06 januari 2008Five questions put to Patricia Indekeu, SRO Belgium and Series Manager
Whilst waiting for the Directory of RACB Sport on 21st January we are presently taking a look ahead to the 2008 Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar-season with Patricia Indekeu. Five questions to sketch out the second Belgian GT3 season in broad outlines.
Dear Patricia, 2007 was a pretty successful maiden year for the new Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar, and as such SRO Belgium will undoubtedly be looking to follow the same line in 2008?
Patricia Indekeu: First and foremost allow me to wish one and all in the Belgian motor sport world a happy 2008. I truly hope that the teams, drivers, media, partners as also the numerous spectators find their way to our circuits to make 2008 a great sporting year.
We can indeed look back on an excellent 2007 season, and now during this intermediate season our main assignment is to carry out a review, learn from the positive and less positive experiences but above all ensure that the 2008 season turns out even better.
The GT3-concept is definitely the future for our national motor sport, which was already apparent last year thanks to the attractive grids and nail biting races, and with last but in no way least a splendid climax to the championship at the finish line of the final race of the season.
Are the 2008 sporting regulations fully in the same line as those of 2007, or are there some amendments?
Patricia Indekeu: In fact the basic philosophy remains unchanged and this not only for the year 2008 but also the following seasons. This had previously been announced by Stéphane Ratel at the end of 2007.
We have however drawn lessons from the remarks made by the teams and competitors following a survey carried out in the autumn, and this has resulted in several innovations. Let us start with the most radical change, the format of the weekends.
We are retaining seven weekends, but with three instead of two different race formats. It goes without saying that the 24 Hours of Zolder remains the highpoint of the Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar-season, but apart from that we will be racing four times according to the real GT3 philosophy, with two one hour races. Every driver will have to take a qualifying session and race start and between the 23rd and 37th minute of the race there has to be a change over. There will be no refuelling or tyre change.
There will be two race weekends that will be a copy of the FIA GT, with two compulsory driver changes between the 23rd and 37th minute as also the 69th and 79th minute, as well as refuelling and tyre stops.
All in all the drivers will have more track time and in addition every driver will be able to enjoy real racing seeing that each will have a turn at taking the start during the 1 hour races.
Will there be three Divisions as previous or will we only have GT3s in 2008?
Patricia Indekeu: We’re obviously keeping to our promise that Division 2 and 3 – namely the Belcar Promotion and Specials – will have their place this season. In Division 2 we will once again have the GT4s with in addition the GT4 Lights (cars such as the Ginetta, Donkervoort or Caterham). Our intention is to develop the GT4 (Lights) into a fully fledged division. Teams or drivers, who do not immediately wish to make the switchover to GT3, for whatever reason, will find the perfect alternative in GT4. There are some great and highly attractive cars available, and as with a GT3 you can compete in various national and international competitions. Hence the possibility that should there be sufficient entrants, GT4 (Light) would be allocated a separate podium and ranking. Division 3 obviously retains the norm time, notwithstanding the fact that each team will receive a joker per weekend.
We understand that the point scoring will be changed?
Patricia Indekeu: That’s correct. In the first place there will be a drivers’ championship based on the RACB points scale (20, 17, 15,...), whereby we will be down to one single GT champion driver in Belgium. Next to this there will be a ranking based on the FIA points system (10, 8, 6...) for the teams, both for overall ranking and per Division, with a double point scoring system during the 24 Hours of Zolder, for these team championships.
Last season Michelin acted as the tyre supplier for the MLVD Belcar, will this also be the case in 2008 l?
Patricia Indekeu: We will in fact be continuing with Michelin. Contrary to 2007, per meeting each team will receive, with the exception of the 24 Hours of Zolder, two sets of tyres as also two spare tyres (Jokers) to keep the costs under control. This is why we also decided not to increase the registration fee for a full season, neither in Division 1 nor in Divisions 2 or 3.
Many thanks for this highly clarifying conversation!
