26 augustus 2008Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder 2008 - Preview Divisions 2 and 3
It goes without saying that during the Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder, the fifth meeting of the Belgian GT Championship Mediagroep Van Dijck, the cars in Division 2 and 3, supplemented by guests cars, will play an important part. Even more than during the races over 60 or 120 minutes they could achieve an excellent overall result and even be up front, and this through regularity, strategy or the progress of the race in general. Let us not forget AD Sport’s great second place with the Bruynoghe-Vanierschot-Schreurs-Steegmans quartet in the 2007 edition, or Neyens-Colman-Bonnaerens-Couwberghs, winners in Division 2 in the NGT Porsche 996, finishing a strong fifth in the final results.
Let us first take a look in Division 2, where the cup cars of the previous generation will be doing battle with the new GT4s. Next to the GT3s, the GT4s undoubtedly represent the future in GT racing and for the first time a GT4-car will be at the start of a Belgian 24 Hours event. Both Accent Racing, with their Aston Martin Vantage N24, as also VDS with the Ford Mustang, will be taking on the challenge and should become the forerunners of a solid renewal in the field.
In Division 2 competition does not solely come from the Porsche-camp. Moritz Racing is entering an authentic Marcos Mantis in these Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder. This British car will undoubtedly be a pole of attraction for all aficionados of beautiful and rare sports cars during the weekend.
We then have the various Porsche 996s. In the first instance we have the Powercars Porsche 996, with the leaders in the championship Van Oost and Maes. But First Motorsport and Speedlover are entering similar cars, and taking into consideration their reliability and consumption could raise the odd eyebrow. With the De Laet-Vollebergh-Hemroulle-Verbergt quartet JD Competition also has an excellent chance of clinching an excellent result.
Quite obviously the leading trio in the Division3 championship, namely First Motorsport, Speedlover and McDonald’s Racing will ensure an excellent battle in order to make a major step towards the title. But here again a top place overall is not excluded. Let us not forget that last year the Lagrange - Nelissen-Grade – Verbist car led the race for quite a while.
In Division 3 AD Sport has every intention of improving on last year’s result. Drivers on duty are Patric Derdaele, Albert Vanierschot, Kurt Dujardyn and Ron Marchal. And then we have the Porsche 996 GT3 RS of Pulinckx, undoubtedly a serious outsider.
Last but not least the three British Ginetta G50Rs. KS Motorsport will be entering two evolutions of the GT4 from the Leeds workshops, but in addition to the Belgians there will be the visit from a top team straight out of the UK. None other than the owner of Ginetta, Lawrence Tomlinson, will be at the wheel of a third G50R, joined by Richard Dean, Danny Watts and Nigel Moore. Apart from being the owner of the British make, Tomlinson is also a renowned industrialist and former winner in GT2 at Le Mans. Both ‘Belgian’ cars will therefore be facing strong opposition from in-house.
With the De Laet-Vollebergh-Hemroulle-Verbergt quartet JD Competition also has an excellent chance of clinching an excellent result in their Porsche.
