At halfway mark ProSpeed takes lead following blown tyre on the Delahaye Mégane

Not a perfect race for Delahaye Racing Team. The Ferrari F430 GT3 is experiencing starting problems in the pitlane and the Renault Mégane Trophy has also just had to endure a first misfortune. Following a spotless beginning the car bearing number six comes into the pits with a blown tyre. The damage is limited and Soulet is soon back under way. ProSpeed Competition takes full advantage and Louis Machiels is able to bring the Porsche 996 GT3 RSR into the lead. The Liege based Porsche finds irsled one and a half laps ahead, but Delahaye are not giving up. The attack offensive comes from the Renault Mégane, whilst First Motorsport and the Delahaye Ferrari quartet play leap-frog. "We continue to stick to our strategy ", Delahaye-team manager Gilles Terlinden commented.

First Motorsport experienced a brake problem, whilst the Ferrari F430 GT3 of Delahaye Francorchamps Motors Racing Team made no less than sixteen pitstops. As a comparison: the First Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S has only nine visit to the pitlane to its name. The Ferrari has difficulty moving off from standstill and has to be pushed by the mechanic each time. The regulations state that push-starting is not allowed and is penalised each time with a Stop & Go. The top-five is rounded off by Speedlover, who with the Hemroulle-Verbergt-van Hover-Raus quartet have a well run first half of the race under their belts. "The wheel bearings have caused us some worries. The pace is far higher than last year. Hopefully the car will hold out ", Jürgen van Hover commented.

Both Chrysler Viper GTS-R are sticking together like brothers in sixth ad seventh place. AD Sport presently has the upper hand over Kuismanen Competition, but Duncan Huisman an Eric Behrens are starting to strongly rear their heads with the Finnish Viper. Eighth overall... still the Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 of JD Competition by KS. The beautiful Italian is still amazing friend and foe alike and the drivers are driving a faultless race. De Laet, Vollenbergh, and the Van der Zwaan brothers are heading for fourth place in the Belgian GT, with a view on the podium in Division 1. The top-ten is completed by the BMW M3 Silhouette #21 of KS Motorsport and the BMW M3 GTR of Moore International Motorsport.

Unlucky teams of the last few hour:
Scuderia Monza - Dodge Viper Competition Coupé (engine - retirement)
Ostend Racing - BMW M3 (various problems)
VDS Racing Adventures - Ford Mustang FR500 GT3 (rear axle)
VDS Racing Adventures - Ford Mustang FR500 GT4 (rear axle)
Recy Racing Team - BMW 120d (turbo pressure)
AD Sport - Porsche 996 Biturbo (various problems)
KS Motorsport - BMW M3 Silhouette (accelerator cable)
Accent Racing Team - Dodge Viper Competition Coupé (retirement)

The input from the VDS Racing Adventures team has been admired by the other teams. Both cars have now spent hours in the pits, but Raphaël van der Straeten is still keeping both Mustangs on the track! Over these last few hours the adventurers have more or less rebuilt both cars. Hopefully the American muscle cars can hold out until the end of the race.

The top ten overall:
1. #60 ProSpeed Competition - Porsche 996 GT3 RSR - 423 laps
2. #6 Delahaye Racing Team - Renault Mégane Trophy +2 laps
3. #3 Delahaye Francorchamps Motors Racing Team - Ferrari F430 GT3 +4 laps
4. #50 First Motorsport - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S +7 laps
5. #20 Speedlover - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup +15 laps
6. #14 AD Sport - Chrysler Viper GTS-R +21 laps
7. #12 Kuismanen Competition - Chrysler Viper GTS-R + 23 laps
8. #10 JD Competition by KS - Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 +24 laps
9. #21 KS Motorsport - BMW M3 Silhouette +27 laps
10. #7 Moore International Motorsport - BMW M3 GTR +37 laps

VZW 24u.be - Gordon McKay on Sunday 23 August 2009 at 04:18.