Anthony Kumpen going for fifth victory? Anthony Kumpen has become a true heavyweight in Belgian track-based motorsports. The Hasselt, Belgium based youngster has already won the 24 Hours of Zolder four times, each time on the GLPK Racing Chrysler Viper GTS-R. Last year Kumpen was looking for his fifth victory, yet the car didn’t even make it to midnight due to a crash. The Viper was rebuilt and sold to AD-Sport. For this year’s Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar Original he chose a Corvette C5-R as his favorite weapon.
“This will be my ninth 24 Hours of Zolder”, Anthony Kumpen tells us. “It is actually a very hard race as the track is very harsh on the car and it’s pilots. Hence it’[s extremely important to build a well balanced scheme into the effort. I think our experience will prove a major asset. Of course I’m hoping for a fifth victory, which would make me the sole record holder at Zolder… Yet everything has to be on my side."
 On the Corvette C5-R Kumpen will be assisted by Bert Longin and Mike Hezemans. The threesome has proven very successful in previous Zolder 24 hours editions. “We’ll be very well prepared, that’s for sure”, says a confident Bert Longin. “Some 20 people are working hard to get our Corvette C5-R on the grid in perfect shape. The team also has a huge 24 Hours experience. I have also run some fifteen 24 hours races. Three of which I won and another ten were podium finishes.”
“Racing around the clock is all about preparation”, Longin continues. “Hans Saenen will be constructing a small village, consisting of two motorhomes, a massage truck and a tent. Next to that we also prepare a massage table and a race bike on rollers. Why the bike? After every stint we have to get the milk acids out of our bodies an biking is perfect for that. This will allow us to stay fit for the entire week. Otherwise we also use regular fitness training, yet less intensive and focused on endurance: that’s longer trainings, with less weight and more repetition. Also my eye trainer put on a special programme to improve my performance in the dark. Lastly nutrition will be a decisive factor. Light digestive meals and pastas are the key to success."
Bert Longin leaves us with the following anecdotic story: “Some years ago there was this extremely long safety car period during the 24 Hours of Zolder. Believe it or not, I truly falling asleap in the race car. I had to be talking to Hans over the radio about lots of stupid things just to stay awake. Thanks to the chatting I was able to stay focused and ultimately win the race. That’s a result I want to repeat this year!"
Foto's: Martijn Wouters
 VZW 24u.be - Jan-Frans Lemmens on Monday 7 August 2006 at 14:00. | 
