Quick take

• Price: €899 per ticket, self-funded, no comp, no sponsorship
• You get: paddock access, Villa hospitality, safety lane tour, guided pit box tour, parking + shuttle
• You don't get: driver/team meet-and-greet, or access to the paddock hospitality itself (that's sponsor-only)
• Crowd: mostly sponsor guests, not diehard motorsport fans
• Verdict: worth it — go in knowing exactly what you're buying

Getting in the door

It wasn't easy getting tickets to arguably the best GT3 show on earth. But 2026 was my year: I got my hands on two VIP tickets for the Spa 24 Hours, with the team that's had the most success at the legendary track — BMW's WRT. That's right: the team that hosts the likes of Valentino Rossi, Dries Vanthoor, Kevin Magnussen, Charles Weerts, and a roster of other big names.

I've visited the 24 Hours often over the past few years, always as a 'regular' visitor, making my way around the track to find the best spots and the best angles. I love it — it's one of my trackside highlights every year.

But the question lingered: what's it like on the inside? GT World Challenge isn't exactly an accessible championship in terms of pitbox access. Plenty of teams offer VIP packages, but not all teams have the same paddock privileges. Top teams like Ferrari's AF Corse or BMW's WRT aren't known for being open to the public.

That's why I approached WRT for VIP tickets — to have a look behind the curtain.

What's included

It's important to manage expectations when choosing a VIP experience. WRT's offer was fairly clear on paper:

• General paddock access
• Access to Spa's iconic 'Villa', with a unique view of La Source
• Parking with shuttle service
• Safety lane tour
• Guided pit box tour
• Unlimited catering and drinks for two days

That all sounded great. But there was a catch.

The catch

As a petrolhead and passionate motorsport lover, I was looking forward to surrounding myself with like-minded people. Unfortunately, that wasn't really the case. There were plenty of guests genuinely into the racing, but most of the crowd were sponsor invitees. As a networking platform it was fine, but it wasn't exactly buzzing with love for motorsport. I had to explain what a yellow flag was ... twice. I talked to several people who don't follow motorsport at all and were only there because their employer had handed them tickets.

The bigger miss: the Villa gets you near the team, not in with the team. The Villa is WRT's own guest hospitality, with a great view of La Source — but the actual paddock hospitality, where the team and drivers eat, debrief, and unwind between stints, is a separate, sponsor-only space. That distinction wasn't clear to me before I bought the ticket, and it's the single biggest thing I'd tell a buyer up front.

Which leads to my biggest disappointment of the weekend: I didn't meet a single driver. Not one. Was I hoping for a quick selfie with The Doctor? Yes. A signature from Marciello? Certainly. But there was no driver or guest interaction on offer. At a steep price of €899, I was hoping for just a little more.

Is it a deal-breaker? No, not really. I still met some very interesting people and had some good conversations. Are there better networking opportunities out there? Sure.

The highlights

So was it worth it? Yes — helped in no small part by the fact that at 34°C, the Villa and WRT's staff were excellent. The unlimited catering and cold drinks were more than welcome.

The standout for me was the safety lane tour: a lap right next to the track in a BMW, as close to the action as you can legally get, watching GT cars blast past on the Kemmel straight. Particularly special at dawn, when Spa is at its most pristine.

The other highlight was the pit box tour. I still get chills thinking about it — the atmosphere, the tension, the noise, the smells, all of it. I was lucky enough to get two tours: one on Saturday before the race, one on Sunday hours before the finish. Both times, we got extra lucky. On the first tour, Valentino Rossi walked into the box. We couldn't get close, but we shared a pit box with him for a few minutes. On the second, the #46 car came in for a pit stop mid-race — seeing that up close is something else.

Would I recommend it?

Wholeheartedly, yes. If you've got the money, or you're looking to take business partners or staff to the best GT show on earth, do it. It's a unique experience in a unique environment.

But go in with the right expectations: this is premium hospitality with genuine trackside access — not a backstage pass to the team itself. If you're chasing that die-hard 'I met the drivers' experience, this isn't it. I'll keep digging until I find that one.

For now, I can look back on an amazing weekend at the best track on earth, with my favorite team in GT racing. WRT, see you next year.

FAQ

• How much does WRT VIP hospitality at the Spa 24 Hours cost? €899 per person for the full weekend package, self-funded on this visit.
• Does the WRT VIP package include meeting the drivers? No. There's no organized driver or team meet-and-greet included in the standard VIP package.
• Do you get access to the team's paddock hospitality? No. VIP guests get the Villa, WRT's own hospitality space with a view of La Source. The paddock hospitality itself, where the team and drivers eat and unwind, is separate and reserved for sponsors.
• What's the best part of the WRT VIP experience? The safety lane tour and the guided pit box tour — trackside access you can't get any other way.
• Is WRT VIP hospitality worth it? Yes, if you're after premium hospitality, trackside access, and a great environment for business guests. No, if you specifically want driver interaction — that's not part of the package.

Book it yourself

WRT's VIP tickets for the Spa 24 Hours are limited and sell out. If you want in for next year, go straight to WRT's official hospitality page and get on their list early — 2027 tickets will move fast. GT World Challenge is growing fast with incredible drivers, good action and attention from F1 drivers like Verstappen.