take place?

The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2026 runs from 24 to 28 June 2026, with the 24-hour race itself starting Saturday 27 June at 16:30 CEST and concluding Sunday 28 June at 16:30 CEST. It is Round 3 of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.

Where exactly is the circuit located?

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is at Route du Circuit 55, 4970 Stavelot, Belgium, in the Ardennes region of Wallonia. It sits approximately ninety minutes from Brussels Airport, forty-five minutes from Liège, ninety minutes from Luxembourg City and two hours from Aachen.

Does Luxentis sell tickets or packages directly to private guests?

No. Luxentis DMC operates exclusively in the B2B layer. Our partners are agencies, corporate hosts, team sponsors, private offices and concierge structures. We deliver the operational programme; the guest relationship stays with the partner.

How early should we contract Luxentis for the 24 Hours of Spa?

Twelve to fifteen months ahead of race week is the working benchmark for full Continuous or Garage Integration programmes. Top-tier accommodation, paddock allocation and team-linked access close earliest. Files contracted six months out or later are restricted to whatever inventory remains and cannot guarantee all configurations.

Is garage-side access guaranteed?

Garage access is conditional on the team agreement and SRO accreditation rules. Paddock Club and trackside suite access is delivered through SRO Motorsports Group. Direct team garage access requires a contracted relationship with one of the participating teams, which Luxentis facilitates where the partner agency has the underlying commercial structure to support it.

How is the night cycle handled for guests who want to sleep?

The Continuous Programme includes a dedicated rest area with flat cots, blackout zoning and quiet protocols. Guests can sleep at any point in the twenty-four-hour window and are woken only on pre-stated triggers — safety car events, lead changes, podium-relevant incidents — at their own choice. The night-shift team handles all coordination during these hours.

What does the operations desk actually cover?

The desk handles every operational element across the 96-hour window: hotel coordination, transfers, paddock liaison, catering rotation, rest-area management, supplier oversight, guest requests, and any incident escalation. Shift A covers 06:00 to 18:00 daily; Shift B covers 18:00 to 06:00; the Ground Operations Lead is the continuous point of command.

Which airports are best for inbound guests?

Brussels Airport (BRU) is the largest and most connected, at roughly ninety minutes by road. Liège Airport (LGG) is closest at forty-five minutes and is the strongest option for private aviation. Luxembourg Findel (LUX) and Maastricht-Aachen (MST) are practical alternatives depending on guest origin. Brussels Midi (Eurostar) is well suited for guests arriving from London, Paris or Amsterdam.

Does Luxentis hold its own vehicle fleet?

Luxentis operates a network-based mobility model rather than a fixed fleet. We work with credentialed Belgian operators we have validated through years of joint missions, allowing us to scale vehicle classes — E-Class, S-Class, V-Class, Sprinter — to the specific guest profile and group size of each programme.

Can we contract Luxentis for transport only, without the full DMC programme?

Yes. Standalone chauffeur and transfer services are available as a separate engagement, distinct from the full operational programme. This is often the right structure for partners who manage their own hospitality but want a credentialed Belgian transport partner for the race week.

What languages does the operations team work in?

The Luxentis team operates fluently in French, English and Dutch, with working German and Arabic capacity available. Suppliers, accommodation contacts and paddock liaisons are addressed in their native language where it materially improves coordination speed.

How is bad weather managed?

Spa-Francorchamps is known for sudden weather swings, including rain at any point of the race weekend. All client-facing zones are covered or weather-protected. The transport network adjusts routings based on real-time conditions. The race itself runs in nearly all conditions short of extreme safety events; the operational programme is built to absorb weather without disruption to the guest experience.

Is the programme covered by insurance?

Luxentis carries professional liability and operational insurance applicable to DMC activity in Belgium. Specific guest insurance — medical evacuation, trip cancellation, personal — sits with the partner agency or end guest. We coordinate with insurers on operational matters during the file as required.

How is pricing structured?

Pricing is built per file based on guest count, programme configuration, accommodation tier, transport requirements and contracted access levels. Net pricing is delivered to partner agencies under NDA. We do not publish rate cards publicly and we do not operate package pricing — every programme is priced against its actual operational envelope.

What information do you need to brief a file?

Guest count, origin airports, dates of arrival and departure, contracted access (suite, paddock, garage), dietary and accommodation preferences, any team relationships already in place, and the partner agency's end-client expectations. With these elements we can return an operational structure proposal within five working days.

Who is the single contact at Luxentis for the 24 Hours of Spa?

Cédric De Decker, Ground Operations Lead. Cédric carries every Spa file from briefing through debrief and is reachable through contact@luxentisdmc.com for all partner-agency correspondence.

Does Luxentis also operate the F1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa?

Yes. The F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2026 (17–19 July) is operated by the same team, with adjusted programme architecture reflecting the different scale and operational profile of a Formula 1 weekend. Partners running both events through Luxentis benefit from continuous local network and consolidated logistics planning.

Brief us on your 24 Hours of Spa file.

Contracted programmes for the 2026 edition close in the months ahead of race week. To open a briefing call or request a structured operational proposal, contact the Ground Operations Lead directly.

Ground Operations Lead — Luxentis DMC
contact@luxentisdmc.com

All correspondence answered under NDA on request. Initial briefing calls scheduled within three working days.