ALD Automotive leaves the Spa-Francorchamps battlefield with its head held high. The two McLaren MP4-12C, entered by the Boutsen Ginion Racing Team were unfortunately involved in crashes, just at the time that they were performing brilliantly. The rain, the traffic and the intense battle were the main ingredients of this 2012 edition of the 24 Hours of Spa. As Sarah Bovy so perfectly put into words just before midnight: “We proved that we had the speed and the reliability and next year we’ll be going all out to clinch a brilliant result.”
Tens of thousand spectators in the grandstands, great weather and a fantastic starting grid of 66 cars: these were the conditions just before the start on Saturday at 16.00hrs. The start was a highly intense moment and especially for Nico Verdonck, in the #5 McLaren MP4-12C, who took off like a bolt out of the stating blocks, surprised a few competitors on the legendary Raidillon and during two hours held his position amongst the top players, something that his teammates will continue to do later.
Nico Verdonck: “The start was a gamble, but in no way an excessive risk, as I truly wanted to link up with the cars up front in order to be amongst the top-5 in the race. And we succeeded. Our car was brilliant and we were up in the race, entirely as planned. The team also perfectly anticipated the showers and the tyre changes were perfect. In all honesty this was a dream race. Everything ran as scheduled and during my second stint in the terrible rainstorm I was able to clock up my fastest lap. Without a doubt I was on my way to a place in the top-3… Unfortunately it all went wrong just before midnight when a slower McLaren did not see me coming at La Source and I was rammed off the track; first place was gone, and gone were any hopes of a brilliant result. I’m truly disappointed, but the team’s good work, the car’s reliability and everyone at ALD Automotive who were closely involved in this project, have given me the strength to start the countdown to next season.”
A similar comment from Sarah Bovy, who unfortunately was also forced to throw in the towel early on in the race as the result of a crash. “During a safety car procedure my teammate Marlène went off track during a heavy rainstorm. She hit a heavy water stream and the car flew off the track. Unfortunately for the McLaren, which had handled brilliantly under all conditions, the chassis had been damaged and we were forced to retire. But I would like to join in on what Nico said; everything was super, and I can’t wait to start the countdown to the following edition.”
The final word regarding this intense and extremely heavy 24 Hours of Spa is left to Miel Horsten, General Manager of ALD Automotive. “Two of the company’s key values are team spirit and passion, and those we come across here. We are as one unit, in both good and less good moments, and the first few hours here were good, but the sequel due to race incidents not. But hat goes to prove that we are one solid unit! I don’t need to explain the passion, what occurred here we come across in the company also, so without further ado, rendezvous in 2013!”
ALD Automotive #5 McLaren MP4-12C – Eric van de Poele (Bel), Nico Verdonck (Bel), Jack Clarke (UK) and Edouard Mondron (Bel)
ALD Automotive #15 McLaren MP4-12C – Sarah Bovy (Bel), Marlène Broggi (Fr), Massimo Vignali (Ita) and Jérôme Thiry (Bel)
Source : ALD Automotive