Kris Wauters and the Zolder endurance race Once again Kris Wauters will be at the start grid of the Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder. Along with his brother Koen, Patrick Schreurs and Erik Bruynhooghe (recovering from a foot injury) they will defend the honors of the AD Sport Team on the Porsche 996 n°6. For Kris it started quite some time ago. "It all started when we were rehearsing at at Roland Musical Instruments for (the highly successful Belgian band) Clouseau", says Kris. At the bar we were intrigued by a poster of a Mazda RX-7 racecar sponsored by Roland Musical Instruments (the car of AD Sport's Albert Vanierschot). I thought it might be fun to drive on a racetrack, hence the guy from Roland contacted Albert.
While we were merely aiming for some afternoon of fun we ended up taking advice from Albert and training hard to participate at the Zolder 24 Hours. That was back in 1993 and if I'm not mistaking we've been here ever since."
Meanwhile, we've seen 13 editions, some very good results and very nice memories for the Wauters brothers at the Zolder 24 Hours. The most beautiful memory for Kris: "My duel with Marc Goossens during the last racing hour of the 2002 edition. Goossens had tightened up a rather big gap and I was driving rather slowly as I didn't have enough fuel to finish the race on full power. Yet I decided not to give away my second position and I started driving as fast as I could. Marc started to put even more pressure, yet ultimately his gearbox couldn't withstand the strain. With only two laps remaining our second position was safe! Afterwards Marc passed me his sincere felicitations and I obviously was very pleased."
Not only the Zolder circuit is like a home ground for Kris. Taking part in the Mediagroup Van Dyck Belcar championship he visited many circuits. He successfully participated in endurance races outside this championship as well. On his resume we find a victory in the national GT class at the FIA GT 24 Hours of Spa. Indeed, our little country is big enough to have two major endurance races, though they are absolutely different. "Since the race at Spa is part of the FIA GT championship the drivers' skill level might be higher. Still the 'absolutely crazy atmosphere' is unsurpassed at Zolder" says an enthusiastic Kris. " Certainly, driving the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in a Porsche is beautiful. Some laps might be very dark at night. This problem you won't have at Zolder as the circuit stays closer around the paddock. These are just two totally different endurance races, having both their typical charms".
Just like last year the n°6 Porsche 996 will be fitted with a biturbo engine. Kris already reveals some bits of their team strategy! "The reliability of this engine is very good, certainly when driving with a moderate turbo pressure. We hope it will not get too hot, which will offer us some more hp's. Our idea is to keep a good pace during the daytime heat and to attack during nighttime" says Kris, who also has his own favourites after 12 years among racecars. "On a Belgian level I have a great admiration for Marc Duez, as he's is always been fast at various disciplines (circuit, rally and rally raid) and in various cars (Mini's, Porsches, Vipers and prototypes). However, the most spectacular things I saw with Albert Vanierschot: he does things with cars I have never seen another driver do! Internationally I'm a big fan of Valentino Rossi. I know, it's Moto GP and not even car racing, but he's a genious. Some say he will be in F1 some day."
Finally we asked Kris about his physical preparation for the Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder, which also is a true endurance effort for the drivers. " I'm a regular runner and I take fitness three times a week... depending on the Clouseau or TV business. I took fitness since a year or so, as I used to play quite some volleyball before. Yet I felt my overall shape was just not good enough to race: you have to be sharp at every corner or you will make mistakes." Mistakes is not what we're used to seeing from Kris. We've seen him on every step of the Zolder 24 Hours podium, except for one: the highest one. We strongly hope this will be that year for Kris. The 24u.be staff appreciates the time Kris Wauters has been spending with us and wishes him the best of luck at the Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder, 2005 edition.
(DDS/GH)
Foto: belcar.com
 VZW 24u.be - Jan-Frans Lemmens on Thursday 14 July 2005 at 16:07. | 
