Hezemans’ Late Deal
As reported last week, Mike Hezemans will be driving with Jean-Denis Deletraz this year, in the familiar Corvette C6.R, but run this time with the support of Phoenix Racing.

“I must admit I am a bit sad not to drive again with Anthony (Kumpen) and Bert (Longin) because they are good friends and we get along very well together,” says Mike Hezemans. “The team did a fantastic job the last two years, we had a lot of success and wins and fun so it’s sad not to continue with them.”

With the two hour format for this year, Kumpen and Longin “made the decision to drive together in the C5, which was an easy decision for them because they own the car already. And you have much more chance to win if you drive with two people instead of three. So this all was a quite logical decision but it left me a little bit with empty hands at the last moment.”

The Deletraz / Phoenix / Corvette arrangement was actually concluded on the closing date for FIA GT entries.

“I am very happy it finally came together,” continues Hezemans. “Jean-Denis was very impressed by the team last year and wanted to continue only with Phoenix for this year so that’s why we changed the team. I know Jean-Denis very well from 2004 when I drove with him at Barron Racing (with the Ferrari 575s in the Le Mans Series). He drove a very good season last year and had a fantastic last race in Dubai so I hope we can continue where he stopped last year. With a top team we should be able to be at the front this year and fight at least for some wins.”

So these two drivers, with so much FIA GT history between them, finally get to drive together. They both drove Lotus Elises in the first year of the championship, 1997, and in ten seasons they’ve amassed a combined total of 39 podium finishes and 14 victories.