Ruben Maes: "I just want to drive a consistent race..." Youngster Ruben Maes will be present at the Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder already for his 4th time. We remember Ruben grabbing his very first opportunity at the Zolder 24 Hours with both hands, with confidence and ambition. Yet he is also a modest guy – a regular guy, feeling at home just about anywhere. That’s not just in West-Flanders and the rest of Belgium, yet also throughout Europe.
“I got my best 24 Hours result last year at Zolder”, tells the Ingelmunster-based youngster. “We were third overall and the satisfaction was just great. It’s also my best memory for this Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder. You never forget your first podium in a race like this. The feeling is just ‘huge’ and it certainly helps you improving even further.”
“We’re entering our same old car, yet with a completely new chassis. After the crash and the fire it suffered at the Spa Euro Race the car had to be rebuilt completely. It was a fierce fire, destroying quite a lot of the internals. Yet we didn’t sit back and now the car is almost ready. My personal ambition is to just put in a consistent effort and a good pace. Given the very fierce competition I will be very happy with a top-5 ranking – or at first, let’s make it to the finish first.”
Let’s also look back briefly to the victory of Rudy Maes (Ruben’s father) in 1993: They had a Porsche 993 RS, almost in ‘showroom condition’… They fitted the license plates and went off to Zolder, asked for a race subscription, got accepted and… eventually we won! “Living through such a race has proved a unique experience, even today. An experience for my father, that is. I myself am hopeful to be on top of the podium some day. Still today’s race is not to be compared with the old times. What my father did was truly unique and I’m very glad you guys didn’t forget about that. Today’s cars very different and the physical preparation as well. Almost every driver is taking professional training. My dad used to work hard for it, yet not at the gym…”
“Getting the right sponsorships also was a completely different matter in those days. That’s why we appreciate the 24u.be initiative, bringing us a far larger audience in Belgium and abroad. It’s also a great help for people unable to make it to the race track. They get behind their computer and follow things up close. And that’s to all motorsports freaks, personal supporters, sponsors and ‘regular people’. This Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder event is really open to everyone. So no excuses, be there! At the track or on the web!"
(DDS)
Photo: Marnik Mouchaers
 VZW 24u.be - Jan-Frans Lemmens on Tuesday 2 August 2005 at 11:45. | 
