Preparatory training for the 24 Hours of Zolder 2007 IIAll those who would have come down to Zolder today expecting to see a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Zolder would have been greatly disappointed. With less than one week to go before the official practice sessions it appears that quite a few cars are either not fully race prepared or (worse news) not fully teamed up. Anyone still looking for a drive won't have far to search. Presently there are only 31 cars entered for the event. In itself not really bad for a Belcar endurance race with mainly FIA-GT3 power beasts! No doubt we'll all be wiser on Wednesday when the lights turn to green for the first practice sessions.
Belcar Original: Tom Van de Plas/Wim Lumbeek/Guido Werckx/Niels Lagrange (# 11- Dodge Viper Comp. Coupe), Marc Duez/Ruben Maes/Tim Verbergt (# 55-Porsche 997 GT3 Cup), Guillaume Dumarey/Maxime Soulet (# 56-Porsche 997 GT3 Cup), CEO Racing (# 229-Porsche 996 RSR), Kenneth Heyer (# 121-Porsche 996 GT3 Cup), Jurgen van Hover/Johan Van Loo/Stefan Tavernier/Tom Langeberg (# 8-Porsche 997 GT3 Cup), Laurent Richard/Olivier De Cock (# 119-Porsche 996 GT3 Cup), Gunther Raus/Guy Horemans/Peter Van Audenhove/Nico Clocheret (#2- Porsche 997 GT3 Cup), Bart Couwberghs (#111-Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) en de Fam Thiers (#210-Porsche 997).
Just before 6 pm father Lagrange came over to proudly tell us that his son, Niels would be reinforcing the Daikin tandem Boden/Van de Velde (#10-Dodge Viper ) during the 24 Hours of Zolder.
Belcar Endurance Cup: Danny & Guido Werckx (# 21-DMW M3 E36), Dirk De Doncker/Kristof De Neef (# 49-BMW 120d), Mario Vandenhoute/Philippe Bonneel (# 47-Mini Cooper S), Guy Verheyen (# 45-Mini Cooper S), Alain Franssen/Patrick Lamster (# 46-VW Golf 5), Jan Jacobs (# BMW M3 E46), Claude-Yves Gosselin (#7-Renault Megane) and the Fam Van de Water (# 34-BMW M3 E30).
Belcar Sprint: Pascal Struyf (# 42-Lotus Elise), Luc Vandenrijt (# 48-VW Golf 3 GTI), Harry Peeters (# 20-Mini Cooper S) and Harry Van de Water (# 2-BMW M3 E30).
Divers: Reinald Kirchner (# 51-Triumph Competition), Niels Hartvelt (# 46-BRL light), Peter Cox (#301-BMW 130i), Petroons/Renmans (# 64-BMW 130i), Smits/Cleynhens (# 54-Opel Astra), Ponet (Porsche), Franck ((# 200-Nissan), E. Baunach (# 62-Porsche) Warnier/Meynaert (Legends car) and some eight Formula Renault 1.6 amongst which those of Niels Cox/Kevin Demaerschalck/J.N. Dervisa.
Historic Formula: Th. Corneliisen (#42-F3 Classic).
Latest: Markus Palttala was on track testing out the exceptionally fast Ford GT40 FIA-GT3 of Matech-Concept-Racing based in Geneva. It took some getting used to, compared to a Mosler or Corvette this GT3 is somewhat sturdy and long.
And then there was the super and highly original "Kremer Porsche 935 Turbo Gr 5" better known as the "Vaillant-Kremer Porsche" or the "Osterhase Porsche" . This same car, driven by the Frenchman Bob Wollek came second here at Zolder in the DRM race. Today this Porsche single turbo is the proud ownership of E. Baunach. "The car is still maintained in the werkstatt of Kremer" Walter told us. And Walter should know as he's been in the service of the Cologne based company since 1973, in fact 34 years "Kraftfahrzeugtechniker" with Auto Kremer GmbH.
"Crash boom bang"
Luckily none of that, but three times the red code for (lots) of oil on the track. The Thiers family Porsche suddenly lost oil and yet still completed a further lap before anyone noticed. A Dutch Ibiza took the chicane somewhat too fast and lost part of its sump. It was over and out with an oil trail of some 30 to 40cm until just passed the Villeneuve chicane. Third and final oil victim was the CEO Racing Porsche, with a minor leak.
Forgotten someone or something? Sorry.
Back on Thursday 11th October!
Ronald Janssens
www.RJ-online.be
PDS/A+  VZW 24u.be - De redactie on Friday 31 August 2007 at 17:06. | 
