Belcar – Zolder New Race Festival – Race Report
SRT’s Corvette Victory – The First
© Joost Custers

Drivers taking the start:
#7: Goossens
#1: Longin
#2 : Kuismanen
#4: Bouvy
#3: Maes
#6: Palttala

The major victim of the warm-up was Patrick Smets with the #75 G&A BMW M3 GTR. The BMW dealer went heavily into the wall at the exit of the Jacky Ickx chicane. Fastest time was set by Fred Bouvy (below).

Start
The #31 TT Porsche had a flat tyre on the formation lap - with #24, #25, #38, #47, #61 and #62 starting from the pitlane. Both KS-Motorsport Silhoutte BMWs had seen their qualifying times cancelled owing to an administrative fault. Steve Van Bellingen was very unhappy with this incident. Finally, the #72 GS BMW M3 GTR of Severich stays in its garage, with gearbox gremlins.

The start immediately eliminated one of the championship contenders: Fred Bouvy, driving the PSI Biturbo, made a fundamental error going through the dirty outside of the ‘Channel Corner’ and lost the car in the first lefthander. The #6 AD Sport also went off, so that made two Biturbos off. The PSI one retired, while Koen Wauters lost a few laps in the AD Porsche.

Meanwhile Goossens was fighting his way back after a somewhat hesitatant start. The battle for the lead, with the backmarkers being lapped all the time, between Longin and Goossens was furious.

Marc Goossens finally took over at the front on the seventh lap. The battle for third and fourth, between Kuismanen (#2 Viper) and Maes (#3 Porsche) was also intense. After 30 minutes, both cars were still really bumper-to-bumper.

In GTB, Palttala (above) built up a 30” gap in only 15 minutes. The real battle was behind the blond Finn, with seven GTB cars race within a handful of seconds. The #29, 31, 21 and 42 Porsches, the G&A BMW Z3 and both Ultimas were demonstrating what racing is all about.

After 35 minutes Maes missed the Jacky Ickx chicane and lost precious time by taking the pitlane entry. Palttala took advantage of the Maes error and the leader in GTB is now fourth. At the front, Longin began lapping consistently slower than Kuismanen and the 62-year old Finn was suddenly right on the tail of the GLPK Viper. In GTB, Kenis went off and spoilt his chances, while the #34 Ultima and the #29 AD 993 T (oil pressure) both struggled with mechanical problems. The #21 Thiers Porsche was also seeming to struggle.

Halfway through the 125 minute race, Gossens in the SRT Corvette led by almost a lap from the two Vipers; this was an incredible stint by the man in the C5-R.

#7 SRT Corvette 37 laps
#2 Kuismanen Viper – 1 lap
#1 GLPK Viper
#5 PSI RSR (GTB)
#3 RS Biturbo
#15 Eurotech Mantis – 2 laps
#31 TT Porsche RS (GTB)
#33 Qvick Ultima (GTB)
#37 First Porsche Cup (GTB) – 3 laps
#46 MRS Vertigo (GTB)

Kuismanen then had a disastrous pitstop, losing 40” to Anthony Kumpen, who took second place.

The Point Preparation #42 Porsche, third in GTB, lost it at the Chicane and pitted, heavily damaged; race over. The battle in GTB had other victims too. Another GTB frontrunner went off - the MRS Vertigo hit the barriers and was out on the spot (below).

PSI driver Leo Van Sande now led Penders in the TT Porsche and Geoffroy in the quick, Qvick Ultima.

Kumpen showed his talent and determination, taking 2” to 3” per lap out of Hart’s advantage – but the Corvetet driver responds.

Suddenly, the Audi TT went off very heavily and the Safety Car appeared. Will a race incident again decide the result, as happened so often last year? Penders took advantage and closed in on Van Sande - the difference under the SC now only 8”. Third is still Geoffroy, but a lap behind. Right after the green flag, Penders took over the lead of GTB.

Hart was able to lap in 1:35, and seemed in control of the race – but with 14 minutes to go, Kumpen suddenly came in for a stop & go, so that was it as far as the race for the win was concerned. The GLPK Viper had overtaken under yellow.

After 125 minutes, Hart took the chequered flag – for the first win for the SRT Corvette (and first win for a privateer C5-R, and first win win in Europe too).

Result
1. Selleslagh Racing Team Chevrolet Corvette 74 laps
2. GLPK Racing Chrysler Viper +1:29.395
3. Kuismanen Competition Chrysler Viper +1
4. RS Motors Porsche 996 Biturbo +2
5. TT Racing Porsche 996 GT +2 (GTB)
6. PSI Motorsport Porsche GT3-RS +3 (GTB)
7. Eurotech Racing Marcos Mantis +4
8. Qvick Motors Ultima GTR +5 (GTB)
9. First Motorsport Porsche 996 GT +5 (GTB)
10. KS Motorsport BMW E46 +6 (Touring)