Pepper’s Spa dream comes true

South African GT3 driver Jordan Pepper has been confirmed as part of a three-car Bentley factory team to race in the legendary Spa 24-Hour at the Francorchamps circuit at the end of the month.

The jewel in the crown of the Blancpain GT Endurance Championship, the Spa 24-hour annually attracts the cream of the GT racing crop, with more than 60 cars and 180 drivers taking to the grid.

“It has been my dream to tackle the Spa 24-Hour event since I first drove a GT car,” Jordan said.

“I am hugely thankful for this opportunity and for the trust that Bentley Team Abt is putting in me. “Spa is an incredible race — it is more of a 24-hour sprint than an endurance race — maximum attack from lap one until the end in a really intense and physical effort.”

Pepper will share a factory-supported Abt Bentley Continental GT3 with German driver Christer Jöns and Belgian Nico Verdonck, alongside two M-Sport entries at Spa. Also, like the Nurburgring, which is just an hour’s drive away, Spa is situated in the Eiffel Mountain region where the weather is unpredictable and anything can happen.

Bentley was, for instance, robbed of the Spa 24 win last year when its leading car missed the pit entry just as the rain came down in an unexpected last minute storm.

“The Bentley team is out to make amends with the strongest possible driver line-up and the best technical support for the Spa 24 this year,” Jordan said. “I have worked closely with the team though the build-up to the Nurburgring 24-Hour and I get along with my co-drivers Christo and Nicko. “Our Bentley Continental GT3 is a formidable package.

The car is suited to Spa with its many medium- to high-speed corners and I’m glad to be back in a series with a fair Balance of Performance system that allows us an even chance to win.

“I have had a taste of Spa before in the 2015 GT Masters and I’m looking forward to going back for a proper go at the track.

With the race in just over two weeks, Jordan will continue to prepare on the simulator, along with a comprehensive gym programme.