29 augustus 2008Kumpen-Longin-Radermecker (Mosler) on pole for the Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder
We had to wait until the end of the fourth and final qualifying session to find out who would be the pole man for this thirtieth edition of the Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder, starting this Saturday at 16.00hrs.
On Wednesday evening Vincent Radermecker had already clarified MI Gravity International's ambitions by registering a fast lap of 1.34.374. However it was Maxime Soulet, who actually left the track on Wednesday evening as leader. During the Thursday sessions the pole was then initially held by Jeffrey Van Hooydonk, with a keen 1.33.707. But at Gravity they hadn't said their final word and in the last session Kumpen fully confirmed their intentions.
A few minutes after a neutralisation in the final session the four times winner went out to seek out his pole; resulting in a remarkable time of 1.33.017 and pole position. "I'm satisfied and on top of that this car is far easier to handle than the car we have been racing with all season", Kumpen explained, who also saw his car (a Corvette Z06) grab pole last year. "The car has far less understeer. We have put together a strong team and only three drivers is definitely not a disadvantage. I really want that fifth victory here in Zolder."
Behind Kumpen we find Van Hooydonk in the A+ Viper, ahead of the GPR Porsche - GPR who will be defending last year's title with the Soulet-Franchi-Leinders-Kelders quartet - and the Viper of Jan Heylen, Patrick Schreurs and the Wauters brothers. Between the second and fourth places we have but a mere thousandth of second in difference.
Further in the top-10 we find both Ferraris from Sport Garage (where Pedro Lamy will be arriving on Saturday) and Delahaye (with the Vanina Ickx and Alexandra Van de Velde ladies), the NGT and Prospeed Porsche - undoubtedly amongst the favourites - and who are sandwiching the G&A Mosler in. The top-10 is completed by the Lamborghini Gallardo of Ceuster-Haane and the Van der Zwaan brothers, giving us five different makes amongst this top-10.
At the wheel of the Porsche 997 Cup, which almost won last year, we find François Verbist, the fastest in Division 3 (he did need his joker having dived under the norm time of 1.36) and leads the Porsche 996 RS of Pulinx-Menten-Palttala-Fumal.
The best performer in Division 2 was the Porsche 996 GT3 Cup of Van Oost - Van Delm - Van Elslander - Van Rossem, just ahead of the fastest sprinter in the Division 4 'guest' class, the Ginetta G50R of Vanbellingen-Vandermaesen-Redant-De Crem.
Mention should also be made regarding the highly original and excellent sounding Ford Mustang GT4 which finished in 27th place, just behind the Aston Martin Vantage N24 of Cracco-Van Audenhove-Jennen-Peeters, both the only real GT4s in the field.
The starting order
1. Longin-Kumpen-Radermecker (Mosler MT900) 1.33.017 ; 2. Van Hooydonk-Dierick-Nef-De Doncker (Dodge Viper) + 0.690 ; 3. Soulet-Franchi-Leinders-Kelders (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S) + 0.827; 4. Wauters-Wauters-Schreurs-Heylen (Dodge Viper) + 0.829; 5. Vosse-Renard-Lamy-Zacchia (Bel-Bel-Por-Sui/Ferrari F430) + 0.857; 6. Bouvy-Coens-V.Ickx-Van de Velde (Ferrari F430) + 1.002; 7. Couwberghs-Maes-"Heinz"-Sluys (Porsche 997 Cup S) + 1.154; 8. Kenis-De Keersmaeker-Mattheus-Smets (Mosler MT900) + 1.697; 9. Penders-Lamot-Loix-Lémeret (Porsche 997 Cup S) + 1.717; 10. Ceusters-Haane-Van der Zwaan-Van der Zwaan (Lamborghini Gallardo) + 2.020;... 12. Lagrange-Nelissen Grade-Verbist-Leest (Porsche 997 Cup S) + 2.686 (1ste D3); 18. Van Oost-Van Delm-Van Rossem-Van Elslander (Porsche 996 Supercup) + 7.315 (1st D2); 19. Vanbellingen-Vandermaesen-Redant-De Crem (Ginetta G50) + 7.600 (1st D4)
