Following a 2012 season with Ferrari in the World GT Championship Enzo Ide in is for a brilliant double assignment in 2013. The young West Flanders based driver will be competing with Phoenix Audi in both the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA GT Series, teamed up with fellow countryman Anthony Kumpen and for the longer races the German GT1 world champion Markus Winkelhock. The second weekend of the FIA GT Series in front of a home crowd at Circuit Zolder did not offer up what the team and Enzo Ide had hoped for. With a seventh place on Saturday and a sixth on Sunday a fair amount of points were scored, but notwithstanding that Enzo Ide and Anthony Kumpen were disappointed. “The car is good, but just lacks that little touch to fight up front for the top places. We’re now going to do everything in our power to be ready to do battle during the next round, to be held at Zandvoort, in the Netherlands on 6th and 7th July.”
The story regarding the two races is near on identical; a good start and once the position of Enzo Ide and Anthony Kumpen had been secured, the Phoenix Audi boasting the splendid Lebeau Courally livery retained its position. Enzo Ide and Anthony Kumpen tried the impossible, strongly defended their position, but just missed out on joining up with the leading three or four cars. The points related to their top-6 scored on Sunday are therefore the most important battle fact of this second FIA GT Series meeting on home ground in Zolder.
Enzo Ide: “On top of that you can add a poor pit stop on Saturday and then in my eyes this entire weekend is not what I had expected. I travelled here with a view of a new podium, following that in Nogaro during the first weekend of the FIA GT Series and that didn’t happen, so one should be honest and conclude that the objectives were not attained. On the other hand one should not really call it a failed weekend, because the car is reliable and fast, as otherwise one wouldn’t finish sixth overall in such a reputable competition. There were more than 20 top European teams here on the grid so our result is deserved, but Anthony and I were aiming far higher. The code word now in order to progress is work. Everyone, not only us but also the Phoenix team crew and the Audi collaborators will need to put their heads together in order to make another step forward. At Zandvoort, at the beginning of July, no way will we be satisfied with a sixth place, that’s for sure!”
“Following this home race I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my sponsors and partners, who were all present here. Also all those around me, who support me day in day out, and for which I’m truly thankful.”
Rendezvous next weekend for the first race of the GT Open on the French Paul Ricard circuit, where Enzo Ide will be competing at the wheel of the GPR Aston Martin. He will be sharing the Aston Martin Vantage V12 with the fast Brussels based Maxime Soulet.
Source : Enzo Ide