Patric Derdaele (Belgian Racing): "Is the end of the run of bad luck close?" There doesn't seem to come an end to the run of bad luck that hunts the Ultima from Belgium Racing down. Despite the fact that we always carefully prepared the English race car for every race we always had to deal with little futilities that threw us back in the rankings or caused early retirement. The most frustrating part for the pilots and the team is that during training and qualifying the car handles excellent and runs like a clock. During the three out of four races so far the Ultima was fighting for podium when Lady Fortuna decided differently. The same with our trip Brands Hatch in England we where fighting for podium when a broken wheel hub decided to start his own life. Nevertheless Belgium Racing is not going to give in. The results of Erik Qvick who with an identical car is occupying second place in Class GTB and was every race on podium proves that the Ultima is not a bad choice to reply to the armada Porsches. For the next race in line the "Euphony 24 Uren van Zolder" Patric Derdaele teams up with Johan Empsen and Stefan Verhoeven.
Patric Derdaele: "We spared neither effort nor expense to bring the Ultima in excellent shape at the start of the 24 hour race. In order to leave nothing by chance we completely dismantled the car and renewed everything that sleets. All the bearings, axels, uniballs were renewed and we even installed a new bottomplate. We installed a new engine and we overhauled the gearbox, differential, suspension and shocks. I don't know what is left to renew, overhaul or install to get a perfect car at the start of this race. The car is a jewel. We want this race to be successful in order to save our season. We want to terminate and if possible go for a good ranking.
We have spared no effort to show the capacities of the Ultima to all our sponsors and supporters. This Saturday and Sunday we have invited 650 guests and we definitely don't want to disappoint them. It costed us blood, sweat and tears and especially a lot of money to evolve the car. We're now capable of defeating the Porsches and hopefully will our investment start to pay off. So far this season we already proved that we don't have to be second to none to the Ultima of Erik Qvick and the rest of the GTB-class. I have a lot of respect for Eric Qvick, who is a very fast pilot, but it should be possible to bring both Ultima's to the podium. In Brands Hatch we almost succeeded. Hopefully we can drink champagne again at the end of this race. Not only for me and the other pilots but for the entire crew spending hours to prepare and the sponsors who made it possible to come to the start with this magnificent car.".
Maintaining the leading position.
 With the Ultima still being the problem child for Belgium Racing, things are going well for the Belgium Racing-BMW from Broodcooren/De Coster. Despite this car being on of the slowest car in the Belcar bunch it seems to be on of the most reliable ones. This duo, enforced Roland Van Asch for this 24 hour race, finished every race and this resulted in four podiums in Class TB and one in Tourism Division. Resulting in a first place in the Division Tourism and Class TB so far. Therefore the mission for this trio is simple. Finishing without taking any risk. They don't have to chase down points after 6 or 12 hours of racing. Peter Theuws replaced the old 3 li engine by a new 3.2 li. which gives more power and especially more torque. This enable lower shifting RPM's and therefore improves reliability in this war of attrition. Also the gearbox and the rear differential were overhauled. In Normal conditions the 340 bhp can not be a match for the more powerful V8 BMW's but the road is long and fragile.
 VZW 24u.be - Mark Kessen on Monday 22 August 2005 at 01:56. | 
