Marc Goossens has defended the colours of ProSpeed Competition, the team run by Luc Goris and Rudi Penders, more than once over the years. Who does not recall the excellent victory on the Nürburgring in the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2012 or the various participations of the Geel- based driver in the 24 Hours of Zolder and Spa behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 entered by the Limburg team. It was back in 2001 that the collaboration between Marc Goossens and Rudi Penders took off in a Porsche 911 as teammates in the legendary Belcar championship. 14 years ago the duo started their winning collaboration in the New Race Festival at Circuit Zolder and once again to recall this victory this weekend we saw Marc Goossens and Rudi Penders in a ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 RS during the two races of the Supercar Challenge, in the context of the… New Race Festival at Circuit Zolder.
The Supercar Challenge is an international competition, with mainly drivers and teams emanating from the Low Lands, split into three race categories. The Super GT, GT and GTB are obviously reserved for the GT machines, among which various Porsche 911. The calendar does not only boast races in Zandvoort, Assen, Spa and Zolder, but also a visit across the Channel to compete at the former F1 circuit at Brands Hatch. As such at Circuit Zolder ProSpeed Competition was on hand, with at the wheel of the Porsche 911 RS, Marc Goossens and Rudi Penders. For Rudi Penders it was a comeback, since his victory in the 24 Hours of Zolder back in 2009, at that time also with the very same Porsche. On Saturday the duo brought the Porsche home in 5th place, whilst on Sunday the Porsche crossed the line in 4th place.
Marc Goossens (Driver – #176 ProSpeed Porsche 911 RS)
“What a brilliant idea of Rudi (Penders) and Luc (Goris) to do this. It was exactly 14 years ago, during the New Race Festival at Zolder, that we first raced together, in those days with an RTM Porsche 996 GT3-R, the car with which the team competed at Le Mans in 2000, with among others Rudi behind the wheel. At that time we won the first race in Zolder, after which we raced together during another two seasons, and in fact with the car we are competing with this weekend. Together we were champions in GTB in 2002. I did after that work with Rudi on various occasions, as driver, but more especially as team manager for his ProSpeed Competition team. Among others at Le Mans, but we also worked together in various other races. It goes without saying that after such a long collaboration you build up close ties, that are far deeper than pure professional, and this is why I am truly delighted with this initiative. Oh, and for the fans, we will also be competing together in the following round of the Supercar Challenge in Zolder.”
Rudi Penders (Driver – #176 ProSpeed Porsche 911 RS)
“This is something different from standing back and working out a strategy based on the on-going race facts. I must admit that I needed to rediscover my rhythm during the first laps, especially after 6 years without competing. Quite obviously there is a historic component linked to our participation, but the Supercar Challenge is also a great competition for our car and the team. The calendar is well balanced, our car remains competitive and the diversity of the entrants’ field is great. We can also enter our car – or other – for other drivers in the championship.”