However, while Ferrari got the better of them in the GT2 class, Porsche showed what is in store for the Italian team with a dominant performance with their new 997 911 GT3 in the G2 class.

Set to compete in the GT2 class from next year, the Spa race heralded the debut of the long awaited new car, although regulations stipulated it must compete in G2 for this race. It was a race they duly dominated, although they still spent plenty of time in the pit lane on the way to 14th and 15th - a result that would have given them seventh and eighth in the GT2 class.

Competing under the Manthey Racing banner, the two Porsches swapped the lead several times over the course of the race, but eventually it was the Lucas Luhr, Sascha Maassen and Marcel Thiemann 911 that prevailed. Timo Bernhard, Pedro Lamy and Marc Lieb followed six laps back, although even they were some 14 laps up on the nearest G2 competitor.

Having been annexed by Porsche in the early stages, the G3 class eventually fell to the Signa Racing Dodge Viper, driven by team-owner Patrick Chaillet, Loic Deman, Laurent Nef and Christophe Geoffroy.

The Belgian team finished a clear seven laps up on the Prospeed 911 that included World Rally driver Francois Duval, the former Citroen driver making a successful endurance racing debut on the way to second place. Third went to the Pouchelon Viper that had already completed a further two of racing thanks to their participation in the GT3 Championship earlier in the weekend.