Jo Jamers: "Maintaining third place and hoping for podium"The Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder starting at Saturday August 27, will also be the fifth race in the Mediagroup Van Dyck Belcar championship. Moreover, it's the most important and most inspiring race of the season. Not only a wearing battle for men and machines, this is also a race scoring double points for the championship (25% after six hours, 25% after 12 hours and 50% at the chequered flag). Traditionally the Zolder 24 Hours brings quite some changes to the overall championship rankings... in which First Motorsport is playing an important role.
Team leader Jo Jamers indicated before leaving to Brands Hatch that he would be doing the utmost to maintain his fourth overall ranking in the GTB class. The team did very well and even moved up to third in class with the Porsche 996 GT3 Supercup driven by Van Rompuy/Van Loo. Leest/Jeuris are meanwhile 16th, yet within 20 point of a top-5 ranking. As there are 40 points to be earned in GTB class they could also go for a top-10 or higher ranking.
First Motorsport decided to enter two Porsches GT3 Supercup for this 24 Hours even. The first being driven by Dirk Van Rompuy, Johan Van Loo, Kelly Jamers ans Henk Haane (already replacing Van Rompuy at Brands Hatch). This #37 car is currently third in GTB. A second, identical car will be manned by Wim Jeuris, Kevin Leest, Frank Beliën and Bob Van Roey.
Jo Jamers: "Last year we managed to get to the GTB podium unexpectedly at the Zolder 24 Hours. It was only the second appearance of this car in Belcar.
If we can replicate this hat trick I'll be a very happy man. It would allow for us to consolidate our championship position. The second car could also greatly benefit from a good finish. Still we have to face the truth. The GT3 Supercup Porsches will not be the fastest among the very competitive GTB field. We have to play on the Supercup's legendary reliability and limit any evolutions to the car that could compromise it. I have saved neither effort or money to get these cars on the grid in the best possible shape. The engines and the gear boxes have been completely revised. And we will also be fitting new Moton shock absorbers. Given the speed of the competition we're not hoping to score many points at the six hour mark. Our drivers will have to stick to target lap times around 1"44s. They will mainly be using their heads, instead of their right feet. As the race unfolds we will adapt our strategy to our championship hopes. Hoping we can still rely on a good car, we might be pulling a little sprint at the end. I know a Supercup is nog supposed to be on a third spot, yet consistency will be our weapon. Getting that class podium will be tremendously difficult, yet it's not unreal at all", concludes the Zolder-based tuner.
(PDS/First)  VZW 24u.be - Jan-Frans Lemmens on Friday 19 August 2005 at 12:57. | 
