Boutsen Ginion Racing has confirmed that South Africa's Gennaro Bonafede will join the crew of its #9 BMW M6 GT3 for this year's Total 24 Hours of Spa.
Silver-graded Bonafede will pilot the Am Cup entry at the season's marquee event, working alongside regular drivers Karim Ojjeh and Marc Rostan, as well as a fourth to-be-announced racer. While the Am class is reserved for all-bronze line-ups at regular Blancpain GT Series rounds, teams may add an additional silver driver for the Belgian endurance classic.
Bonafede, who will be making his debut at the event, comes with considerable experience from his domestic touring car championship. Previously a representative of Volkswagen and Audi, since 2016 he has acted as a factory driver for BMW Motorsport SA, finishing as runner-up in the touring car class of South Africa's GTC series for the past three years.
“I am extremely grateful and unbelievably excited for the opportunity to race at the Total 24 Hours of Spa," said Bonafede. To be with such an experienced team like Boutsen Ginion, as well as having extremely knowledgeable teammates, is a dream for me.
"I am really looking forward to the two Official Test Days as this will be a good opportunity to familiarise myself with the BMW M6 GT3 and the legendary Spa-Francorchamps track. As for the race, our aim is to drive consistently and without any errors.”
Bonafede will join a significant contingent of Total 24 Hours of Spa entrants at the test days, which take place on 2/3 July at the Belgian track. The event represents a homecoming for the Boutsen Ginion squad, which will run at its local race for the first time since 2016.