WRC Star Duval Joins ProSpeed Again For Shot At GT2
Next weekend, the revamped circuit of Spa-Francorchamps will host the most important GT race in the world: the Spa 24 Hours. Needless to say that ProSpeed Competition will again enter the Ardennes classic, as last year with two Porsches. Also back for more is former WRC rally winner, François Duval, who had a first attempt at the race in 2006, when he finished second in class in a ProSpeed Porsche. The only difference this year is that he will join team leaders, Rudi Penders and Franz Lamot in the 997 GT3 RSR. The fourth man in the lead car is former Belcar Champion Bart Couwberghs, making the #60 car a very potential podium finisher in the GT2 class. The team’s second car, a 2007-spec 997 SuperCup, will run in the G3 class and will be crewed by Christian Kelders, Christophe Kerckhove, Philippe Greisch and Christian Lefort.
“I think we have a very good chance of doing well this year,” team boss, Rudi Penders, said. “Between the four of us we share no less than seven Belcar titles and a few seasons with factory teams in the WRC, so I think the drivers’ potential is there. The car, of course, needs no introduction, and is as bullet proof as any racing Porsche. That said, I still clearly remember the 24 Hours last year, when I got torpedoed off the track on just the fourth lap and our race was virtually over after just fifteen minutes.”
Back for more this year is rally ace, François Duval, who really enjoyed his first 24 Hours with the team last year. “I’m really pleased to be back with ProSpeed Competition,” Duval said. “I already had the pleasure to work with them last year and was quite impressed with their professionalism, as well as with the overall excellent atmosphere within the team. Interestingly enough, we will be the only 100% Belgian team entered in the GT2 class. Being the rallyman that I still am, I do hope that we will have some rain during the weekend, but even without the battle will be tough between half a dozen Porsches and as many Ferraris.”
ProSpeed Competition’s other car has been brought up to full 2007-spec especially for this race, which means wider track and wheels at the front, revised aerodynamics front and rear, new flywheel, stabilizers, shock absorbers, etcetera. Two of drivers – Kelders and Kerckhove – were part of the podium-finishing team last year, so they know exactly what it takes to repeat the performance in a class where they’ll meet eight other Porsches and a brace of Ferraris.
“Spa is the third race on our international 2007 schedule,” Penders concluded, “but it is of course a race we know very well. While we have some ambitions to finish the race in the upper regions of the standings, we will also use this race, as planned, to further the experience of our team in view of a full international programme next year. While there will be a certain ‘home’ advantage for us – as there will be at our next race, the Spa 1000kms – we mustn’t forget that we are competing against some of the best teams, cars and drivers in the world and that anything can happen in a 24-hour event. I therefore take it as a sign of confidence in the human and technical qualities of ProSpeed Competition that a professional like François Duval chooses to race with us for the second straight year.”
2007 PROSPEED COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE
January 12th-13th Dubai 24 Hours (UAE), non-championshipJune 24th Monza (I), FIA GT Round 4July 28th-29th Spa 24 Hours (B), FIA GT Round 6August 19th Spa 1000Kms (B), LMS Round 4October 6th Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta (USA), ALMS Round 11October 21st Zolder (B), FIA GT Round 10 (To be confirmed)
