First Slovenian to race at 24 Hours of Spa: Kastelic faces career-defining challenge against Valentino Rossi

Mark Kastelic is set to make history as the first Slovenian to compete in the renowned 24 Hours of Spa endurance race. The 18-year-old driver will pilot an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II for the German Tresor Attempto Racing team in the classic Belgian event.

Kastelic, hailing from Ivančna Gorica, described the upcoming race as the biggest challenge of his career. The Spa-Francorchamps circuit, often compared to legendary tracks like Le Mans and Daytona, is notorious for its seven kilometers of fast corners, significant elevation changes, and volatile weather. "This will definitely be the biggest test of my career. I will be participating in a 24-hour race for the first time, and on top of that, one of the toughest in the world," Kastelic stated.

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This will definitely be the biggest test of my career. I will be participating in a 24-hour race for the first time, and on top of that, one of the toughest in the world.

The young driver anticipates extreme conditions, with daytime temperatures potentially reaching 35 degrees Celsius, causing cockpit temperatures to soar to 70 degrees. "If it's dry, we'll face great heat. Up to 35 degrees are forecast during the day, and the temperature in the cockpit can rise to 70 degrees Celsius," he highlighted.

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If it's dry, we'll face great heat. Up to 35 degrees are forecast during the day, and the temperature in the cockpit can rise to 70 degrees Celsius.

Sharing driving duties with Rocco Mazzola, Sebastian Øgaard, and Ariel Levi in the No. 66 Audi, Kastelic's team will compete in the Silver Cup class. His immediate objective is not focused on winning but on successfully completing the demanding 24-hour race. "I'm not setting high expectations, and the goals are not lofty. I want to be as fast as possible, compete respectably with the competition, and above all, finish this difficult race. We also want to gain as much experience as possible for the future," Kastelic explained.

The field includes notable names in endurance racing, but Kastelic will also share the track with motorsport icon Valentino Rossi, a nine-time motorcycle world champion, who will be competing in a BMW M4 GT3 Evo. This encounter marks a significant moment for Kastelic, pitting him against an Italian legend.

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I'm not setting high expectations, and the goals are not lofty. I want to be as fast as possible, compete respectably with the competition, and above all, finish this difficult race. We also want to gain as much experience as possible for the future.