21 October 2009Final Belgian GT Zolder: two titles and quite a few referees
Within the framework of an exceptionally appealing final major motorsport weekend at Circuit Zolder, with the last races of the FIA GT, FIA GT3 and BTCS, the Belgian GT Championship Mediagroep Van Dyck is also reaching its final dénouement.
The weekend promises to be highly thrilling and the combined field of the FIA GT3 and the Belgian GT, with some 50 cars, will undoubtedly add to it. “What with the final FIA GT3 race in Dubai being cancelled the FIA were on the look out for an alternative”, Christian Lahaye commented. “There will therefore be one race with both GT3 championships, the European and the Belgian, but in order to allow for a fair battle, and in both championships the title is still for the taking, Stéphane Ratel requested that both packs be kept split, with a separate start. The ‘European’ GT3s will take the start some 30 seconds ahead of the ‘Belgians’. There will in fact be 17 Belgian GT3s, a perfect way in which to finish off the season. But you mustn’t compare the two championships, as the Belgians will be carrying additional weight and will be shod with harder Michelin-rubber, as per the Belgian regulations.”
As previously stated, 17 cars in the BGT will be at the start, with amongst them a few surprising new names. In Division 1 they are: a ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S for Franz Lamot and the Brit Richard Westbrook, the Ferrari of Chad Racing with Ian Dockerill and Dan Brown, the Laudi Viper for Van Moerkerke and Val Hillebrand and a second Barwell Aston Martin DBRS9 for the British pair Paul Wight and Andy Ruhan, whilst the first Aston in the orange and blue Gulf livery will be in the hands of Eddy Renard joined by Maxime Soulet. This weekend Vincent Vosse will therefore be stepping aside.
And then we also have the outsiders: the Ferrari 430 of Delahaye-Francorchamps Motors for Fred Bouvy and Damien Coens, the Kuismanen Racing Ford GT3 and the two Lamborghini Gallardo of KS Motorsport as referees in a thrilling battle for the title....
In the fight for the title nine points separate the two protagonists, namely Jeffrey Van Hooydonk and Koen Wauters and the one hand with Jean-François Hemroulle and Tim Verbergt on the other.
“Notwithstanding the nine points in arrears we are going for a fourth title with Tim and Audi”, an ambitious Hemroulle remarked. “But it does mean that we have to clinch both victories, with the immediate competition not achieving anything better than twice a third place. The Viper might perform less well at Zolder than in Spa, due to the brakes and consumption, but then neither were we up to it in Zolder at the beginning of the season. A fair amount has now improved since the beginning of the season and in no small measure thanks to the efforts of Team Phoenix. They are competing for both the European and Belgian title, and following their crash at Paul Ricard, we are receiving a brand new chassis. We are in fact carrying 80 kilos on board, as per the Belgian regulations.”
Jeffrey Van Hooydonk and Koen Wauters are keeping a cool head under the pressure and definitely do not wish to jump the gun...
Jeffrey Van Hooydonk: “I don’t consider ourselves to be the favourites, we know we have difficulties with our brakes at Zolder, it is and remains a weak point. On top of that we have high fuel consumption, which would mean carrying out a splash and dash during the change-over. But that is not allowed and I fear that by the end of the race, unless there is a safety car procedure or it rains, that problems might arise. But all the same, everyone has their advantages and disadvantages and the Audi is carrying a heavier load than our Viper... Our entire team is highly motivated, we’re definitely going for it and we’ll see what transpires on Sunday evening...”
In addition to the driver’s title, there is also a battle amongst the teams between KRK and First Motorsport, the latter entering a Porsche for François Verbist and Bert Longin. Here also the knives are sharpened, “and we’re going to do everything in our power to win”, the red hot Clio Cup champion Verbist commented.
There’s definitely no reason for not coming on down to Circuit Zolder...
