12 april 2008Belgian GT Championship MVD reveals its first secrets
Maxime Soulet in the GPR Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S and Vincent Radermecker in the Gravity Mosler MT900 were the fastest during the two qualifying sessions of the Belgian Race Kick-Off today, and will be starting from pole position for the first and second race of the season.
The Belgian Race Kick Off is the first meeting of the Belgian GT Championship MVD, and two races are on the programme. For all meetings with two races of one hour each, the qualifying concept has changed substantially. As in the past there are still two sessions, but these only last 25 minutes. In addition the first session determines the grid for the first race and the second session that of the second race. Each driver takes on an entire session and also takes the start of the related race.
With this in mind all drivers started off this morning in a strong battle mood. In a session lasting only 25 minutes every moment counts. Following on from an intense and closely fought qualifying session the Dutchman Ron Marchal took pole position. “But unfortunately I drove too fast coming into the pitlane, I had completely misunderstood the workings of the speed restrictor and that cost me my pole position”, the unfortunate Dutchman commented.
As such Maxime Soulet moved up a place and ensured a first success for the brand new Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S. The Belgian GT Championship MVD is definitely coming up to expectations, because Verbergt (JD Competition Gallardo) is in 2nd place, Longin (Gravity Mosler) in 3rd and Jeffrey Van Hooydonck (A+ Dodge Viper) in 4th spot, with four of the five makes represented in the top-5. Vincent Vosse in his Ferrari 430 was within six hundredth of fifth place taken up by Nigel Greensall in de Chad Lamborghini Gallardo, as such just missing out on the ideal result. With 12 cars within two seconds the session was highly competitive. In Division 2 and Division 3 pole places went respectively to Niels Lagrange (First Porsche) and Olivier van Oost (Powercars Porsche).
The second session turned into a Porsche – Mosler duel. Reigning champion Bart Couwberghs opened the debate, but initially Kumpen and somewhat later Radermecker referred the NGT-driver back to the second row, where he will have the company of Greg Franchi (GPR Porsche). With Guino Kenis in fifth spot Mosler concludes the top-5.
This time around in Division 2 and 3 Ludovic Sougnez (Powercars Porsche) and Wim Coekelbergs (PMB Porsche) produced the fastest qualifying times.
Maxime Soulet: “The Porsche is a fantastic car, with incredible potential. The brakes are especially impressive and I’m expecting great things tomorrow.”
Vincent Radermecker: “All I can say is that we were able to rectify the problem we encountered this morning. For the rest I reckon we’re pretty well placed and well on the way to a good result tomorrow.”
Qualifying Race 1: 1.Soulet (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S) 1'33.538, 2.Verbergt (Lamborghini Gallardo) +0.094, 3.Longin (Mosler MT900) +0.528, 4.Van Hooydonk (Dodge Viper Competition Coupé) +0.575, 5.Greensall (Lamborghini Gallardo) +0.918, 6.Vosse (Ferrari F430 GT3) +0.986, 7.Menten (Dodge Viper Competition Coupé) +1.274, 8.Wauters (Dodge Viper Competition Coupé) +1.334, 9.Maes (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S) +1.383, 10.Wauters (Dodge Viper Competition Coupé) +1.482
Qualifying Race 2 : 1.Radermecker (Mosler MT900) 1'32.660, 2.Kumpen (Mosler MT900) +0,113, 3.Couwberghs (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S) +0,782, 4.Franchi (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S) +1,175, 5.Kenis (Mosler MT900 R) +1,695, 6.Haane (Lamboghini Gallardo) +2,080 , 7. Leinders (Gillet Vertigo) +2,217, 8.Lamot (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S) +2,358, 9.Vanthoor (Dodge Viper Competition Coupé) +3,023, 10. F. Thiers (Ferrari F430 GT3) +3,213
