Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae!
Of all these, the Belgae are the bravest, as Julius Caesar once said. But, during the Total 24 Hours of Spa, will they also be the fastest ?
It is now a fact : the 2013 edition of the Total 24 Hours of Spa will be a particularly hard-fought battle in all the categories, with 44 teams and 70 cars entered, including 248 drivers of 26 different nationalities, of whom 26 are from Belgium !
During the 2013 Total 24 Hours of Spa, the Belgian drivers will therefore be facing the rest of the world in their own back gardenAnd what a garden ! Changing track conditions, various traps to avoid, significant gradients and intense traffic on the track : a legendary event with difficult conditions for men and machine alike.
To shine a spotlight on the talent and performance of the Belgian drivers, SRO Motorsports Group, in collaboration with Blancpain and the RACB, is inaugurating the Total 24 Hours of SpaBelgium Team. The aim is to put the Belgian drivers in the forefront through specific press operations, giving fans the opportunity to meet their drivers in person during the Spa parade or the various autograph sessions, as well as live interviews with the drivers on the Web
As for all national teams, a captain and spokesman is necessary, and the choice fell quite naturally on Koen Wauters, who will be driving the Team Boutsen Ginion McLaren :
"I am both happy and surprised, but I understand the choice. Through me, it will be possible to reach a wider audience. There are drivers of a higher level than me, such as Bas Leinders or Maxime Martin, but my celebrity will bring something extra to this initiative. I am honoured to represent this group, which I do with great pleasure
I have been taking part in motorsport for over twenty years, at a good level, and Ive taken part in the 24 Hours on ten or eleven occasions.
With this initiative, we will clearly show that there are many Belgian drivers, and that a great number of them compete at the highest international level.
It is difficult to bring peoples attention to motorsport, but with this initiative we will represent Belgium as a whole. Moreover, the Total 24 Hours of Spa are a true Belgian event, and we can be proud to be Belgian. And most importantly, these are our 24 Hours ! "
The eminent members of this group, whose aim will be to see the Belgian flag raised on the various podiums, include:
Bertrand BaguetteSarah BovyFrederic Bouvy - David DermontChristophe de Fierlant - Greg FranchiPierre Grivegnee - Didier GrandjeanHenk Haane - Enzo IdeJean Michel Jerome - Christian KeldersAnthony Kumpen - Ronnie LatinneBas Leinders - Maxime MartinLouis Machiels - Bert RedantWolfgang Reip - Michael SchmetzMaxime Soulet - Laurens VanthoorNico Verdonck - Frederic Vervisch
There are also a number of Belgian teams who will be part of this Belgian Team with :
Belgian Audi Club Team WRTVincent VosseMarc VDS Racing TeamBas LeindersProspeed Competition - Rudi PendersGPR AMRPino SperlingaBoutsen Ginion - Olivier LaineSpeed LoverAndre Vanhoof
Follow and support the performances and lives of the Belgium Team throughout the week of the Total 24 Hours of Spa on Facebook and on the website : total24hours.com
Blancpain - Over 275 years of tradition in motion
Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the watch brand bearing his name is the oldest in the world. Blancpain is currently engaged to the renewal of mechanical watchmaking and to passing on exceptional expertise from one generation to the next through constant investment in human resources, production facilities and research. This approach is its strength and the expression of our long-term vision, even though it goes against the tide of a certain tendency to seek immediate profit.
From the creation of components through to watch design, Blancpain is distinguished by its ability to develop exceptional movements. Over the past eight years, the Manufacture has indeed developed no less than 29 new calibres. Through its various models, Blancpain preserves its heritage of precision and elegance, while also displaying an innovative and occasionally provocative spirit. Its range encompasses the sportive L-evolution line, the legendary Fifty Fathoms divers watch, as well as the classic Villeret collection, the high complication from Le Brassus collection and the Women models.
Total
A top-tier international oil company, Total is also a global gas and petrochemical operator. Active in over 130 countries, our 96.000 employees implement their expertise in several industrial areas such as exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining and chemicals, trading and shipping of oil products and new energy resources. This way, our employees contribute to the worldwide energy demand of today and tomorrow. The 4.800 Belgian employees of our Group are mainly active in refining and chemicals and marketing and services.
As market leader, Total Belgium is known for its innovative products and services. By supplying energy solutions, we help our customers reduce their energy consumption. Our Excellium fuels and Fuel Economy lubricants, for example, are two product ranges valued for their good results. Moreover, the diversity of products is much appreciated: ranging from heating oil and wood pellets to lubricants, automotive and aviation fuels to bitumen, Total covers all market demands. In addition of the 500+ service stations (including 12 with recharging stations for electrical vehicles), the Total network consists of multiple regional centers and depots and 126 distributors spread across the country. At Total, we focus on the customer!
PirelliOfficial Tyre Supplier to the Blancpain Endurance Series
Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer and world leader in the automotive industry. It has an exclusive relationship with over 50 racing series worldwide, including Formula One.
Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in endurance racing, and has also claimed a huge variety of class wins in GT racing all over the world.
The design of the new Pirelli GT tyres meets the needs of the Blancpain Endurance Series while maintaining the performance characteristics that endurance drivers have appreciated in the past.The slick tyres used for GT racing are branded P Zero: just like the slicks that have become a central feature of Formula One. The name P Zero is used in the highest categories of motorsport such as GT racing.
