Without a doubt the calendar planners did their best, but unfortunately this season one round of the Belcar coincides with a World championship FIA GT1 race, namely this coming weekend. In Portimao, located in the Portuguese Algarve the GT1s are preparing for their seventh out of ten races, whilst in Spa-Francorchamps the Belcar will be on track for their fourth out of six meetings. Bert Longin, who is competing in both championships, had to face up to a difficult choice. “In such situations you need to be rational and analyse both situations. Together with François Verbist I’m leading in the Belcar championship and through a combination of circumstances I’m no longer in a winning position in the GT1 World Championship, and therefore in consultation with all parties concerned we decided to travel on down to Spa.”
In Spa with the World Championship spirit
In Spa Bert Longin together with François Verbist will be defending his leader’s position in the national championship for GTs and Touring cars, namely Belcar. The assignment for François and Bert at the wheel of the WRT Audi R8 LMS during the four hour race is quite clear: to win.
Bert Longin: “We presently hold a one point lead on the competition, which is the smallest possible margin. If we want to pull away from Kumpen, Goossens, Soulet, Maes or Franchi, there’s no point in doing any calculations, but we do need to finish ahead of them in Spa which implies winning the race. For me the national title has now become the number one priority, especially in the context with Audi and WRT, which is surely worthy of works entourage. I don’t make any distinction between the national and international weekends, as proven by the Belcar option and I’m travelling on down to the Ardennes fully prepared to do battle. On top of that the Audi R8 LMS is in great shape and improving by the minute, as shown by the recent performances during amongst others the French GT3 championship. I reckon that all the ingredients are thereto pull off a resounding weekend.”
Finishing off the World championship
In Portimao Bert will be replaced by Alessandro Pier Guidi, but in principle will be finishing off the remainder of the season himself.
Bert Longin: “This weekend is exceptional, but after that we’ll pick up the thread where we left off. For me our performances, with Nico Verdonck in Spa and with Alessandro Pier Guidi on the Nürburgring, are proof that in GT1 this season there’s still the possibility of an excellent ending. Back in 2008 I also had to wait right up to the final round in San Luis, Argentina, in order to win, so why not this season? I wish Triple H Maserati loads of success in Portugal!”
Source : Bert Longin