Wednesday - Night Qualifying Report
It Seems To Be Raining All Across Europe
© Joost Custers

Track action got underway last night, the green light on at exactly 21.00 – and it wass getting dark, with a fine drizzle falling. Most cars appeared onto the circuit, because the prospect was that the weather could get worse - more rain to come? Marc Goossens, who else, set a 1.30.204 on his third lap out – and that was the fastest time of the session. The opposition had agreed in the days before the race that the battle for pole would not really be an issue.

After 40 minutes, the #62 BMW goes off and the session is stopped. As the red flag is waved the #21 Russell Porsche, with Van Moerkerke behind the wheel goes off too, very hard. The Thiers brothers’ car finished fourth in 2003 and 2004 but this crash could endanger its further participation. “Laurent went off in his opening lap, no reason to push… This is a catastrophe, the car is destroyed and we might likely not start. The option could be to rent a Supercup in order to satisfy the sponsors. But it will be hard to fight back…” says a bitterly disappointed Hans Thiers.

With over two hours to go, the Corvette heads the #5 PSI Porsche Biturbo and both Vipers - of Vosse and Kumpen.

It seems that it's a troubled session for some, so we have:
the #75 G&A BMW V8 suffering with its transmission
the #15 Eurotech Marcos ignition
the #57 Speedlover Porsche, the sole 993, has its gearbox replaced
the #43 Mazda RX7 is stationary on the track.

During the session, Mollekens comes in with a broken Turbo on the #5 PSI Porsche.

Meanwhile little changes. “I don’t think will try again,” says Marc Goossens. “We seem to be comfortable on pole…”

First in GTB is Bas Leinders: “I just got a phone call yesterday and here I am. The Markant guys (the #25 Porsche) are friends of mine and driving at Zolder in a good car is always fun. If single seater is not working out this year, I might switch to prototypes or GT in 2006.” Bas is seventh overall.

So the Corvette takes provisional pole, and both Vipers follow. The #2 Kuismanen GTS-R is second, and #1 GLPK (Longin) third. The Biturbo of #5 Palttala and #3 Maes complete the top five 5.

In GTB, the #25 Markant Porsche is first, Penders (#31) is second and Derdaele in the #34 Ultima is third.

In Touring, Severich in the mighty M3 V8 takes the spoils. In TB it is mighty Vanina with the mighty MINI on pole.

Qualifying Times