The 13th and 20th final positions at the finish of the 24 Hours of Spa will not go down in the annals of ProSpeed Competition. And yet. By competing in one of the most prestigious Belgian events, ProSpeed Competition took on the best European teams. A spectacle where the Liége based team were present in fighting spirit. The Porsche 911 GT3-R manned by the Goossens-Maassen-Hennerici trio were holding a remarkable sixth place around brunch time. The Van Splunteren-Soulet-Derdaele-Bouvy quartet, in the NEC-Soleco-RedBull Mobile colours, continually increased their performances during “double stints” with high strategic value. Unfortunately these would not compensate for the loss of time incurred as the result of a transmission worry (#75) and consecutive suspension breaks (#74) due to multiple contacts with slower competitors during the night. However none of this will deprive the team from celebrating the victory of the Bouvy-Kelders-Coens team in the BRCC endurance race.
Neither the freaky weather conditions, mechanical hazards nor the weight of tiredness got the better of the two Porsche 911 GT3-R entered by ProSpeed Competition in the 24 Hours of Spa. Rudi Penders and Luc Goris stated it repeatedly, “the spirit of competition ” must remain a hallmark. To finish the 24 Hours, whatever the final ranking, is to produce the last drop of effort, to fulfil one’s commitment, and to respect one’s partners. Values that ProSpeed Competition has no intention of abandoning.
Rudi Penders (Team Principal): “If one links the dramatic climatic conditions with the pace of the GT3s of the latest generation, yes, then these 24 Hours of Spa are amongst the most testing in which ProSpeed Competition has competed. And yes we need to highlight the physical investment made by the drivers but – today – especially those of the mechanics, the mechanics of all the teams. One car experiencing transmission problems, another with suspension worries as the result of various contacts with slower competitors during the night, the Porsches still have a soul… and that’s positive! »
Marc Goossens (24 Hours of Spa – Porsche 911 GT3-R #75 – “Pro Cup”): “The years fly by and the competition becomes more complex with each meeting. You need to experience that final sprint… launched as from 7 o’clock in the morning to fully appreciate the treatment the drivers inflict on their cars. At that pace the slightest weakness is converted into a substantial time loss.”
Maxime Soulet (24 Hours of Spa – Porsche 911 GT3-R #74 – “Pro-Am Cup”): “Intense, challenging… to such a point that at times it turns into rage. Paul, Dylan, Frédéric and myself were fully enlivened to perform really well. A faulty electrical pod held us back at the beginning and forced us into a catch-up race. Yes, at one time or another during the race all of us took a walk through hell when behind the wheel. Pity that we can’t enjoy the exhilaration of a result.”
Frédéric Bouvy (BRCC – Porsche 911 GT3 RS #3): “On the results front, a victory, a podium, yes the weekend fully met our expectations. A great pity that this hasn’t made much difference in the Championship classifications, the calculation method giving a major advantage to the smaller engines. But between you and I, what a pleasure to tame a Porsche 911 when, on a rain soaked track it is fitted with “slicks”. Whether it be a GT3 RS or GT3-R, what efficiency, what a joy. I experienced a hellish weekend. When do we start all over again?”
Source : ProSpeed Competition