NGT Racing: "Taking it to the finishing and scoring those points" That's the message NGT Racing is bringing to itself and to it's drivers. The 996 GT3 Supercup Porsche from NGT is one of the few unmodified Supercups in the Belcar field. It's a drawback kon one hand, as it will be one of the slower cars in this Porsche armada. Yet on the other hand it's clearly an advantage as this Porsche Motorsport original is recognized one of the most reliable cars in the field. In this kind of endurance racing it's an important trump card. Drivers for this event will be the Marc Maton/Heinz Bonnaerens/Ward Sluys/ Rigo Meys quartet.
Heinz Bonnaerens and Philippe Jacobs have already shown the potential of the brand new Porsche GT3 Supercup, scoring a 13th overall and 7th in GTB at the season opening New Race Festival. During practice sessions Philippe Jacobs put in a very respectable 1'40"43 while the Jacobs/Bonnaerens duo was easily lapping 1'43 during the race. Later the Porsche was handed to Marc Maton and Dennis Bogemans. At Brands Hatch it went all wrong when a gear shifting mistake sent the engine off to motorsports heavens. NGT is playing safe and had the engine totally refurbished by Porsche Motorsport, only keeping the original crankshaft and the original block. Also the clutch pressuring, the wheel hubs have been changed out of precaution. The only evolution on the car is some additional front brake disc cooling, taken from the RSR.
Marc Maton: "We will benefit from the fact we're starting with an original Supercup as it will improve reliability and lower fuel consumption. On the other hand we'll have to live with a 100L fuel tank, whereas other Porsches will be allowed 120L fuel tanks. Our target is to stick to a regular pace lapping around in 1'46 while making the least possible pit stops. That's how you move up in the rankings. I'm very confident in the team. Those guys are no natural sprinters and there will be no competition whatsoever within the team. The most important thing is to hand the car to the next driver in the best possible shape. If we can manage that, and avoid all the pot-holes and traps around the track, I think we could have a very good result. "
Other pilots agree to that philosophy. Ward Sluys and Rigo Meys have no real competition experience on the Porsche. Yet they do have enough competition rhythm to tame the GT3. Meys is currently also driving the Zolder Touring Cup on an BMW M3 while having experienced last year's Zolder 24 Hours on a BMW. Ward Sluys, second in TB class at last year's Belcar championship on a Seat Cupra, has always been dreaming about driving the Porsche: "I have total confidence in the NGT Racing team. It's an honest and friendly team and the car is brand new, giving us very good hopes to bring it to the finish." Both NGT newcomers are clearly preferring endurance racing over sprint races.
Also Heinz Bonnaerens will be present once more. Heinz started his season at NGT, yet limited budgets kept him away for some time. "It's a sad thing, yet things are looking much better for the next season. I'm hoping to drive the entire championship next year. Of course it will be at NGT once again, as the equipment is perfect, as is the spirit within the team. For the upcoming 24 Hours I'm hoping our original Supercup will compensate for the lack of mere speed by limited fuel consumption. Few pit stops and consistent lap times will bring us to the front ranks in GTB. We will be keeping the same pace in the dark. At least I am. I'm highly motivated and razor sharp", comments Bonnaerens.
Marc Maton concludes thanking companies SMC, Tyneso and Granville for providing the necessary funding to recover from the engine failure at Brands Hatch and have it rebuilt by Porsche Motorsport.
(PDS/NGT)
 VZW 24u.be - Jan-Frans Lemmens on Saturday 20 August 2005 at 16:14. | 
