Erik Qvick relying upon a consistent team effort Ostend-based tuner Erik Qvick will be lining up for the start of the Zolder 24 Hours for the seventh time now. Qvick will already be remembered in Belcar history as the one giving birth to the Mini Cooper S3. And there's more... In 2002 he managed to take the honours in the Touring division, and finishing 9th overall. Crossing the finish line the Mini S3 received a standing ovation from the Zolder 24 Hours crowd.
"Obviously that's my best memory about the Zolder 24 Hours", Erik Qvick admits. "Most people had been deeming it impossible for us to even finish that race on the Mini. We not only made it to the finish, we even won the Touring Division... It was a euphoric feeling. Winning a race with your own car, developed and built entirely in your own workshop is close to realising your ultimate dream."
 In 2004 the Mini S3 was moved to the Daikin Racing team, also managing to win the Touring division at the New Race Festival. At that time Qvick was already busy with yet another project: the Ultima GTR. Once again it's a car developed entirely by Erik Qvick's own workshop. The car is made up of a tubular chassis using a BMW M3 engine, capable of producing over 400hp. The feather light 980kg Ultima GTR has also been fitted a six-way sequential gearbox. In this year's Belcar championship the Ultima GTR is competing for the top ranks in the GTB class.
Next to having a fast, beautiful and highly reliable car, the team has one more trump card to play: the very consistent 4-headed driver line-up for the Euphony 24 Hours of Zolder. Usual suspects Erik Qvick and Christophe Geoffroy are joined by Belcar regulars Peter Van Delm and Martial Chouvel. Each one of them is an experienced driver with a proven track record in endurance racing. This could make the difference in the end through this very demanding race – both on the car and on the drivers.
(DDS)
Foto's: Marnik Mouchaers
 VZW 24u.be - Jan-Frans Lemmens on Friday 12 August 2005 at 11:40. | 
