Alex Fontana rounded off his 2026 Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa weekend with a fantastic podium finish. The race is part of both the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, in which Alex competes full-time, and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. For the occasion, the Swiss driver was partnered by Bashar Mardini, Patrick Kolb and Axcil Jefferies in the Lionspeed GP team’s #89 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO, competing in the Bronze Cup class.
Fontana was at the wheel for the first qualifying session, setting a time of 2:18.661, which was good for 6th place overall in that session. After combining the times of the other drivers in the crew, the team secured 10th place in the Bronze category.
The 2026 edition of the Spa 24 Hours was marked by numerous safety car interventions, which affected the strategies of all the teams. The #89 crew avoided a major accident ahead of them on the first lap, immediately gaining ground. In the early hours of the race, the Lionspeed team fought its way up to 38th place overall, this steady recovery continued, with Alex and his teammates gradually beginning to see a possible fight for the podium.
In fact, at the halfway in the race, the Lionspeed Porsche claimed the 6 points awarded for 4th place in the Bronze class. Fontana was the team’s fastest driver, clocking a time of 2:18.451 – even faster than his qualifying time. Alex then had the responsibility and honour of finishing the race, having firmly secured 3rd place in his class, returning to the podium for the first time since 2023.
In addition to his superb comeback and podium finish, Fontana picked up a further 15 points, taking his total to 29 in the GT World Challenge Endurance Cup Bronze class standings, which see him now sitting in 7th place.
The next round of the GT World Challenge Europe will be held at the NĂĽrburgring on the 30th of August 2026. However, Alex will be back on track as early as the 4th and 5th of July, when the International GT Open series comes to the Hungaroring circuit.
Alex Fontana
“I’m proud to be able to celebrate this fantastic third place at the Spa 24 Hours, an event of historic significance and certainly one of the most demanding and prestigious endurance races in the world. I’d like to thank the whole Lionspeed GP team for their impeccable work on the car, and my teammates Bashar, Patrick and Axcil for sharing this incredible comeback with me. Returning to the podium in such a special race is an indescribable feeling that sets us up really well for the rest of the championship.”