Spa (BE), June 30, 2025 - Spa-Francorchamps remains a magical place for every motorsport enthusiast, and during the last weekend of June, the iconic circuit once again hosted GT racing, with the 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa. In that context, the third round of the GT4 European Championship took place, with Michiel Haverans and Ford Junior Nathan Vanspringel competing for TeamFloral in their imposing Ford Mustang GT4. What followed was an educational, intense, and at the same time promising weekend, crowned with a victory in the Rookie classification and two strong top ten finishes.
Strong qualifying, solid starting position
Qualifying on Friday evening went smoothly. Both Nathan Vanspringel (Q1) and Michiel Haverans (Q2) managed to set the twelfth-fastest time in their respective sessions, in a highly competitive field of 44 cars with impressive opposition.
These results secured the team a solid starting position for the first race on Friday evening, providing ample opportunity to make progress in the standings.
Race 1: strong race pace and Rookie classification win
In the first race, the duo immediately proved their worth. Starting from twelfth place, Vanspringel and Haverans steadily moved up through the pack. During their stint, the team even ran briefly within the top five. Thanks to consistent pace, precise pit stops, and a well-thought-out strategy, TeamFloral ultimately secured seventh place overall.
As the icing on the cake, the Belgian team also took home the Rookie Trophy, a reward for their excellent performance in this class. “We raced with both our heads and our hearts,” said team manager Jean-Marc Valckenaere afterwards. “This was the result of teamwork and sharp racing, and it leaves us wanting more.”
Race 2: showing character after interruption
The second race on Sunday morning had a turbulent start. From twelfth on the grid, the team again had to work their way forward. But the race was quickly interrupted, and with the clock still running, only nineteen minutes of race time remained after the restart. Despite this, both drivers kept their focus.
In a short but fierce sprint to the finish, TeamFloral managed to climb to eighth place, finishing just a few tenths away from a second top-seven result. It was proof of the team’s perseverance, growing maturity, and potential.
Looking ahead
After the weekend, the team reflected with mixed feelings: proud of the work done, and ambitious for the races to come. “It was a weekend of learning, making progress, and pure motorsport passion,” the team shared in a thank-you message on social media. “We want to thank everyone for their support, both trackside and online. We will keep building on this foundation.” The Ford Mustang GT4 has now been brought back to the workshop for analysis and further setup work, in preparation for the next round of the championship on July 18, 19, and 20 in Misano, where TeamFloral will head as fifteenth in the drivers’ standings.