After starting the season off in style in GT World Challenge America, Tom Sargent is stepping into new territory, making his debut at the legendary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The Australian driver is taking on the challenge aboard the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) in the Gold Class alongside American standouts Elliott Skeer and Adam Adelson, the reigning GT World Challenge America Pro champions.
For Sargent, the journey to Spa has been anything but ordinary. “We’re extremely excited just to be on the grid,” he said. “Getting to this point has been a massive effort by everyone involved. To even be entered, let alone starting where we are, is mind-blowing.”.
Coming off the heels of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen in North America, the entire Wright Motorsports crew has been running full steam ahead. “The guys have had very little sleep,” Sargent noted. “It’s been late nights solving every little issue and chasing every gremlin. But that’s what put us in a great position.”
The trio started the twice-around-the-clock race from 22nd overall, an impressive spot for a group making their Spa debut. “We never would’ve picked we’d be starting this far up in our first time here,” said Sargent. “It’s a big credit to the team. Everyone’s worked their asses off.”
The No. 120 entry is also fielding a unique combination in the Gold Cup category, two Silver-rated drivers (Sargent and Adelson) paired with one Gold-rated driver (Skeer). “We’ve brought what we have from America across. It’s not the most typical driver lineup, but we think it’s strong and cohesive. We trust each other and we trust the car.”
This isn’t Sargent’s first 24-hour race, he started the year at the Rolex 24, but Spa brings an entirely different flavor. “Daytona gives you moments to breathe. Spa doesn’t. With 75 cars out there, you’re always in traffic, always battling someone. It’s mentally and physically brutal.”
He’s also well aware of the mountain ahead. “We’re realistic. Some of these teams and drivers have done this event for decades. For us, this is brand new. But we’ve got experienced engineers from Wright Motorsports and support from Herbert Motorsport, which has been massive.”
Sargent’s focus is razor-sharp going into the race. “The number one goal is to finish. Then it’s to finish as high as we possibly can. A top-five in class would be a dream, but we’re not taking anything for granted. This is Spa. Anything can happen.”
“We’ve got the right people, the right car, and the right mindset. Now it’s about executing. One lap at a time.”
