Spa 24-Hour: YART Yamaha ‘aim to leave Spa leading EWC’

A confident Yamalube YART Yamaha heads to the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps ready to battle for the 24H SPA EWC Motos podium this weekend.

Round 2 of the FIM Endurance World Championship, sees an updated Belgian track return to EWC action for the first time since 2001, providing a unique challenge to the YART Yamaha team.

Reviving the spirit of the iconic 24 Heures de Liège, which was once a mainstay on the calendar, Karel Hanika, Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and reserve rider Robin Mulhauser are excited to get back in action at the track after a successful two-day Pre-test earlier in May.

Finishing third fastest overall, Fritz and Mulhauser used their prior knowledge of the circuit to help get their teammates - who had not ridden at Spa before - up to speed. They left happy with the setup they found for the YART #7 R1 and Bridgestone tyres around this demanding rollercoaster of a circuit.

The Austrian squad enjoyed a superb start to their 2022 season at the opening round in Le Mans, as they powered to a stunning second-place finish, which means they are currently second overall in the standings with 55 points, eight behind the leaders.

There are 65 points up for grabs in a 24-hour race in 2022, with five points awarded for pole position, 40 for the race win, and ten to the leaders at the eight and 16-hour stages. In 2022 there are three 24-hour races, and the importance of finishing the race to gain as many points as possible is not lost on the team, although after their performance in Le Mans, they are optimistic about being able to fight for the podium once more.

“I am really looking forward to the race because the track is amazing,” Hanika said ahead of Tuesday’s private test session. “I enjoyed riding the