2005 Belcar Preview
© Joost Custers

Belcar Facts & Figures
The Belgian endurance championship in its current form is at the threshold of its ninth season. 57 races have been disputed, 30 at Zolder, 20 at Spa-Francorchamps, three at Assen, two on the Nürburgring, and one at Zandvoort and Dijon. These have totaled an overall race time of 18,105 minutes or 301 hours 45’. 35 different drivers have taken an overall victory and Anthony Kumpen is still the most successful driver with 15 victories, followed by Bert Longin and Stephane Cohen (10), Vincent Dupont (9) and David Hart and Mike Hezemans (6).

If Belcar still is a mixed championship for GT and Touring Cars, the entry list shows more than ever before a strong majority of GT cars. In pure quantity, GTA and GTB count for about 75% of the grid and a top 10 or even a top 15 finish will be practically out of reach for the teams running a Touring Car.

Ahead of Round 1 at Zolder, here’s a full preview of the Belcar entries.

GTA
Even though GTB includes a number of strong Porsche 996 RS(R)s, overall victory should be a GTA affair. The top class is in good shape with 15 cars entered and the real challengers will be again GLPK, SRT, Kuismanen and PSI-Motorsport.

GLPK: (#1 Viper)
Even though Anthony Kumpen and Bert Longin might not complete the entire championship, they could still play a major role in the title outcome and on each occasion that they race, they will be frontrunners. GLPK could run also their Corvette at the Spa 6-hours in order to prepare for the FIA Spa 24 hours.

Kuismanen: (#2 Viper)
With Vincent Vosse and Duncan Huisman joining Finland’s fastest Viper, supported by good Michelin rubber, Kuismanen will be more at the front than ever. Vosse, Huisman and Kuismanen will take profit out of every mistake of SRT and GLPK to ensure a first victory for the Kuismanen Viper.

RS Racing: (#3 Porsche 996 Biturbo)
Olivier Tanghe or Verbist, depending on the calendar, will partner Ruben Maes in the ex-Manthey Porsche, The team was a remarkable newcomer last year, with a third spot in the Zolder 24 hours and a same finish in the final GTA standings. Regularity is their key word and equalling 2004 will be worth half a victory.

PSI-Motorsport: (#4 & #5 Porsche 997 & 996 Biturbo)
The arrival of Jos Menten, after two seasons with AD Sport, to partner Fred Bouvy in the brand new 997 Biturbo, should ensure at least another victory for the team.
In the other PSI-Porsche, Markus Palttala will probably star again during qualifying but on race distance, the gentleman-driver Van Sande proved not quick enough to be a real threat to the frontrunners. After the Dijon accident, Palttala and Van Sande will start the season in the team’s LMES-RSR.

AD Sport: (#6 Porsche 996 Biturbo)
Wauters-Wauters (right) are most likely regular top five runners and certainly to be watched in the Zolder 24 hours.

SRT: (#7 Corvette C5R)
The Corvette should simply win this year, not only races but also the GT-title. Marc Goossens now has sufficient experience to guarantee a perfect set-up and he is of course very fast. David Hart is also a very experienced endurance driver and a perfect match for the team.

Van Moerkerke / Speedworx: (#8 & #17 Stealth B6)
Both Stealth B6s are welcome exotic touches for Belcar. The British GT proved to be competitive last year and in the hands of Keen and Greensall it could be a real surprise, even if a limited number of races puts them out of championship competition.

Ham Car: (#9 Porsche 996 Biturbo)
This entry is an old-generation biturbo, in competition with GTB-runners for a top 10 finish.

TT Racing: (#10 Audi TT V8)
This Belgian team is sure to perform better than last year with their Audi TT. A top 10 in the Spa Racing Festival was a highlight in 2005 and proved the value of this project.

Gabriël Racing: (#12 Porsche 996 Biturbo)
See Ham car

ERG: (#14 Marcos LM600)
The Marcos LM600 is always a very nice car to see in competition. Both Weisenburger and Virtanen are also quick drivers but will this be enough to ensure a place among the top for this somewhat dated car?

Eurotech Racing: (#15 Marcos Mantis)
This car is actually a GTB but owing to further developments, the Dutch squad has to run in GTA. If power will be a problem, reliability could still ensure a good finish, certainly in the longer races.

LVC: (#17 BMW Z3 Coupé V8)
It’s good to see the BMW back on track after its horrible accident in last year’s 24 hours but even the top 10 could be a problem.

GTB
GTB really is booming business. 26 entries make this class the most popular in Belcar. In the past the GTB championship battle was always a thriller.

Reigning champions Lefort / Lambert move up to LMES and so GTB is open again. Even though BMW Z3, Marcos, Gillet, Mazda and Saker give a touch of the exotic to GTB, the title debate will be, most likely, a Porsche GT3-R(S) monologue. With eight of those, backed by another 10 Cup versions and one Porsche Boxster, it will be almost impossible to beat the German GT racers.

Russel Racing: (#21 Porsche GT3-RS)
Frank and Hans Thiers are GTB frontrunners and this should be their year after two runner-up positions and two GTB victories in the Zolder 24 hours.

Markant: (#25 Porsche GT3-RS)
The Antwerp team enters three cars, with the ex-Seikel GT3-RS for De Laet and Vollebergh being the frontrunner. Not only this a well proven chassis, with three Le Mans starts, Markant also has a full spec 2004 RSR engine. After a strong third in 2004, this could be the surprise of GTB.

AD Sport: (#29 Porsche GT3-R)
AD boss Albert Vanierschot and former Belcar champion Patrick Schreurs make little fuss about their entry but they will be without doubt a strong GTB line-up. Also to be watched in the Zolder 24 hours.

GPR Racing: (#30 Porsche GT3-RS)
Nicolas de Gastines already proved his value at the wheel of a Porsche and he is now partnered by the youngest Belcar driver ever; 16-year old Alexandre De Bock, a Formula Renault youngster.

S&P Racing: (Porsche GT3-R)
Patrick Ceusters and Steve Metior will certainly confirm their progress, already noticed last year.

Penders-Lamot: (Porsche 996 GT3-RS)
Is it possible to beat the 2002 and 2003 GTB champion? Rudi Penders and Franz Lamot both have a strong GTB record and will not be satisfied with second best.

Point Preparation: (Porsche 996 GT3-RS)
The British team comes back to Belcar after a difficult season with the Viper. They should do much better this year.

PSI Motorsport: (#45 Porsche 996 GT3-RSR)
It’s a pity that we won’t see Simon Harrison and Anthony Beltoise every race, because this is by far the strongest line-up in GTB and probably the only one able to bother the big guys.

The only teams that are able to beat the Porsche in GTB are the Qvick Motorsport and Belgium Racing Ultima GTRs (#33 & #34). A podium finish was their best result in 2004, will they be able to really beat the Zuffenhausen product?

Among the Touring Cars, only the BMW M3 GTR of Georg Severich and TB-champion Arvid Steinberg could have the potential to finish as high as a top 10. Last year, this same car, in the hands of Georg Severich and Gino Kenis, had one top 10 finish.