Dutch Supercar Challenge: Spa Euroraces 28.06.09

Back to Spa again for another round of the Dutch Supercar Challenge. The usual suspects were up at the front in qualifying; Cor Euser stuck the Marcos Mantis onto pole, with the Moslers of Martin Short and Berry van Elk in third and fourth. One notable non-starter was Andrew Beaumont in the Topcats Mosler.


Race one saw Euser make a strong start, yet Short was relentless in tracking the Marcos around the famous Ardennes circuit. Having dispatched Pastorelli for second place, Short passed Euser as the latter's battery began to fail. When van der Voort's Beemer crashed out, the safety car was deployed and the field took a mad dash into the pits under yellow flags.


With his now-customary success penalty, Short re-entered the race back in seventh place but began a relentless climb back through the field. Passing the ETEC Viper at the bus stop chicane put Mosler Europe into the lead; the race was red-flagged with five minutes to go with Short at the front. Another convincing win, bolstered by a solid drive by Berry van Elk who brought the V Max Mosler home in third.


Race two saw an uncharacteristic tactical error by Short. With an early safety car out to clear wreckage, he hoped to pit whilst the field crawled around. But the safety car came in too early for him; when he emerged from the pits the pack were back to full speed and not even a flying Mosler could catch them.


van Elk was well placed in fourth place as the race progressed. Then, a real turnaround; the two leading cars were called in to take drive-through penalties. Now, Berry had a scent of victory. Passing Werkmann's Opel V8 Star into Les Combes on the penultimate lap, the young Mosler driver pushed on to take the chequered flag - his maiden win in the Dutch Supercar Challenge. Martin Short came home in tenth, with Andrew Beaumont and Pat Gormley impressing in eighth.





The Moslers have an enviable track record around Spa and today proved to be no exception. Congratulations to Berry van Elk for what we hope will be the first of many Mosler wins.



Photos (c) www.supercarchallenge.nl where video highlights are available too