BELCAR: Belgian Race Kick Off, Zolder, 13 April 2008

It's April and it's raining. Must be time for the first Belcar race of 2008.

The 'Belgian Race Kick Off' sees two familiar teams taking their Moslers out again. G&A return with Guino Kenis and Michael de Keersmaecker in car 45. Gravity International Racing field two cars again but with a shift in personnel. Mosler 25 saw Vincent Radermecker staying to be partnered by Ron Marchal, who ran in the 007 Aston last season. The number 24 car is piloted by 2007's PK Carsport Corvette pairing of Anthony Kumpen and Bert Longin.


And they were storming early on, qualifying on the front row of the grid for the second of the two one-hour races. Not to be outdone, Radermecker and Marchal took both pole positions, with the G&A outfit just a few rows back for both races.


With the rain plying down for the start of race one, Marchal started from pole then slipped back behind Max Soulet in the Porsche 997. But the Porsche's well-pumped tyres led them to give way to the Mosler onslaught, Marchal retaking the lead before Longin fought his way to the front.


Marchal's pistop swap to wet tyres seemed ill-judged; Kumpen left after his changeover only ten minutes later on slicks. True, Kumpen did spin later but that didn't stop him piloting the Mosler home to take the chequered flag. G&A just missed out on a podium place with a fourth place finish. Radermecker brought the other Gravity car home in 18th.


Race two saw more rain. The Moslers followed each other around Zolder before a quicker pitstop saw Longin dive out before Marchal into the lead.

And so the procession to the podium was set to continue, until a coming together between Marchal and a passing Viper saw a flat tyre deflate the chances of a Gravity 1-2, Marchal out of the race with two laps to go.

Bert Longin went on to take the victory to give him and Kumpen maximum points for the weekend, the lead in the driver's championship and their car at the top in the team championship . Kenis and de Keersmaecker had a solid set of results to put them in the higher reaches of both championships. The no-point scoring second race cost Radermecker and Marchal, leaving them too close to the bottom of both tables.

It's next stop Dijon for Belcar in May, supporting the French GT championship, with the Moslers well placed to make a sustained assault on this year's championship.

Pictures: second picture (C) http://www.belgiangt.com/
All others (C) Jacques Letihon