• The fourth round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux as support series of the DTM in Zolder
• In Pro, the Top 3 is separated by only seven points
• Everything is still possible in Pro-Am in the duel between Saelens and Dullaart
It's time to start the second half of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux! After Spa, Spielberg and Zandvoort, the drivers and teams will head to Zolder next weekend to finish the fourth round of the season. For many teams, this meeting is a home race and, like the next two meetings, it will be held in the prestigious and attractive setting of a DTM weekend.
A lot of spectacle is expected next weekend, and with good reason! With just seven points between the top three of the championship, the title race in Pro is more open than ever. The same in Pro-Am, where Nicolas Saelens and Floris Dullaart are separated by barely eight points. Add to that the presence of a few outsiders eager for revenge, and you get one of the most beautiful outlooks ever for this monomeric cup reserved for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992.
Pro: will Derdaele continue on his momentum?
By winning twice in Zandvoort, Dylan Derdaele (Belgium Racing) once again took control of the championship. At his home race, the Limburger is therefore keen to continue on his momentum, and thus build a slightly more comfortable lead.
However, the 2016 champion is well aware that he will have to keep an eye on Dutchman Huub van Eijndhoven (#TeamPGZ by JW RaceService) and his compatriot Glenn Van Parijs (NGT Racing). The young wolves follow at four and seven lengths respectively from the championship leader and are a real threat to Derdaele. Especially if they manage to combine regularity with beautiful outliers, something they have managed to do several times since the start of the season.
In addition to the three title candidates, the Dutchman Xavier Maassen (#TeamPGZ by Red Ant Racing) will also have to be taken into account in the battle for victory. Since he made his comeback at the Red Bull Ring, the 2017 champion has often been plagued by bad luck, but by driving to pole position twice at the previous meeting, Maassen showed that he still has the necessary speed. Also to keep an eye on: his compatriot Thierry Vermeulen. In the second race at Zandvoort he came in second with the fastest lap of the race, so the representative from Team GP Elite is well armed to deliver a surprise.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Freymuth (PG Motorsport) and Steven van Rhee (Team GP Elite) battle for fourth place in the standings. By driving to the podium in Zolder? Who knows!
Pro-Am: Saelen's favourite, but…
Since the debut of the season, Nicolas Saelens (Belgium Racing) has been surfing on a positive wave. With five wins from six races in the Pro-Am category, the Belgian seems unstoppable. Yet the favorite of the Zolder weekend is only eight points ahead of Floris Dullaart (Team GP Elite). And Saelens would do well to keep an eye on the Dutchman! For the time being, Dullaart seems to be subscribed in second place, but he will do everything he can to finish a step higher in Zolder.
Behind this duo, the battle for the podium places is well worth it. Ziad Geris (Team GP Elite), Nicolas Vandierendonck (Q1 Trackracing by EMG) and Filip Teunkens (Q1 Trackracing by EMG) are among the contenders.
Am: Lauryssen logical favorite
One thing is certain: in Am, Jan Lauryssen (Q1 Trackracing by EMG) is head and shoulders above the rest this season. In his very first season in the fastest single-brand cup in the Benelux, he already won five of the six races in his category and usually even preceded a number of Pro-Am drivers. Lauryssen wants to extend his success series in Zolder a little further. Jeroen Kreeft (Parker Revs Motorsport) is part of the group of outsiders, as is Luc Vanderfeesten (#TeamPGZ by Red Ant Racing).
The two qualifying sessions will be completed on Saturday between 10:35 AM and 11:10 AM. The first game in 30 minutes starts that same day at 3.15 pm, the second on Sunday at 10.45 am. Both races will be broadcast live and can be followed on the official Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux Facebook page.
Comments