09 april 2008Preview Belgian Race Kick Off in Zolder
On the eve of the start of the season this coming weekend at Circuit Zolder a few of the major players have given their vision regarding our national GT championship. A quick reminder that the first meeting kicks off with two races of one hour each. Fred Bouvy (Francorchamps Motors – Ferrari 430) : “I’m truly pleased to have been able to set-up this programme. I have a great car, a solid partner (Damien Coens) and the perfect team, thanks to the collaboration between the Ferrari-concession Waterloo and Delahaye. We’ll be starting off this weekend with a Challenge-setup, entered in D1 and if it doesn’t rain we’ll be happy with a place in the top-10. The following meeting I’ll then be competing exceptionally with Kurt Mollekens with a GT3-kit, and we’ll resolutely be aiming at a podium place.”
Danny De Laet (JD-Competition Lamborghini Gallardo): “The decision to opt for the Lamborghini Gallardo came about after the car’s performances in various GT3 championships last year. On top of that it’s an exclusive car, blending in perfectly with this championship.”
Kris Wauters (RKR – Dodge Viper): “Clouseau haven’t split up, but for the first time in ten years we’ll be competing against each other. For me and Koen this is undoubtedly an additional challenge to be driving in a different car.”
Maxime Soulet (GPR – Porsche 997 S): “After a difficult winter we’re back with a good car in which to defend our title. I have a great team mate in none other than Greg Franchi. We’re holding the trump cards to retain our number #1 and give the Kumpen-Longin a run for their money, because they will be our main competitors. The real work with our new Porsche will start on Thursday.”
Bert Longin (Gravity International – Mosler MT900): “There were two options. The Porsche or the Mosler. We spoke to various teams and then made up a balance sheet, finally opting for the Gravity International-team of Willy Plas and Loris de Sordi. A Walloon team with Flemish drivers; this is something different in these rather difficult community times.”
Vincent Vosse (Sport Garage – Ferrari 430) : “I’m pleased to be back and our GT-championship is going places. I first met Eddy Renard at the end of last year, during a race of the Open GT in Barcelona. I suggested that I should be a type of guide for him in the Belgian ‘autosport’ and I reckon I’ll be able to compete under perfect conditions. My intention is to excel in the qualifying sessions and we’ll see what happens in the race. It will not be easy to achieve a podium but there is one thing I want to get off my chest. Perhaps in Belgium we should look into a Pro-Am system.”
Frank Thiers (Scuderia Monza – Ferrari 430): “It was about time for something different. In fact it has always been one of our dreams to compete with a Ferrari. Our choice to opt for the prancing horse is not purely based on the fact that Ferrari clinched the FIA GT3 championship last season. In my opinion they won the championship as the result
of regularity and not because they had the fastest car.”
Niels Lagrange (First Motorsport – Porsche 997 GT3): “I have joined a team– First Motorsport – where I can still learn a great deal and develop my talents. My real dream is to go further in the motor sport world and one of the following steps might well be the FIA GT3.”
Peter Van Audenhove (Speedlover – Aston Martin N24): “I’m convinced that GT4 is a discipline with a great future”
Koen Leyssens (KS Motorsport - Ginetta G50): “KS Motorsport had been looking out for an alternative to the highly successful BTCS-series – and this is how we came across the Ginetta G50 GT4. GT4 is undoubtedly the future, definitely in national championships as it combines real racing pleasure with attainable budgets, and this is what most national competitors are looking out for.”
Stéphane De Groodt (McDonald’s Racing PMB – Porsche 996 Biturbo) : “Apart from a few outings in the VW Fun Cup and a race in the Clio Cup as the ‘masked driver’, I sat around for five or six years and it was getting to me. Last year I had considered competing with a Delahaye Mégane, but I needed a budget and couldn’t find the time. In this case I’m merely following up an invitation from the PMB team, but can’t say much more than that at the moment. They tell me that there is a norm time and that in all probability I should always have a place on the podium in Division 3. I’m really hoping for rain during this first weekend. But more importantly it will be great to meet up with old friends, to have some great fun and I hope to be back at the start of the 24 Hours of Spa in August.”
