Spa-Francorchamps is one of those tracks that every race car driver loves—and respects at the same time. Fast, uncompromising, and full of character. It was here that Gian Luca Tüccaroglu was set to compete in the next race weekend of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany.
And even if the final results don't fully reflect what was possible, Spa demonstrated one thing above all else:
The speed to compete at the very front is there.
Test Day & Free Practice – Tried a lot, learned a lot
An additional test day was scheduled at Spa even before the official race weekend. Gian Luca and Team75 Motorsport deliberately to explore new avenues.
Instead of just sticking to the standard setup, there was a lot of experimentation. The focus was on various adjustments, new approaches, and even bolder setup directions—always with the goal of tailoring the car even better to Gian Luca’s driving style.
And it was precisely this work that quickly made itself felt.
In Friday's free practice, Gian Luca immediately secured 4th place —a strong showing on a track that is among the most demanding on the calendar in terms of both driving skill and technical difficulty.
One particularly positive development is that the teamwork is noticeably improving from weekend to weekend. Drivers, engineers, and mechanics are increasingly finding a common rhythm. Trust is growing, communication is becoming clearer, and the car’s setup is more often hitting the sweet spot where Gian Luca feels most comfortable.
You can tell:
Our mutual understanding is growing—and that’s exactly what drives our performance.
In short:
We're heading in the right direction.
Qualifying – The pace to be at the front, track limits with bitter consequences
Their strong form was also evident in qualifying.
With a 6th-place finish in the first qualifying session and a 4th-place finish in the second, Gian Luca impressively demonstrated that much more was possible this weekend than just a solid mid-pack result. The pace was there—and at a level that realistically could have even put him in podium contention.
But then came the decisive moment of the weekend.
In a chicane, Gian Luca went off-track —deliberately, but assuming that, as in free practice, he wouldn’t be penalized for it. The bitter part is that it didn’t actually give him any real advantage. On the contrary—the car actually lost time there.
While violations are usually reported immediately during qualifying, in this case the information wasn't released until much later. As a result, the decisive laps were subsequently disqualified.
And suddenly, the situation changed completely.
For Saturday’s race, this meant starting from 13th place instead of a top grid position. Things got even worse for Sunday: Since the track limits decision meant he no longer had a valid timed lap for the second race, Gian Luca had to start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid (P31).
What makes it especially bitter:
A driver who was originally supposed to start right behind Gian Luca actually ended up on the podium.
This shows one thing above all else:
The pace to compete at the very front was definitely there.
Race 1 – A smart drive that earned us some crucial points
Despite his disappointing starting position, Gian Luca didn't let it get him down.
Starting from 13th on the grid, he drove a controlled, very clean race. No unnecessary risks, no overzealous moves—instead, smart racing, patience, and a steady push forward.
Especially on a track like Spa, where mistakes can quickly prove costly, he showed great maturity and composure.
In the end, they finished in 12th place —not in the top 10, but still an important result with 4 points.
Above all, one thing became clear:
The pace is just right.
Race 2 – A Bold Gamble in Challenging Conditions
Sunday began with the toughest starting position of the weekend: 31st on the grid.
Nevertheless, Gian Luca fought his way steadily toward the front and had already moved up to 25th place at one point.
Then came the boldest decision of the weekend.
While nearly the entire field was on rain tires and the track was slowly beginning to dry out, Gian Luca decided to take a strategic gamble. The reasoning behind it was clear: starting from far back, it would be difficult to make significant ground using conventional tactics—so he needed a different approach.
The tire change should be an opportunity to make up time and perhaps make a decisive move to the front once again.
Unfortunately, that gamble didn't pay off this time.
Conditions turned out differently than hoped, causing Gian Luca to fall back to the rear of the pack. In the end, he finished in 31st place —a result that doesn't do justice to his actual performance over the weekend.
Conclusion – The results don't tell the whole story
Spa was one of those weekends where you come away with so much—even if the standings don't tell the whole story.
After all, the positive findings outweigh the negative:
- 4th place in free practice
- P4 & P6 in qualifying
- ever-closer collaboration with the team
- a car that is gradually pulling up right in front of Gian Luca's workspace
- a realistic pace for the front runners
- Key points from the first race
Above all, however, one trend is clear:
Things are clearly moving in the right direction.
Of course, weekends like this are part and parcel of motorsports—especially when you’re developing your skills and gaining experience at this level. The important thing is to learn the right lessons from them.
And one thing became clear at Spa:
We have the pace to compete at the very front. Now it's a matter of turning that into results.
We're heading in the right direction.
And that's exactly what makes us look forward to the upcoming race weekends.
