Enge has FIA GT experience, like in 2007 where he ran at Spa with Scuderia Ecosse
PK Carsport
Trackspeed
Tomas Enge
Xavier Maassen
Michelin
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PK Carsport
Kumpen and Longin go for podium together with Mollekens and Bouvy in Spa 24 Hours.
Without any doubt, 2008 is a difficult year for PK Carsport drivers Anthony Kumpen and Bert Longin. Last year both Belgian drivers came to the Spa 24 Hours, ready to take the lead in the FIA GT Championship and this year they're only seventh with three points, 21 less than the leaders in the rankings. But Kumpen and Longin remain optimistic and with Kurt Mollekens and Fred Bouvy in support, they still want to score a third consecutive podium in these mythical 24 Hours of Spa.
"One might say that we are optimistic and that this message is a simple PR text, but that isn't the case", explains Anthony Kumpen. "This is a difficult year, that's obvious. But a race over 24 hours is different. Pure speed is less important and we count on our reliability, strategy and drivers capabilities. Together with Fred and Kurt, we want that third consecutive podium finish. We're highly delighted that the guys remained faithful, even though we're experiencing a very difficult year. This is the sequel of United 4 Belgium."
"The same team, but with a different car. and a different look and colour. Similar to last year, we're coming to Spa with a car that will look different. Our white Saleen will be red, thanks to our sponsor Gordon. Belgium will count four more Red Devils.", Bert Longin jokes. "I fully agree with Anthony and I hope that if luck is on our side and we do what we have to, then we'll finish at the front on Sunday afternoon. Personally, I'm ready to fight, both physically and mentally. We will not be out front during qualifying, our Saleen is not fast enough, but after a long and hard race we'll be still there."
"I never hesitated to come back", Kurt Mollekens comments. "PK Carsport is a top team and they're capable of putting down a very strong performance in such a long race. The team has a lot of experience and strategy will make the difference. Think of their very fast pit stops, the number of times you have to stop and that's already one reason why PK Carsport remains an outsider for the race. I drove a Saleen in the 2007 Spa 1000 Km and I was very impressed with the car. It's a fast car, with a stunning road-holding. Last week, we tested in Vallelunga and I felt really comfortable. The only difference with our Corvette of the past few seasons is that the Saleen has little experience over 24 Hours. But let's not be too negative about that."
The fourth driver of the team is Fred Bouvy. "There was never a doubt that I would come back. This is a top team and that's what it is all about. The Saleen should be very good at Spa, as the long fast corners suit the S7R and during the test session in Italy last week, I felt very much at one with the car. The car is also very comfortable, as it is not too hot inside. And last but not least, we're racing in front of our home-crowd."
Trackspeed
Tim Sugden and Xavier Pompidou Join David Ashburn and Richard Williams for the FIA GT 24 Hours of Spa Event.
Trackspeed Racing are pleased to welcome Tim Sugden and Xavier Pompidou to the fold for the FIA GT Total 24 Hours of Spa race on 3rd August. The pair will join regular drivers David Ashburn and Richard Williams in the Trackspeed Porsche RSR which has been making a solid foundation for itself in the team's first year in the FIA GT Championship.
Tim Sugden is sure to be a great asset with his wealth of Porsche and 24 Hour experience for the team's first 24 Hour assault in the Pirelli shod RSR. Likewise the experience of LMES driver and endurance specialist Xavier Pompidou who is no stranger to racing behind the wheel of a Porsche. Xavier demonstrated enviable pace at the Spa test day when he joined Trackspeed for the first time. Indeed, at the recent Spa test day the team were buoyed by finishing 4th quickest of the GT2 class in what proved to be a valuable day. An exciting 24 hour race lays ahead for the ambitious British team.
Tomas Enge
Enge to race Reiter Lamborghini Murcielago at Spa 24 hours
ALL ABOUT ......Xavier Maassen...
LANAKEN. With just over one and a half weeks before the 24 Hours of Spa, the major event of the FIA GT championship, we had the opportunity to have a chat with Xavier Maassen. Xavier Maassen is presently lying second in the World Championship for GTs and is heading off to the mythical circuit in the Belgian Ardennes with high ambitions. For once Xavier Maassen is not looking ahead to the actual race itself, but in this case is reminiscing about life, the future of the racing world as also the marketing aspects of this top-class sport.
Xavier Maassen about ... Xavier Maassen
"In itself it's rather strange to talk about oneself, but I do notice that not everyone in the motor sport world has enough background information regarding myself. It was in a rather recreational manner that I became involved with motor sport, and more precisely with karting. Step by step I built up my career. My father always coached me, but did demand my full devotion. He considers my career to be a top-class career where you have to commit yourself 100%, and this applies to the physical, mental and marketing aspects. We look on my career as a sort of company that experiences an annual growth."
"In addition he also felt that it was imperative that I complete my studies. Motor sport is one thing, but in due course that can run out and you need to keep all other options open. I'm a Doctorandus - the equivalent of the present Masters - in International Business Studies, a course given entirely in English which I followed at the University of Maastricht. In fact my thesis dealt entirely with sponsoring in the motor sport world. I'm fascinated by the commercial and marketing aspects involved with sport and more specifically motor sport."
"One of the additional advantages of this education was the fact that I was also able to concentrate fully on my knowledge of languages, of major importance in an open and united Europe. Thanks to my studies I have a perfect command of English, but am also at ease with French, German and even have smatterings of Italian."
"And now language brings me to the most difficult point, namely whether I am Dutch or Belgian..Well I do live in Belgium and feel very much at home here and I retain a Belgian licence, but my passport states that I am Dutch. On top of that with my Dutch, French and German I speak the three official languages in Belgium. So I leave it up to you to choose."
Xavier Maassen about... his future in motor sport
"As a young driver you need to remain realistic and everyone knows that it is extremely difficult to break through on to the F1 scene. So you start searching around for alternatives and one of these reputed alternatives is endurance racing, more specially the FIA GT. Last winter together with Kees Van de Grint, my personal advisor we researched the various options, ranging from DTM via Porsche Supercup through to FIA GT, and the package that really suited us was FIA GT. For that matter SRO (the FIA GT promoter) supported us fully, as they were on the look out for young drivers, and as it transpires something in which they were entirely successful. Then followed a great package comprised out of a Corvette, SRT and Christophe Bouchut and you then realise that you have this superb opportunity to make a name for yourself, as proven with our excellent victory in Monza. But the FIA GT is not my ultimate goal. My biggest ambition is a podium place at Le Mans, and preferably on the top rung. Looking into the future I intend pulling out all the stops as my ambition is to drive either for a make or a works team. The new world championship for GT cars, which comes about in 2010, fits this ambition like a glove." Xavier Maassen about... his future apart from motor sport
"I don't only approach motor sport from a driver's point of view. I'm really intrigued by the marketing side associated with it, and I'm entirely convinced that we need to concentrate and work on this aspect. We obviously have F1, with such success stories as the ING and Renault tie up, but this can also be achieved in other motor sport categories. In my personal opinion I truly believe that the business world remains receptive to motor sport sponsoring, even in our present 'green' environment."
"Sport also gives you the opportunity to closely involve the fans with your brand, something not always feasible via classic marketing channels. I have noticed that certain pieces of the puzzle need to fit perfectly in order to win over potential companies. And one of those, namely that of the sport's personality, today explains the enormous difference between The Netherlands and Belgium. Over the last few years The Netherlands have enjoyed several F1 drivers, in particular Jos Verstappen, and you then arrive at a sort of snowball effect, comparable to what Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin represented for the tennis world in Belgium. A couple of weeks ago Jos Verstappen competed at Le Mans, with a victory in LMP2, and even the Dutch Premier, Jan Peter Balkenende was present. I might branch out in that direction in the future, but I'm not committing myself at the moment. Let's wait and see..."
Xavier Maassen about ... his physical preparation
"Motor sport is a top sport; you can take that from me. I reckon that without a strong physical condition you won't get very far in the motor sport world. I obviously train several times per week at Topfit in Maastricht, I regularly ride out on my mountain bike, do a fair amount of running, but there's more than that. Every driver prepares himself physically so you need to differentiate yourself from the others. I personally have great faith in neurological training, whereby you measure and train your brain activity as also mental training. Other drivers concentrate on eye training, high pressure chambers and so forth. But the 24 Hours of Spa is another story, a race taking in 24 hours, racing at night, the rain, tiredness setting in, but all in all I'm pretty well prepared to take on the challenge."
Tomas Enge is going to race the 24 hours Spa with a Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT of the GT1 class run by the IPB Spartak Reiter Engineering team. He will share the car with Russian Roman Rusinov and two Dutch drivers, ex-F1 driver Jan Lammers and Peter Kox with whom he raced together in various teams in the past. The Czech driver learned the news from his manager Antonin Charouz when he was travelling to Poznan for the Czech championship races.
Long 24 hours races are those which Tomas likes a lot. Many of his successes were scored at the most known of them - Le Mans. He raced also at Daytona, Nurburgring Nordschleife and also at Spa. The new engagement means that it will be his fourth 24 hours Spa race. The Belgian race will be again the highlight of the FIA GT championship.
His first start at Spa was in 1999 when he shared a BMW 320i with Jenson Button and David Saelens. The race was not part of the FIA GT championship at that time and there were mainly touring cars on the big grid. Tomas scored is best result at Spa two years ago when he finished fourth. One of his team-mates in an Aston Martin DBR9 was also Peter Kox and they will again fight together next week.
The IPB Spartak Reiter Engineering team have been racing mainly in the Le Mans Series, FIA GT and ADAC GT Masters this year. The team is currently second in the Le Mans Series GT1 team standings and their drivers Kox and Rusinov are third in the driver standings. Hans Reiter has a rich motorsport history. He put up together his team in 2000 but he had been involved with successful projects even before. For example with BMW win at 24 Heures du Mans and Sebring 12 hours in 1999.
Tomas Enge: "I will taste another GT1 car which is always interesting. I am curious to learn about Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT, I will drive it in the free practices for the first time. I like the Belgian track and also its endurance race. I am looking forward to work again with Peter Kox. He is a great team-mate and we did a lot of races together. The best memory is from 2003 when we won 24 Heures du Mans. Together with Jamie Davies we won the GTS class."
Antonin Charouz: "Hans Reiter is my long-time friend and we work together for many years. For example, this year we work on running a Lamborghini Gallardo Evo in the Czech championship. When Hans asked me that he would like Tomas for Spa I started negotiations immediately. Tomas is a factory Aston Martin driver and obviously he had to receive an approval for start with a different team. When we got it there was nothing againstthe start at Spa."
Tomas Enge and 24h Spa
1999 -- BMW 320i, Team Fina Rafanelli, teammates Jenson Buton, David Saelens, DNF
2006 -- Aston Martin DBR9, Aston Martin Racing BMS, teammates Peter Kox, Fabio Babini, Christian Pescatori, 4th
2007 -- Ferrari F430, Scuderia Ecosse, teammates Jarek Janis, Tim Mullen, Johnny Kane, DNF
2008 -- Lamborghini Murcielago IPB Spartak Reiter Engineering, teammates Jan Lammers, Peter Kox, Roman Rusinov
Maassen will be back with SRT and should have a good chance of the win
Xavier Maassen
ALL ABOUT ......Xavier Maassen...
LANAKEN. With just over one and a half weeks before the 24 Hours of Spa, the major event of the FIA GT championship, we had the opportunity to have a chat with Xavier Maassen. Xavier Maassen is presently lying second in the World Championship for GTs and is heading off to the mythical circuit in the Belgian Ardennes with high ambitions. For once Xavier Maassen is not looking ahead to the actual race itself, but in this case is reminiscing about life, the future of the racing world as also the marketing aspects of this top-class sport.
Xavier Maassen about ... Xavier Maassen
"In itself it's rather strange to talk about oneself, but I do notice that not everyone in the motor sport world has enough background information regarding myself. It was in a rather recreational manner that I became involved with motor sport, and more precisely with karting. Step by step I built up my career. My father always coached me, but did demand my full devotion. He considers my career to be a top-class career where you have to commit yourself 100%, and this applies to the physical, mental and marketing aspects. We look on my career as a sort of company that experiences an annual growth."
"In addition he also felt that it was imperative that I complete my studies. Motor sport is one thing, but in due course that can run out and you need to keep all other options open. I'm a Doctorandus - the equivalent of the present Masters - in International Business Studies, a course given entirely in English which I followed at the University of Maastricht. In fact my thesis dealt entirely with sponsoring in the motor sport world. I'm fascinated by the commercial and marketing aspects involved with sport and more specifically motor sport."
"One of the additional advantages of this education was the fact that I was also able to concentrate fully on my knowledge of languages, of major importance in an open and united Europe. Thanks to my studies I have a perfect command of English, but am also at ease with French, German and even have smatterings of Italian."
"And now language brings me to the most difficult point, namely whether I am Dutch or Belgian..Well I do live in Belgium and feel very much at home here and I retain a Belgian licence, but my passport states that I am Dutch. On top of that with my Dutch, French and German I speak the three official languages in Belgium. So I leave it up to you to choose."
Xavier Maassen about... his future in motor sport
"As a young driver you need to remain realistic and everyone knows that it is extremely difficult to break through on to the F1 scene. So you start searching around for alternatives and one of these reputed alternatives is endurance racing, more specially the FIA GT. Last winter together with Kees Van de Grint, my personal advisor we researched the various options, ranging from DTM via Porsche Supercup through to FIA GT, and the package that really suited us was FIA GT. For that matter SRO (the FIA GT promoter) supported us fully, as they were on the look out for young drivers, and as it transpires something in which they were entirely successful. Then followed a great package comprised out of a Corvette, SRT and Christophe Bouchut and you then realise that you have this superb opportunity to make a name for yourself, as proven with our excellent victory in Monza. But the FIA GT is not my ultimate goal. My biggest ambition is a podium place at Le Mans, and preferably on the top rung. Looking into the future I intend pulling out all the stops as my ambition is to drive either for a make or a works team. The new world championship for GT cars, which comes about in 2010, fits this ambition like a glove." Xavier Maassen about... his future apart from motor sport
"I don't only approach motor sport from a driver's point of view. I'm really intrigued by the marketing side associated with it, and I'm entirely convinced that we need to concentrate and work on this aspect. We obviously have F1, with such success stories as the ING and Renault tie up, but this can also be achieved in other motor sport categories. In my personal opinion I truly believe that the business world remains receptive to motor sport sponsoring, even in our present 'green' environment."
"Sport also gives you the opportunity to closely involve the fans with your brand, something not always feasible via classic marketing channels. I have noticed that certain pieces of the puzzle need to fit perfectly in order to win over potential companies. And one of those, namely that of the sport's personality, today explains the enormous difference between The Netherlands and Belgium. Over the last few years The Netherlands have enjoyed several F1 drivers, in particular Jos Verstappen, and you then arrive at a sort of snowball effect, comparable to what Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin represented for the tennis world in Belgium. A couple of weeks ago Jos Verstappen competed at Le Mans, with a victory in LMP2, and even the Dutch Premier, Jan Peter Balkenende was present. I might branch out in that direction in the future, but I'm not committing myself at the moment. Let's wait and see..."
Xavier Maassen about ... his physical preparation
"Motor sport is a top sport; you can take that from me. I reckon that without a strong physical condition you won't get very far in the motor sport world. I obviously train several times per week at Topfit in Maastricht, I regularly ride out on my mountain bike, do a fair amount of running, but there's more than that. Every driver prepares himself physically so you need to differentiate yourself from the others. I personally have great faith in neurological training, whereby you measure and train your brain activity as also mental training. Other drivers concentrate on eye training, high pressure chambers and so forth. But the 24 Hours of Spa is another story, a race taking in 24 hours, racing at night, the rain, tiredness setting in, but all in all I'm pretty well prepared to take on the challenge."
Michelin
The calendar's other 24-hour showdown
The Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours is FIA GT racing's equivalent to what the Le Mans 24 Hours is to endurance racing, the great annual highlight of the season. The legendary Belgian venue has hosted a 24-hour round of the FIA GT Championship since 2001. Less than two months after its 11th success at Le Mans, Michelin will once again be out to showcase the durability, consistency, versatility and performance of its tyres as it bids to win both the GT1 and GT2 categories.
"It's difficult to sum up Spa in just a few words. It's a magnificent circuit, a legendary race, the Belgians are so enthusiastic, there's the cocktail of hot and wet weather in the Ardennes Hills and there's also the delight of muscles and chips on the main square in Malmedy," lists Matthieu Bonardel, Manager of Michelin Competition's four -wheel activities.
FIA GT racing's only endurance contest takes place at one of the world's finest circuits, which features the celebrated Eau Rouge turn, and which often marks a turning point in the championship. Indeed, with the exception of 2003 and 2007, the winners at Spa-Francorchamps have gone on to take the crown at the end of the year. The teams consequently prepare extremely carefully for this summer fixture, and the build-up notably includes a major test at the Belgian venue a month before the race itself.
Three days after the fourth round of the series at Oschersleben on July 5-6, 31 teams gathered at Spa-Francorchamps for a day of testing which took place in overcast weather and damp, drying conditions. The day gave Michelin runners a chance to sample the different tyre ranges available to them (slicks, intermediates, rain) and saw them claim the top seven GT1 times and the five best laps in the GT2 category.
"We profited from the day to get in some thorough testing," says Matthieu Bonardel. "We also dominated the GT category last May at the Le Mans Series round held here. That took place in glorious spring weather, so we are ready for any conditions. They can shift very quickly in this region, and frequently do during the 24-hour race, although the FIA GT regulations are very restrictive and only permit a single type of rain tyre per car."
Spa's surface doesn't give great grip in the dry, but it is efficient in clearing away water, which actually results in good grip in the wet. "You often get slicks and intermediates lapping at the same time," observes Matthieu Bonardel. "In the dry, the trade off between wear and grip doesn't favour double stinting on hard compounds. Most teams consequently run a strategy of single stints with soft compounds."
Targeting GT1 and GT2 success
In addition to its GT1 victory in 2007 with the Corvette C6.R of Deletraz/Hezemans/Gollin/Fassler, Michelin qualified in pole-position in GT2 but failed to see that converted into a win on the Sunday afternoon. This time round, the French tyre firm's objective is to win both categories, just as it has done in the first four rounds of the 2008 FIA GT Championship.
The No.6 Phoenix Racing Corvette/Michelin which took the spoils in last year's race also posted the fastest time in testing with its magic foursome of Deletraz/Hezemans/Gollin/Fassler who total 232 FIA GT starts, 28 wins and 75 podiums between them! On home ground, the Corvette C6.R/Michelin of the Belgium-based SRT team (Bouchut/Maassen/Soulet/Pillon) has to be considered a potential winner, too.
Vitaphone will be looking to return to its winning ways at Spa and above all secure its first win of the season with its two Maserati MC12/Michelins. For that, the No.1 car's usual line-up of Bartels/Bertolini, who currently top the Drivers' standings, will be joined by choice reinforcements in the persons of Stephane Sarrazin and Eric Van de Poele. Also worth following will be the Larbre Competition Saleen/Michelin, as well as the Jetalliance and Gigawave Aston Martin/Michelins. In GT2, AF Corse/Michelin has dominated the early part of the year with a score of three wins, but the Ferrari F430/Michelins will be out for revenge over Porsche at Spa-Francorchamps.
Matthieu Bonardel (Four-wheel Activities Programme Manager, Michelin Competitio n):
"This is one of the finest circuits visited by the championship. It is 7km in length but has few straights. Instead there are plenty of fast right- and left-hand corners and it is quite hard-wearing for the front tyres. On the other hand, the rears don't suffer much at all."
Logistics
Approximately 3,500 tyres will be trucked to Spa in 10 semi-trailers. A staff of 13 Michelin technicians and developers will be in attendance to advise and help the firm's partner teams throughout the 24-hour race.