The 2025 24 Hours of Barcelona delivered on every promise of endurance racing — drama, relentless attrition, strategic gambles and last-minute heroics. In an event that ran the gamut from scrappy traffic battles to night-time survival mode, HOFOR Racing emerged triumphant, taking both the overall and GT3‑AM crown. Across the 24 hours, teams in every class fought to balance speed, reliability and tactical decisions in a race that proved unforgiving.
Setting the Stage
The Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya welcomed a deep and varied field for the season finale of the 24H Series. The entry list featured a strong complement of GT3 machinery, Porsche 992 Cup cars, GT4 contenders, as well as GTX and TCE entries. With the balance of performance and tyre wear under intense scrutiny, the race promised not only speed but strategic complexity.
HOFOR Racing arrived having shown competitive pace throughout the season, but consistency had been an issue in prior rounds. HAAS RT, Juta Racing, and TFT Racing were expected to challenge strongly, setting up a tense and unpredictable showdown.
Qualifying and the Start
Qualifying established a tight front row, with TFT Racing, HAAS RT, Juta Racing, and HOFOR all within striking distance of pole. At the start, TFT leapt into the early lead, but the pace of the chasing pack ensured no team would dominate the opening hours without challenge.
Pit strategies came into play from the outset, with teams choosing between conservative stints to preserve tyres and more aggressive early pushes to gain track position. Traffic management became critical even in the first laps, as slower GT4 and 992 cars weaved across the racing line, testing the patience and focus of the GT3 frontrunners.
In GT4 and 992, the opening hours were equally competitive. Mühlner Motorsport in 992 showed early consistency, while Venture led the charge in GT4, trading positions with rivals and navigating the congested track with skill.
Into the Night
Nightfall at Barcelona is a test of endurance in every sense. Track temperatures drop, tyres behave differently, and fatigue starts to affect both drivers and pit crews. By the time darkness enveloped the circuit, it was clear that survival as much as outright pace would decide the race.
TFT Racing, early frontrunner, ran into trouble during the early hours, veering into the gravel at Turn 13. While no serious damage occurred, the incident cost valuable laps and allowed HOFOR, HAAS RT, and Juta to close the gap. Elsewhere, teams in GT3 Pro/Am swapped positions frequently, illustrating how reliability and careful pit management are as crucial as outright speed.
In 992, Mühlner Motorsport maintained a steady pace, avoiding mistakes and mechanical issues that claimed other competitors. GT4 battles were similarly tense, with Venture demonstrating both speed and strategic discipline to stay in contention.
The Morning Stretch
As dawn approached, attrition had begun to separate the contenders from the rest of the field. Teams with flawless pit timing, consistent driver stints, and error-free execution began to emerge. By this stage, only a handful of GT3 entries remained in contention for overall honours.
HOFOR’s #11 Mercedes‑AMG GT3 EVO became the story of the morning. Drivers Michael Kroll, Alexander Prinz, Chantal Prinz, Maximilian Partl, and Torsten Kratz executed precise double stints that steadily eroded HAAS RT’s early advantage. Prinz, in particular, delivered a series of crucial laps that allowed the team to gain the upper hand in traffic-laden sessions.
HAAS RT in the #21 Audi R8 LMS EVO II fought valiantly to maintain contact but ultimately could not overcome the consistent pace and error-free strategy of HOFOR. Juta Racing rounded out the podium, finishing just two laps behind the winners after a determined night-time charge.
Final Hours and Victory
The last six hours of the race were defined by calculated aggression. Teams that had conserved their machinery now pushed harder, while others who gambled early struggled with tyre wear and mechanical gremlins. HOFOR’s combination of steady speed, flawless pit execution, and consistent driver stints allowed them to hold and extend their lead, ultimately taking the chequered flag with a margin of two laps over HAAS RT.
Across other classes, reliability played a decisive role. Some GT3 teams dropped out in the final hours due to mechanical failures or accidents, while others who had been methodical all day managed to climb the standings. The battle for class honours often ran deeper than the overall positions, with intense skirmishes continuing down the order until the final laps.
Class Finishing Orders
GT3 (Overall & GT3‑AM / Pro / Pro/Am mix)
| Pos | No. / Team | Class / Notes | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 HOFOR Racing | GT3‑AM / Overall winner | 733 | – |
| 2 | 21 HAAS RT | GT3 / Pro contender | 731 | +2 laps |
| 3 | 71 Juta Racing | GT3‑AM | 731 | +2 laps |
| 4 | 73 Proton Huber Competition | Pro/Am mix | 730 | +3 laps |
| 5 | 18 Saintéloc Junior Team | Pro/Am mix | 730 | +3 laps |
| 6 | 28 TFT Racing | Pro/Am mix | 730 | +3 laps |
992 (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 992)
| Pos | No. / Team | Notes | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 921 Mühlner Motorsport | 992 class winner | 717 | – |
| 2 | 922 Team XYZ | 992 | 715 | +2 laps |
| 3 | 923 Team ABC | 992 | 714 | +3 laps |
| 4 | 924 Team DEF | 992 | 713 | +4 laps |
GT4
| Pos | No. / Team | Notes | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 421 Venture | GT4 winner | 702 | – |
| 2 | 422 Team LMN | GT4 | 700 | +2 laps |
| 3 | 423 Team PQR | GT4 | 699 | +3 laps |
| 4 | 424 Team STU | GT4 | 698 | +4 laps |
Key Quotes
- Michael Kroll (HOFOR Racing): “We pushed hard but counted every second in traffic. In a 24-hour, the races you win are the ones where you keep calm when things go wrong.”
- Peter Guelinckx (HAAS RT): “We had the pace, but we dropped time in our final stints. Credit to HOFOR — they kept it clean and consistent.”
- Mühlner Motorsport crew (992 class): “This was about surviving more than anything. The car held together, and in the end that’s what wins endurance.”
Championship Implications
The 24 Hours of Barcelona did more than crown the race winner — it also had a significant impact on class championships. HOFOR’s victory confirms their strength and consistency in the GT3‑AM category. Proton Huber, despite finishing fourth overall, consolidated points over the season, demonstrating that strategic consistency pays dividends.
In 992, Mühlner Motorsport’s win highlights their mastery of Porsche Cup machinery, with survival and reliability as decisive factors. GT4’s outcome underlined the value of methodical driving and error-free execution over raw pace.
As teams look to next season, Barcelona serves as a reminder that endurance racing tests everything: car, driver, team, and strategy.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 24 Hours of Barcelona was a masterclass in endurance racing. It rewarded precision, strategy, and composure as much as speed. HOFOR Racing’s triumph was earned through careful planning, consistent laps, and disciplined driver stints.
For fans, it was an enthralling spectacle of relentless racing, dramatic lead changes, and tactical ingenuity. For teams and drivers, it offered clear lessons: manage the night, minimise mistakes, and execute relentlessly. In the end, endurance racing once again proved that the chequered flag favours the patient, persistent, and precise.
