The ALD Automotive Team can hold their head high as they look forward to the start of the 24 Hours of Spa. Nico Verdonck slotted the Boutsen Ginion Racing McLaren MP4-12C into a brilliant sixth place on the starting grid, whilst the team’s second car finished off the first assignment and will start from the 47th spot on the grid for the grueling 24 hours race. Following on from the qualifying sessions the real work really starts, with as from the light turning to green on Saturday afternoon at 16.00hrs, a 24 hour long battle between 66 fabulous GT cars and this in front of overcrowded grandstands. All those unable to cheer on Eric van de Poele (Bel), Nico Verdonck (Bel), Jack Clarke (UK), Sarah Bovy (Bel), Marlène Broggi (Fr), Massimo Vignali (Ita) and Jérôme Thiry (Bel) on the track, can in fact follow the race on RTL, Life!TV or Motors TV.
Nico Verdonck stranded a mere 0,612 seconds from the pole, and this for his debut at Spa in the McLaren MP4-12C, in the splendid black/red colours of ALD Automotive. So in fact his sixth place on the grid will be his start position for what is undoubtedly the greatest GT race in the world.
Nico Verdonck: “The data has been somewhat shuffled around, seeing we did actually finish in sixth place, but normally Thursday’s top 20 lap times would take on an individual battle against the clock as final decider for the start order. Dark clouds, thunder and lightning and an incredible amount of water threw a spanner in the works and the Clerk of the Course decided to cancel the Top 20 Super Pole and to retain Thursday evening’s start order. This was obviously a lost opportunity for us, as who knows we might have clinched a top 5 or even a top 3 or better… But in fact it’s the same for all competitors. The fact that as a driver I was out to take on the battle goes without saying! I’m pretty positive for the race, as the car is good and as long as we steer clear from any problems I’m dreaming of a podium place, just as everyone else in the team. But now it’s just a question of waiting for the race to start.”
Sarah Bovy and her teammates experienced the qualifying sessions in another way, as they have different ambitions.
Sarah Bovy: “The McLaren MP4-12C is an absolutely brilliant car, a driver’s dream. We all needed to become acquainted with the car and our aim was to build up our confidence as quickly as possible and fully prepare for the race. We succeeded, nothing turned sour for us and it goes without saying that are impatiently looking forward to the race.”
The final word is left to the most experienced man in the team, and with his six victories the most successful driver at the start of these 24 Hours of Spa.
Eric van de Poele: “I especially took my time to get to know the car, it is a modern race machine, with all possible technology on board. I’m especially delighted to be working with such motivated young people, who are fast, real team players and out to hold the ALD Automotive colours high!”
#5 McLaren MP4-12c: Eric van de Poele (Bel), Nico Verdonck (Bel), Jack Clarke (UK) and Edouard Mondron (Bel).
#15 McLaren MP4-12c: Sarah Bovy (Bel), Marlène Broggi (Fr), Massimo Vignali (Ita) and Jérôme Thiry (Bel).
Source : ALD Automotive