Mid-February Belcar News
Even though some websites have already published GLPK’s plans for 2006, Anthony Kumpen has denied that the team has already taken a decision concerning a participation in the Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar Original. This week will bring definitive news – writes Joost Custers.

Earlier this week, Ruben Maes signed a one-year contract with PSI Experience. Precisely on his 23rd birthday, the youngster announced the news that he will drive a full season, partnering Jos Menten, in a PSI Porsche Biturbo.

First Motorsport has bought both ‘Mc Gregor’ Porsche 996 GT3 Supercup cars, raced in 2005 by Sebastiaan and Michaël Bleekemolen in the Dutch Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge. Kelly Jamers and Dirk Van Rompuy will drive the first car, while Henk Haane and Jean-Claude Meert will drive the second. Both cars will remain in full Challenge configuration, as First also plans a participation in the Spa 24 hours. The team is confident about 2006 and the aim is to score a podium in Class 3 at each event. The two cars seen in 2004 and 2005 in Belcar could still be seen in the Belcar Original / Endurance Cup or BTCS. The team is still talking to several likely candidates.

NGT Racing and Accent Racing will join forces for the upcoming season: Marc Maton will share the 2005 NGT Porsche GT3 Supercup with Philippe Cracco.

GS Motorsport will probably be the biggest team in the Mediagroup Van Dyck Belcar. ‘Rainman’ Marc Neyens has signed up with the German team; he will drive a 2005 Porsche GT3 Supercup in Class 3. His team-mate will be Arvid Steinberg. In this same Class, De Coster and Broodcooren will drive the ex-WTCC BMW 3-series that won the TB-Class last year. The BMW has been completely rebuilt. GS Motorsport will enter another Porsche GT3 Supercup in Class 3, but the driver line-up is still TBA, with a number of drivers are still negotiating with the team, among them Alexandre De Bock, Philippe Robben, Johan Vanloo, etc. Last but not least, the team will enter the traditional BMW M3 GTR V8 for Georg Severich himself and the young German Mario Josten. The car will be a serious contender in Class 2, although the team has decided to limit the power a little, in order to gain with reliability. This means that the overall standings are no longer an ambition for the team. Georg Severich also wants to give the young Josten one more year within the team, before he steps up to the official BMW Motorsport ranks.

Euroracing, a team seen in the Zolder Touring Cup last year with Tim Joosen and Christophe Van Pampel, will enter Belcar with a brand new BMW M3. Christophe Van Pampel explains the 2006 plans: “We bought a naked shell from BMW, a spare one from the WTCC, and last season we did some testing with different components. We believe we have a good package for the Belcar Original. As we stand with our engine, before the definitive rules, we will race a 3.3 litre with 400bhp. The total weight of the car will be 1100 kilos. Suspension and brakes are in-house developments. The drivers will Tim Joosen and Luigi Vroman. Our ambitions are a podium in Class 3. Besides the Belcar Original, we will also enter an ex-Supertouring E36 and a ex-DTC BMW 325, in the Belcar Endurance Cup. Drivers will be Nick Van Der Valk and myself and Stehr / van Noolen.”

The new Bongou Speedlover team from André van Hoof has sold its complete fleet and ordered three brand new cars. The first new car is a brand new Porsche 997 GT3 Supercup for Chris Mattheus. Chris will race in Belcar Class 2, but also in the first half of the Porsche Supercup season – until Monaco. The remaining seat in the 997 is still open but there is a fair chance of seeing Ellen Lohr back again in Belcar. The German former DTM-star has a good chance of racing the 997. The team also purchased two other 2005 Porsche 996 GT3 Supercup cars. Jurgen Van Hover will drive the first car with his partner currently TBA. In the Belcar Endurance Cup, the team will enter another Porsche 996 GT3 Supercup. Bongou boss Luc Gevers and Van Havermaet or Tavernier will be the drivers. Two MINI Cooper S and one Porsche 993 could also be seen in the Endurance Cup. The driver line-up of these cars is still unknown but show-biz people could be part of it…