Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder: reactions after the warm-up

Pedro Lamy - Sport Garage: "A great car, but not that easy to handle. The ABS which slots in now and again, it's a question of getting used to it! Was my lap time good? The car does have more potential! Once I get into my rhythm I'll be able to see what the car's possibilities really are. We don't have to start from the back, notwithstanding the fact that I didn't drive the compulsory night laps during the qualifying session. I won back in 2004 so I reckon I still know the track quite well.."

Michael De Keersmaecker - G&A Racing: "We're definitely in with a chance. Everyone was able to see how fragile the Porsches were in Francorchamps and the Ferraris aren't 100% reliable either. To be truthful the competition will be strong. We'll be running our own race and won't be influenced by the battle confusion. Will the car hold out this year? Last year we experienced some faulty material, whereas our retirement in Spa was due to an earlier race incident. The Mosler is in the same successful configuration as back in 2006. "

David Loix - ProSpeed Competition: "This is the most professional Porsche-team of the bunch, so I expect to find a great car. In Francorchamps we experienced a broken driveshaft, but that should now be solved. We used the warm-up to carry out a few minor checks Such matters as: radio, drink bottle, ... all sorts of things you always presume to be working properly. Our objective? At least a podium place, and if possible the overall victory."

Patrick Derdaele - Belgium Racing: "You can rest assured that this will be a heavy race. I'll first be racing with the Ultima in the DSMEC, and following on from that I'll be in a Porsche 996 Biturbo for the 24 Hours. The Ultima is more like a kart, whereas the Porsche feels like a real car. This is the second race for me with the Biturbo, after Albert and I competed with it in the 6 Hours of Senegal. We led the race for five hours and then had to retire with a burst tyre... but as I said earlier it will be a long and heavy race. Difficult to forecast anything. Everyone knows that the 24Hours of Zolder is over and above all to do with 'endurance'. The car is reliable, and I have a good feeling, but the prizes re only handed out after crossing the finish line."

Marc Maton - team manager NGT Racing: "The warm-up didn't turn out that well for us. The gearbox and clutch appear to be the Achilles heel of this car. It's a good job that we experienced the problem during the warm-up! Hopefully my drivers will spare the material and that we have a problem free race. "

Ward Sluys - NGT Racing: "A question of getting used to things! Brake, throttle blip and gear change must be perfectly synchronised; otherwise the material suffers too much. Luckily I have a great teacher in Bart Couwberghs. I reckon we can finish on the podium with our quartet, as long as we are speared any problems. It's known fact hat here in Zolder the one who spends the least amount of time in the pits has a greater chance of grabbing a podium place. "

Maxime Soulet - GPR Pino Racing: "We're defending the title and we are the outgoing winners. We have to hold our reputation high. Objective? You're joking? Victory of course!"

Pino Sperlinga - team manager GPR Pino Racing: "After the 24 Hours of Spa the gearbox was given the once over and in my opinion we have the perfect package with which to bring this race to a perfect ending!"

VZW 24u.be - Gordon McKay on Saturday 30 August 2008 at 11:36.