Belcar – Brands Hatch – Qualifying
’Local’ Expert Takes Pole – Noise Problem Rumbles On
© Joost Custers

Several cars were missing on the definitive entry list: the #14 Marcos LM6000, #16 BMW Z3, #18 TVR Cebrera, #35 Porsche 996 GT3-RS, #44 Marcos Mantis, #45 Porsche 996 GT3-RS. This makes ‘only’ 44 cars for this race abroad, it must be ages ago that Belcar had such a small entry.

The first qualifying was held on an oily, slippery track with odd-numbered cars going out first. The SRT Corvette sets the quickest time in the opening laps. Marc Goossens set a 1.27.285.

After 10 minutes the session was red flagged owing to an off by the #4 PSI Red Bull Porsche and the #5 PSI Porsche; a team building mission?

The order is: #7 Corvette, #5 Biturbo (below), #4 Biturbo, #2 Viper (above) and a surprising #15 Eurotech Marcos.

Seven minutes before the end, the #4 PSI driven by Jos Menten takes provisional pole – so no Corvette on provisional pole so far, what a surprise.

"Well, I did not know that I set provisional pole until I came in, as my radio wasn't working. But I guess Marc Goossens will strike back later on," commented Jos Menten one week after his Spa 12 hours win.

Top 5
1. #4 PSI Biturbo 1.25.994
2. #7 SRT Corvette 1.27.128
3. #2 Kuismanen Viper 1.27.285
4. #5 PSI Biturbo 1.28.855
5. #6 AD Biturbo 1.30.182

7. #57 Khan GT3-RS (GTB) 1.31.122 (GTB)
8. #72 GS M3 GTR 1.31.195 (T)

Second Qualifying
After some noise worries, with the teams coming up with all sorts of inventive solutions to reduce their exhaust noise levels to less than 118 dB, all the cars finally got through the noise test – and so all the cars (44 of them) went out for second qualifying.

The opening stages of the session were rather dull but after 15 minutes, the Viper (Vosse) set a 1.26.926 and took second. A few moments later, Vosse again sets a better time, 1.26.578. Ricky Cole was also getting faster all the time, the Xero Corvette having been a little short in the brake department this morning.

Most of the cars do not seem to be bettering times, except for Marc Goossens of course. He had (cautiously) predicted a 1:25 – and took pole in 1.25.632 and then did it again, with a 1.24.460. What a man. This is the circuit where Marc Goossens won the F Ford Festival in 1991.

Thiers took pole in GTB in the closing stages.

Top 10
1. #7 SRT Corvette 1.24.460
2. #4 PSI Biturbo 1.25.994
3. #2 Kuismanen Viper 1.26.578
4. #5 PSI Biturbo 1.28.855
5. #6 AD Biturbo 1.30.182
6. #15 Eurotech Mantis 1.30.632
7. #57 Khan Porsche 1.31.122
8. #72 GS M3 GTR 1.31.195
9. #20 Xero Corvette 1.31.615
10. #21 Thiers Porsche 1.32.392.

Here's a selection from the fascinating Belcar field. The repaired Mini of the ladies (Ickx and van de Velde), the Maes / Tanghe / Verbist Bi Turbo Porsche at Surtees, (hanging the tail out), Lamot or Penders having a moment at Druids in #31, the #71 Belien / Jakobs V8 M3 GTR, the Xero Corvette ahead of the #75 Keersmaecker / Smets V8 M3, the interesting Saker (having a moment at Druids) and finally the Qvick / Geoffroy Ultima (#33).

All 44 of them will be up to their Belcar mischief on Sunday at 12.10.