07 mei 2008A new balance for both races at Dijon this coming weekend
Four weeks after the season’s kick off in Zolder, the Belgian GT Championship MVD is ready for its second meeting. For race three and four they are heading on down to the Burgundy region in France, more specifically to the Dijon-Prenois circuit. Dijon is an undulating and fast track where the young boys are up against the men. The ideal opportunity for our GT3-drivers to measure up with their French colleagues, because this race weekend coincides with the third FFSA-GT-meeting of the season; and boasts a highly attractive programme which promises to draw in the crowds. Of major importance is the fact that the Belgian GT Championship MVD now fully conforms to the international GT3-championship, where out of sheer necessity during the first meeting the British GT3 norms had to be applied.
Anthony Kumpen and Bert Longin, who dominated the first meeting with their Mosler MT900 GT3, have as was to be expected been given a handicap for this coming weekend. The Mosler will be 40 kilograms heavier and the ride height, both front and rear, has been raised by 1 cm. But nobody will be scrapping the Gravity International cars from their list of favourites. Neither will the various Porsches 997 GT3 Cup S disappear from the bookmakers notebooks. Following on from the first national and international meetings these German machines were not only given additional weight (+40 kg), an adapted ride height (+ 1 cm) but also a 68 mm clamping plate. Notwithstanding that the fastest Porsche drivers, Soulet-Franchi (GPR) and Couwberghs-Maes (NGT), after their difficult opening round will undoubtedly be found up front and redress the situation experienced at the beginning of April. For this occasion Markus Palttala and Christian Kelders will be at the wheel of a brand new Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S and we’ll definitely expect to see the fast Finn up front.
The Dodge Viper loses its 48,56 mm clamping plate and it will be a question of waiting to see what, amongst others, the A+ Racing-power beast of Jeffrey Van Hooydonk and Robert Dierick can pull out of its sleeve at Dijon. However the American car is not the only one being ‘relieved’ on its way down to France. The Italian beauties should also unquestionably be up front. The Lamborghini Gallardo lost 40 kilograms as compared to its outing at Zolder and who knows there could be a sequel to the two podium places of Van Hool and Haane, while Tim Verbergt remains a serious candidate to take pole position. The Francorchamps Motors Delahaye Ferrari 430 of Bouvy-Coens spent a few weeks in the Swiss workshops of Kessel and was fitted out with the full GT3-kit. This immediately adds an additional contender for victory. Coens and Bouvy will without fail be on hand for both of the one hour races on Saturday, allowing the fans enough time to be in Spa on Sunday for the 1000 Km of Spa.
Laurent Van Moerkerke is returning to the Viper of Laudi Sport and Robin Maes will be making his debut, replacing Ludovic Sougnez, in the Porsche 996 GT3 Supercup of Olivier Van Oost. In class 2 the Aston Martin Vantage N24 will be carrying an additional 50 kilos and once again we’ll have the pleasure of seeing the Ginetta G50 of KS Motorsport and the Lotus 2 Eleven of Bruynoghe-Steegmans.
