NGT wins 30th edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder - MPM on podium after a thrilling finish!Once again the Menzo 24 Hours of Zolder was a wear and tear battlefield for both man and machine. As dawn broek we saw a few protagonists disappear from the scene. KRK Racing experienced some heavy blows, as did MPM Racing by Verbist and ProSpeed Competition. In KRK's case the final drive had melted and the differential was broken, whilst MPM had to sort out a damaged drive shaft and ProSpeed twice had to carry our repairs on the clutch.
NGT Racing played it cool. Marc Maton sent his troops out on to the track with the assignment not to overwork the clutch and gearbox. Ruben Maes, Bart Couwberghs, Heinz Bonnaerens and Ward Sluys carried out their assignment brilliantly and after 800 laps took the chequered flag and the laurels.
Behind the NGT Porsche First Motorsport had full control over their second place. Last year's Porsche 997 GT3 Cup did reach the finish line this year, with eight laps ij arrears of the victorious Porsche. For third place it remained extremely exciting right through to the end. Markus Palttala and Fred Bouvy fought for every single meter and finally it was the fuel consumption of both cars that was to be the crucial factor for the outcome.
Some ten minutes before the end of the race the battle for third place was decided, when Palttala needed to come in for a splash en dash. Bouvy was then able to slot into third place. At MPM Racing by Verbist the disappointment is great: "We were so close, were it not for a drive shaft and a wheel letting us down", Jos Menten told us. "But with a fourth overall and a second place in Division 2 we can be satisfied. We came back from far and ain't over until the fat lady sings. Quite a few GT3s were charging around and it cost them dearly in the morning."
But what the Dutchman hasn't taken into account is that Palttala still has some reserve up his sleeve. The Flying Finn leaves the pits with a 12 seconds backlog and one and a half laps later he is breathing down the back of the blue Ferrari. Red Bull gives you wings, but that was not the case with Francorchamps Motors. Bouvy has to let go and Palttala retakes third place. They are overjoyed in the pitbox of the small MPM Racing by Verbist team, which had experienced an incredible race.
The fifth place goes to Speedlover, competing with a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup. For Jurgen van Hover and his team mates this also meant a podium place (third) in Division 3: "We drove our own race and didn't allow ourselves to be carried away in the battle. This turned out to be the best tactic. Just look at NGT Racing, quietly climbing on up, and the result comes of its own accord. "
Sixth place is for the A+ Viper with Van de Plas, Lumbeeck, Kuus and Werckx. ProSpeed Competition has to be contended with the seventh place for the other Porsche out of the stables of Jo Jamers. The #150 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup in the livery of TVL finishes in an excellent eighth spot and clinches victory in Division 2. Ninth overall and second in D2 is the similar Porsche of Speedlover (#164). Belgium Racing with the Porsche 996 Biturbo rounds off the top-ten.
Final results:
1. #11 NGT Racing - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S - 800 ronden
2. #250 First Motorsport - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup +6 ronden
3. #265 MPM Racing by Verbist - Porsche 996 GT3 RS +20 ronden
4. #03 Francorchamps Motors - Ferrari F430 GT3 +21 ronden
5. #264 Speedlover - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup +30 ronden
6. #07 A+ Racing - Dodge Viper Competition Coupé +33 ronden
7. #52 ProSpeed Competition - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S +33 ronden
8. #150 First Motorsport - Porsche 996 GT3 Cup +36 ronden
9. #164 Speedlover - Porsche 996 GT3 Cup +45 ronden
10. #222 Belgium Racing - Porsche 996 Biturbo +46 ronden
11. #10 JD by Astromega - Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 +47 ronden
12. #02 Scuderia Monza - Ferrari F430 GT3 +68 ronden
13. #215 JD by Astromega - Porsche 996 GT3 RS +69 ronden
14. #72 Sport Garage - Ferrari F430 GT3 +75 ronden
15. #177 Accent Racing Team - Aston Martin Vantage V8 N24 +148 ronden
16. #161 Moritz Racing - Marcos Mantis +154 ronden
17. #116 VDS Racing Adventures - Ford Mustang FR500 +243 ronden  VZW 24u.be - Gordon McKay on Sunday 31 August 2008 at 16:37. | 
