CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa looks to the future with fresh approach to official poster

The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa has revealed a bold new look for its official poster ahead of this summer's 75th running of the Belgian endurance classic (29 June – 2 July).

The legendary twice-around-the-clock event begins a new era in 2023 with industry-leading cybersecurity company CrowdStrike taking on the role of title sponsor. This has brought about a fresh visual identity, including a first full redesign of the official logo in more than 15 years.

With change in the air, it was the perfect opportunity to take the poster in a new direction. Bristol-based graphic artist Jake Yorath was handed the challenge, adding to a portfolio that already features a series of official event posters for the Intelligent Money British GT Championship. Nor is he a stranger to the 24 Hours, having attended several times as a fan and in a professional capacity.

The 2023 poster applies his distinctive abstract style to the unrivalled sensory experience of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. It depicts a trio of cars on the run between La Source and Eau Rouge, with the climb towards Raidillon disappearing into the distance and the vast grandstand that overlooks this iconic section of track also visible.

The image captures the immense scale of the venue and the drama of watching from trackside, creating a sense of movement and sound that will be instantly familiar to spectators. Though it represents a thoroughly modern approach, the artist was strongly influenced by previous works: he cites the 2007 poster as a direct inspiration, while the colour palette bears considerable similarity to the designs used between 2009 and 2017.

The poster will become a familiar sight in the build-up to this year's CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, which takes place a month earlier than usual on 29 June – 2 July. An incredible 72-car entry list consisting entirely of GT3 machinery is set to tackle the legendary event as it marks its 75th running. In addition to the headline act, fans will be treated to no fewer than eight support races across four high-level series, as well as spectacular GT1 cars and virtual motorsport in the paddock.

There will be a wealth of off-track entertainment, too, highlighted by Wednesday's parade to Spa city centre and the Saturday night music concert. The paddock will also see extensive activity from Thursday onwards, with exclusive presentations from leading brands, the Pirelli Experience and the Fanatec Esports arena among its attractions. Pit walks and demonstrations will take place during the evening hours, while there is something to suit all tastes at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa Fan Zone.

The launch of the poster signals one of the final stages in the build-up to this summer’s event. Indeed, the next major milestone is set to be the official prologue, which will give teams two days of testing at Spa-Francorchamps on 23–24 May. Once this is complete, the final countdown to the world’s most competitive GT race can begin.

Laurent Gaudin, CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa general manager: “The official poster is a CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa tradition and it is important that the concept continues to evolve. With this being the first year working alongside our partners CrowdStrike, it was the right time to adopt a new approach. Jake has created a very modern artwork, though it also acknowledges what has gone before and fits nicely into the lineage of CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa posters. With a 72-car field and a fantastic line-up of entertainment for fans to experience, we have truly special event in prospect this summer. I look forward to seeing the new poster around Spa-Francorchamps throughout our 75th edition.”

Jake Yorath: “The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa was the first race I attended outside the UK and one of my abiding memories is how distinctive and cool the poster looked. This event has a history of interesting artwork and I am really happy to have been asked to add to it. Having attended as a fan and as a professional I know that the drama experienced trackside is completely unique, especially at night. I wanted to capture at least some of that in a still image, so I listened to raw sounds from the race while creating the poster. I've done a lot of work with SRO in the past and I know first-hand the quality of this event and its organisation, so this really was a dream commission for me.”