Belgian GT Zolder - Preview
Happy Anniversary The third meeting of the 2008 Belgian GT Championship MVD takes place this weekend at Zolder; and after the intense races in Dijon, where both Gravity International Mosler MT900s struggled throughout the weekend, the championship is again wide open. The Porsche and Ferrari contingent proved able to fight for victory and will certainly do so again in Zolder. Due to the cancellation of the Champ Car race earlier this season, Circuit Zolder decided to put on a 45th Anniversary race weekend; to celebrate, of course, the 45th anniversary of the Belgian track. As well as Belgian GT, the meeting will include historics, European Formula BMW, and the EuroBoss Series; featuring F1 cars from the eighties and nineties. The GTs will adopt a longer race-format for this weekend's meeting, with the race starting at 13h35 on Sunday and running for 2 hours. Just as in FIA GT races, the BGT teams will have to stop twice and each driver will have to race for at least 35 consecutive minutes. This will be preceeded on Saturday by two 45-minute qualifying sessions. Who will win on Sunday is by no means clear cut. With 17 GT3s in Division 1 and at least ten of them capable of winning, there is certain to be close racing. The Gravity International Moslers of championship leaders Bert Longin & Anthony Kumpen and their team mates Vincent Radermecker & Ron Marchal are still the cars to beat; but the Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Ss of Franchi/Soulet (GPR) and Couwberghs/Maes (NGT) and the Dodge Viper A+ of the flying Jeffrey Van Hooydonk won’t be off the pace. Looking for revenge, the three Lamborghini Gallardos of JD Competition - so unhappy in France - will be at the front as well. Tim Verbergt will be trying to put his car on pole on Saturday already. Other contenders include the Chad Racing Gallardo of Nigel Greensall and Iain Dockerill and the rapid duo of Fred Bouvy and Damien Coens in the Ferrari 430 of Francorchamps Motors / Delahaye Racing Team. Mikke Van Hool will again replace the injured Patrick Ceusters – driving with Henk Haane – while Chris Mattheus will replace Michael De Keersmaeker (on duty in rally cross) in the G&A Mosler, alongside Guino Kenis. In Division 2, Wim Jeuris takes the wheel of the Speedlover Aston Martin Vantage N24, where he will be aiming to beat the Lotus, Ginetta G50 and Porsche 996 Cup contenders. Last, but not least, the race will see the debut in Division 3 of the Porsche 997 of Westend Racing for Finnish pairing Jarmo Vanhanen and Niko Nurminen. The 27-car field promises some good racing this weekend; to no doubt be followed by a great anniversary party afterwards. Joost Custers | 
