24U.be - News items

No 24u.be live-coverage during 24 Hours of Zolder 2010

De redactie — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:17:22 +0200

Due to various external factors the VZW 24u.be was unable to gather sufficient means with which to offer a solid, fully-fledged coverage of the 24 Hours of Zolder. Even with all efforts put in by our partners, including Circuit Zolder, we are most unfortunately obliged to throw in the towel for this 2010 edition. As the result of long drawn out negotiations with the promoter regarding an eventual joint venture format no additional external partners could be found which might have given us the resources and capacity to bring this project to what it fully deserves.

32nd edition of 24 Hours of Zolder returns to its roots

De redactie — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:30:46 +0200

ZOLDER. The 32nd edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder is fully returning to its competition roots. During the mid-eighties this former classic Belgian endurance race once again saw the light of day and for years everyone and everything was welcome, touring cars, silhouettes and GTs. Last year, following a few seasons during which only GTs appeared at the start, an initial step back in to the open formula was made and in 2010 the 24 Hours of Zolder will be back to its 'good old' tradition. "An open formula with simple regulations, this is something we are going for", Hans van de Ven of Speedworld Promotion explained. "Everyone can and may race and on the sidelines we want to create an incredible festival atmosphere, a real Flemish Kermis. On Saturday and Sunday 21st and 22nd August I want to see loads of happy people, both on and next to the track!"

ProSpeed Competition wins great 31st edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:30:38 +0200

The 31st edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder was won by the Rudi Penders, Franz Lamot, David Loix and Louis Machiels in a record distance. In their ProSpeed Competition Porsche 996 GT3 RS they saw off the First Motorsport Porsche of Bert Longin, Fran�ois Verbist, Henk Haane and Ruben Maes, also the winners in the GT3 class, and the Kuismanen Chrysler Viper manned by Pertti Kuismanen, Duncan Huisman, Erik Behrens and Karl Hasenbichler. The 2009 24 Hours of Zolder was a thrilling and open edition, with in addition a new record distance of no less than 844 laps as the cherry on the cake.

Pictures: The podium

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:53:53 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/24/

ProSpeed win 24 Hours of Zolder - First and Kuismanen complete the podium

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:47:53 +0200

For a long while it looked as though First Motorsport could still pull out a trick against the ProSpeed-quartet Franz Lamot, Rudi Penders, David and Louis Machiels. But fate was to decide the outcome differently. ProSpeed Competition started out as the underdog, but was one of the few teams to stay out of trouble. "Only a sheared off nut on the splitter cost us some time. During the race we also raced without a bonnet lid, but that was really the only abnormality throughout the race ", a smiling and happy Rudi Penders told us after the gruelling endurance race. For Penders and cohorts this is the first victory in the 24 Hours of Zolder, all thanks to the legendary reliability of the Porsche and the hard work put in by the Liege based team. Whilst the rest of the field had to fight with mechanical problems, with the exception of the Porsche 997 GT4 of First and the Speedlover Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, the ProSpeed Competition model ran like Swiss clockwork.

Review of the 24u.be crew on the 24 Hours of Zolder... and a preview on the future!

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:45:59 +0200

The 31st edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder has come to an end, 24 hours of tension and effort, and the wear and tear on man and machine has found its winner. We congratulate ProSpeed Competition with their victory but we have admiration and respect for all the competitors who added a touch of colour to the race during this last weekend.

Pictures: The finish

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:32:15 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/23/

Pictures: The cars crossing the finish line

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:02:22 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/22/

Pictures: The last hours of the race

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:14:32 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/21/

Nightmare for Delahaye - Broken engine on the Ferrari F430 with only 4 hours to go

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:57:41 +0200

In motorsport heaven and hell are very close to each other. After several hours of racing the team led by Gilles Terlinden had the upper hand not only on the Renault M�gane Trophy but also the Ferrari F430 GT3. Initially the M�gane, together with the Prospeed Competition Porsche 996 GT3 RSR dominated the race, but a burst tyre cost the team some four laps. Somewhat later they experienced another blow. Marc Goossens was obliged to park the M�gane alongside the track with a broken crankshaft. Once back in the pits it was soon apparent that there was no sense in trying to repair the damage. With the Ferrari F430 GT3 the team still had another iron in the fire, but that wasn't to prove successful either....

18 hours: Is ProSpeed cruising to victory or will First put its spoke in?

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:47:15 +0200

With only a fourth of the race to go, it appears as though everything is quietly falling into place, although we could still expect to see an offensive from First Motorsport. Up front ProSpeed Competition has dropped three laps. At the time of the M�gane's retirement the lead on the nearest rivals amounted to seven laps, but the Liege based Porsche team decided to reduce the pace. In the meantime the First Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S and the Delahaye Ferrari F430 GT3 are going flat out. Fran�ois Verbist in the First Porsche has once again put in some impressive driving hours and is closing the gap with the leaders at a rate of some 3 seconds per lap. The Ferrari is still experiencing a stubborn starter motor and with each pitstop the team has to push-start the car, which results in a Stop & Go-penalty.

Pictures: Zolder awaking

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:10:15 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/20/

Engine failure for Delahaye M�gane - Goossens: "It wasn't to be..."

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:01:55 +0200

What started out as a dream scenario suddenly turned into a nightmare for Delahaye Racing Team. Both the Ferrari F430 GT3 and the Renault M�gane Trophy experienced technical problems. The Ferrari had difficulty leaving the pitlane and on the track the gearbox caused trouble. "Our first frightening moment was the blown tyre. I had to avoid Kurt Mollekens, on the track in our sister Ferrari, as he suddenly found himself without any gears. I moved off the ideal line, went through the dirt, and the tyre blew. That cost us at least two laps ", Marc Goossens told us, who at that moment was at the wheel of the Renault M�gane Trophy.

Delahaye checkmate following problem with the M�gane? - Favourable lead for ProSpeed

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:33:03 +0200

Delahaye Racing Team was definitely the favourite of this 31 edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder, but it wasn't to be for the outgoing Belgian GT-champions. Halfway through the race the Renault M�gane experienced a blown tyre. Following that the car was parked on the grass as the result of a technical fault. A breakdown truck towed the Renault back to the pits, where the engineers tried to localise the problem with a computer. In the meantime Kumpen, Goossens, Soulet and Sougnez have lost 17 laps on the leading Porsche 996 GT3 RSR of ProSpeed Competition. The Liege based Porsche team has a lead of 7 laps over its nearest rival, the First Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S.

At halfway mark ProSpeed takes lead following blown tyre on the Delahaye M�gane

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:18:13 +0200

Not a perfect race for Delahaye Racing Team. The Ferrari F430 GT3 is experiencing starting problems in the pitlane and the Renault M�gane Trophy has also just had to endure a first misfortune. Following a spotless beginning the car bearing number six comes into the pits with a blown tyre. The damage is limited and Soulet is soon back under way. ProSpeed Competition takes full advantage and Louis Machiels is able to bring the Porsche 996 GT3 RSR into the lead. The Liege based Porsche finds irsled one and a half laps ahead, but Delahaye are not giving up. The attack offensive comes from the Renault M�gane, whilst First Motorsport and the Delahaye Ferrari quartet play leap-frog. "We continue to stick to our strategy ", Delahaye-team manager Gilles Terlinden commented.

Delahaye Dreamteam ten seconds ahead of the chasing ProSpeed Porsche after 9 hours

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:32:06 +0200

A cautious start of the 24 Hours of Zolder left the supposition that the Delahaye Racing Team Renault M�gane Trophy would not be in a position to play along for overall victory, but far from it. Thanks to perfect teamwork and brilliant performances from the drivers the Silhouette pushed its way on through into the lead after four hours of racing. At 00.30 hrs the M�gane's maximum lead amounted to a good one and a half laps, however the game with the pitstops brings the ProSpeed Porsche up to within ten seconds of Anthony Kumpen, who took over from Marc Goossens.

Pictures: Night shots from Circuit Zolder

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:29:53 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/19/

Pictures: Action in the pitlane by night

De redactie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:25:34 +0200

http://www.24u.be/2009/en/fotopages/album/18/

Top-three get into trouble during Code 60 - Stop & Go for some 10 cars

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:01:18 +0200

Shortly after the sixth race hour race director Danny Dubois had to neutralise the competition. Not a Safety-Car, but a 'Code 60' to allow an intervention from the marshalls The Equipe Verschuur Renault M�gane Trophy had to extinguished following a fire caused by an oil leak. Luckily he driver escaped unscathed, but the car is in a poor shape. The car bearing number 11 was towed to its pitbox, but it was soon apparent that there was no hope of carrying out any repairs. At 22.50hrs the official retirement was announced of the Becker-Vos-Kolen-Verschuur quartet.

Speedlover grabs valuable points after 6 hours - Delahaye in the lead!

Gordon McKay — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:34 +0200

The Dodge Viper Competition Coup� is not the best battle weapon for a gruelling endurance race such as the 24 Hours of Zolder. Back in 2007 AD Sport was able to bring a Viper to the podium, but last year an overheated rear drive was to be fatal for the team. KRK Racing, which this year is competing with the ex-AD-GT3-cars, hoped to be competing up front. Unfortunately the story of the Clouseau-duo, Raf Vanthoor and Jeffrey Van Hooydonk threatens to be less positive. With Koen Wauters at the wheel the Viper rushed into the pits with an electrical problem. The outcome was that the muscle car with number 4 lost some thirty laps on the leaders. An excellent deal for Jean-Fran�ois Hemroulle and Tim Verbergt, who after six hours find themselves in seventh place overall, and second in the Belgian GT. Hemroulle and Verbergt score valuable points in the drivers championship and have made up a part of their arrears on the KRK-duo Van Hooydonk-Wauters.