Boulle Races to Podium Finish in GT3 Debut at Spa 24 Hours

After a strong run in this year’s 24 Heures du Mans, ^deBoulle Motorsports enjoyed podium celebrations again this past weekend. This time, the Texas-based driver drove in Rinaldi Racing’s Ferrari 488 GT3 car alongside co-drivers Pierre Ehret, Rick Yoon and Murad Sultanov.

Unlike the Daytona 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Le Mans where the field is a mix of GT cars and super-fast prototypes that look nothing like road cars, the TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is the greatest GT-only event in the world. The race features the latest racecars from almost all of the world’s most famous marques: Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Nissan, Bentley, Lexus, Honda, Jaguar, McLaren and Lamborghini.

The TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa is considered the crown jewel of the Blancpain Endurance Series which encompasses 4 three-hour, multi-driver events at Europe’s top circuits, including Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard and Barcelona, in addition this weekend’s 24 hours race at Spa-Francorchamps. Racing in the AM category (there are Pro, Pro-Am and AM classes in this championship), FIA-silver rated pro driver Nick (American / British dual national) has been added under the special rules of the Spa 24 Hour event, sharing the car with its regular strong FIA-bronze rated Rinaldi Racing amateur teammates Pierre Ehret (Germany/USA), Rick Yoon (South Korea) and Murat Sultanov (Russia).

After a slow start in qualifying thanks to an ill-timed red flag for a wreck on circuit, the #488 Ferrari started from 8th place in class. Boulle would be the second driver in the car and was able to push the car up into the 4th position after his one-hour stint moving into the races 3rd hour. Eventually, the team through consistency and a strong average pace during each stint was fighting for top honors in their class. With hours to go, the team was confident in their podium result and would push hard to catch the cars ahead.

Nick Boulle:

“It takes only one lap around Spa-Francorchamps, or maybe just one trip up Eau Rouge, to realize how special this race is. The circuit is demanding on every driver both physically and mentally with any mistakes being punished very severely thanks to the many fast corners. Despite this, the Rinaldi Racing boys and our #488 Ferrari 488 GT3 car performed flawlessly through the whole weekend. It’s amazing how fast these cars can go around here and yet how reliable they’re able to make them. The car seemed to somehow get better and better through the race weekend and so did our the guys on each pit stop. To race here is an honor by itself, but being here with our close relationship with the series’ primary sponsor, Blancpain, it’s been even more special. I don’t think this will be my last time racing in the Blancpain GT Series if I can help it! I have to give a huge thanks to my co-drivers as well as Circle Y Holdings from Dallas, TX for making this weekend possible”