Harper’s efforts in vain as team forced to retire

Harper’s efforts in vain as team forced to retire

16 July 2025

ANNAHILT’S Dan Harper played a major role in a surprise challenge for a podium finish in the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa race in Belgium.

The BMW M Motorsport works driver, and his ROWE Racing team-mates, Max Hesse and Philipp Eng, bounced back from misfortune in qualifying to charge up the order.

They led the biggest GT3 race in the world through the night, before a frustrating retirement with just ten minutes left on the clock denied Harper a third career top six finish in the classic race.

Full of confidence following a maiden IMSA win at Watkins Glen in America the previous weekend, Harper and long-time colleague Hesse headed into their fourth attempt 

at the blue-riband endurance event of the GT World Challenge Europe season looking to build on multiple podium challenges in the race in previous years.

The duo were joined by Eng, a three-time 24 Hours of Spa winner, as they lined up as part of a record-breaking 75 car entry for the iconic endurance race.

The action in Belgium begun with free practice and pre-qualifying on Thursday, with the typically unpredictable and ever-changing weather at Spa-Francorchamps meaning that Harper got some laps under his belt in both wet and dry conditions.

Qualifying followed later in the day, with the target being a top 20 result to earn a spot in Superpole the next day.

It was mission accomplished under the cover of darkness, as good performances from each driver in their 15-minute segments put them tenth fastest overall.

Eng mounted their challenge in Superpole the next day. However, a red flag stoppage just as he was about to complete his first of two flying laps would cost them dear and they could only end up 18th quickest.

The team knew they would have to play the long game to make progress in the race and Eng made steady progress through the opening two hours. Harper then jumped in for a single stint and took them into 13th position overall.

Hesse and Eng continued their challenge as day turned to night in the Ardennes forest, before Harper jumped in at 11pm local time for his first night stint.

He moved them into the top ten for the first time as they became the leading BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the race.

One of the key moments of the race for the team came at the ten-hour mark with Hesse behind the wheel, as a full course yellow during a 

pitstop cycle worked in their favour. Gaining time over a number of rivals, they were propelled from a top six standing into the race lead.

Entering an exciting duel with the eventual race-winning Lamborghini over the next few hours, Hesse, Eng and then Harper kept them in the top three as dawn broke. Unfortunately with five and a half hours left on the clock though, it was their turn to be disadvantaged by a full course yellow.

With the caution period starting just after they had pitted, they ended up losing around a minute to a number of their rivals including the Lamborghini and their 

sister ROWE Racing BMW, ping them to sixth spot, where they remained until a mechanical issue forced them into retirement with the finish in sight.

Harper said afterwards: “The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is an incredible event and it seems to getting bigger and better every year.

“To run in the top three for over a third of the race was great, but unfortunately a full course yellow period went against us.

“We didn’t have the pace to beat the Lamborghini and congratulations to them on the win, but I feel we were quick enough to have taken a podium had luck been with us. “Overall, we’re immensely proud of our performance.”