News Archive
ProSpeed Competition ready for Le Mans
The 1000 Km of Spa, the second round of the Le Mans Series, was the perfect dress rehearsal for the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans in a month’s time. At Spa ProSpeed Competition gained a ninth and a thirteenth place in the LM GT2, “a result which could have been better, but we didn’t experience any problems, the team work was good and more especially our Le Mans drivers Niek Hommerson, Louis Machiels and Paul van Splunteren were able to prepare themselves fully for the Le Mans race”, team manager Rudi Penders commented.
Qualifying
“The qualifying was good, no more no less” ProSpeed Competition’s Technical Manager Luc Goris remarked. “We presently have a substantial lack of knowledge when it comes to tyres, something we already needed to take into account back in Paul Ricard, and here also it didn’t make our assignment any easier. The difference with the FIA GT2 rubber is enormous and I readily have to admit that we need to work hard on building up our experience in this field. But on the other hand both our Porsches 911 GT3 RSR are running well and in qualifying Marco Holzer finished in ninth spot, a mere second off the
man on pole position. The level in this championship is extremely high and each tenth of a second here is important.” In the other Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Paul van Splunteren finished in fifteenth place.
Louis Machiels: “I’m pleased that we were able to compete in the 1000 Km of Spa in order to prepare for Le Mans, and I’m really impressed with the Le Mans Series, especially as the level of the drivers in the LM GT2 is tremendously high. Most of the guys here are professional drivers, something which we as gentlemen-drivers are definitely not. The most difficult part of this exercise is the fact that you permanently have to watch out for the faster traffic, and more specifically the prototypes. A driver’s concentration is truly taken to the limit.”
Race
The race at Spa was particularly eventful, amongst others due to a general electricity blackout an hour and a half into the race as also the ever changing weather conditions. “The race stopped for three quarters of an hour due to … an electricity blackout and this is a first in my racing career”, Richard Westbrook added. “We finally finished in ninth place and notwithstanding the fact that I would have preferred finishing further up front, I’m satisfied. The car was perfect, we have made a great leap in the right direction since our first race in France, the team performed brilliantly and our strategy was ideal. One thing we couldn’t control was the fact that on three occasions we lost valuable time waiting at the red light at the pit lane exit. It was as if the devil was involved with this.”
Victory in Spa went to the Felbermayr Porsche, “which goes to prove that the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is really good”, Rudi Penders concluded. “We want to reach that same level as soon as possible.”
The second Prospeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR also finished without encountering any problems. “I have to fully agree with what my team mate Louis Machiels said earlier”, Paul van Splunteren remarked after the race. “The level here is enormous. I expect that the traffic at Le Mans, what with being a longer track and with more straights, should be easier to manage. I’m really looking forward to the race at Le Mans; it’s a dream turning into reality.”
Results
1. Lietz-Lieb Felbermayr Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
2. Bruni-Melo AF Corse Ferrari 430
3. Alesi-Fisichella-Vilander AF Corse Ferrari 430
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9. Holzer-Westbrook ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
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13. van Splunteren-Machiels-Hommerson ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
