After a change in the driver line up, Andreas Wirth and Stefano Coletti were joined this weekend by Vitaly Petrov of the WEC (World Endurance Championship) branch of the SMP Racing Team. With additional experience on-board the #32 SMP Racing Nissan-Powered BR01 and the typically damp and unpredictable weather at the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps absent for the penultimate round of European Le Mans Series competition, the team felt confident that the weekend would have a bright outcome.While the car looked strong in Friday’s practice (2nd place), results were mixed on Saturday as minor issues cropped up at the end of the practice session. After a few repairs, the SMP Racing crew had the #32 ready for Stefano Coletti to qualify. Unfortunately minor engine problems cropped up during the always-short 10 minute LMP2 qualifying session, and Coletti could only manage to squeeze 7th out of the car for Sunday’s grid.With a few tweaks to the car and their strategies in place, SMP Racing started the race with Vitaly Petrov behind the wheel, followed by Andreas Wirth for his double-stint in the LMP2 racing machine. The incident-filled first-half of the 4 Hours of Spa saw three safety car periods and six full course yellows, but Wirth still had the chance to stretch his legs a little at the front and show that he’s on-pace with the leaders before he had to relinquish first place at the driver change. Shortly after Stefano Coletti took the wheel, the three championship contenders battled their way through slower traffic, with SMP Racing coming out the victor. With Coletti on a tear, everything was possible for the SMP Racing team as he continued to fight his way through the field. Sadly, with about an hour left on the clock, electrical issues would turn out to be the team’s true nemesis this weekend. With headlights malfunctioning Coletti was called to the pits by race control as the obviously disappointed team watched precious moments, positions and points slip away – not once, but twice – as the #32 was called for a second time to the pits with just over 30 mins to go.Unable to come back from having to make two additional visits to the pits, an understandably disappointed Wirth summarized the weekend: “Well, this is certainly not as we had expected. We thought everything was on our side this weekend at Spa – we found more speed in our last race at Le Castellet, the weather was awesome and we had more experience with us than usual. But I guess that’s endurance racing – it can be the little things which are completely out of your control that get you. It’s really a shame though, if you look at the data we certainly had a car for the podium, if not a win today. I have to thank all of our guys for their hard work – they give us a great car and I know they’re just as disappointed that something so small keeps us from our goal – but, it is what it is. Now we prepare for Estoril where we’ll fight for as many points as we can possibly get in the season finale.”After this, the fifth round of 2016 ELMS competition, Andreas and the SMP Racing Team continue to hold their own - 3rd in the championship standings and hungry for more.The series heads to Portugal next for the sixth and final round of European Le Mans competition. The ELMS 4 Hours of Estoril takes place on October 21 - 23 – don’t miss it!