ProSpeed Competition as also atrocious climatic conditions played major roles during this inaugural round of the Blancpain Endurance Series 2012. On the rain soaked Monza circuit, Marc Goossens and Xavier Maassen – teamed up with Marc Hennerici – led the operations for more than two-thirds of the race. Not wanting to be outdone by his team mates Maxime Soulet hoisted himself up into top of the “ProAm” category leader board. This hardened driver of the NEC liveried car put Dylan Derdaele and Paul Van Splunteren on the right track for an excellent performance. After three hours of racing under an absolute deluge, the Porsche 911 GT3-R #75 and #74 respectively finished fifth overall and fourth in their category.

The climatic conditions at the Italian Monza circuit played a major role during this opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series. Due to the heavy rainfall the 55 cars took the start at 14.15hrs behind the safety car. Marc Goossens (#75) and Maxime Soulet (#74) were the drivers at the start in the two ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3-R and kept to the safety car’s pace for some 25 minutes. The sign was then given to allow the race proper to take off and from that moment both Marc Goossens in the Alcra Flash Porsche 911, and Maxime Soulet at the wheel of the Soleco Porsche 911 GT3-R started their climb up through the pack. After some fifteen minutes Marc Goossens grabbed the lead at the Parabolica curve, whilst Maxime Soulet was close behind and promptly took the lead in the “ProAm” class. Then the Dutchman, Xavier Maassen (#75), in his maiden race for the Belgian team, took over and solidly held to the lead whilst Dylan Derdaele, in his debut at an international level, completed his stint perfectly. All looked highly positive for the Liege based team, however whereas the rain had been ProSpeed Competition’s ally, a drying track near the end of the race was something else. Marc Hennerici, the MoWeko driver, was forced to concede the lead and finally crossed the line in fifth place, whereby he safeguarded valuable points, whilst Paul van Splunteren just missed out on the Top-3 in the “ProAm” class.

Rudi Penders (Team Principal):

“We were fully aware that the level of competition was extremely high. We are fully convinced that we have the means to claim victory. And we have now proved it. As a team. On the race track the drivers were faced with atrocious conditions. In the pits, our technical team – once again brilliant when it came down to refuelling – played a highly active part in the consistency of our performances throughout the weekend. The analysis speaks for itself: two Porsche ProSpeed Competition cars in the Top-15 during qualifying, both team cars leading their category during the race, and both cars in the final Top-10 … not forgetting the status of first Porsche at the finish as also that of the two Porsches being the fastest in the race. ProSpeed Competition definitely have come up trumps in the Blancpain Endurance Series.”

Source : ProSpeed Competition