In a brilliant manner ProSpeed Competition won the 24 Hours of Zolder. The Rudi Penders, Franz Lamot, David Loix and Louis Machiels quartet finished the 31st edition of this national classic in a winning new record distance. In their ProSpeed Competition Porsche 996 GT3 RS they finished ahead of the Porsche of Bert Longin, François Verbist, Henk Haane and Ruben Maes. The 2009 edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder was a thrilling and open edition, with on top of that a new distance record of no less than 844 laps. The joy of the Liege based Porsche-team was pretty big. “We drove the perfect race”, was the brief comment from Rudi Penders when talking to the media at Circuit Zolder. ProSpeed Competition started off in eighth place, drove a spotless race, of which only 29 minutes in the pitlane, and by morning had taken over command to finally cross the line on the dot of 16.00hrs as the overall winners.

“How do you win such a race?” was the question put to Rudi Penders by several journalists after the race.

“Well actually the recipe is as simple as it is complex. In the first instance as driver you have to ensure that you drive a faultless race, because to what avail is the work put in by the team, manufacturer or partner if you yourself make mistakes? But there is more. You always need a dose of luck, but what is more important, especially for a gruelling race such as Zolder, is a perfect car. Your car needs to be 100% tuned to this race and such a car was given to Franz, David, Louis and myself from ProSpeed Competition in Zolder. Without any exaggeration our car was the best of the lot. If you then add a highly experienced team of collaborators, ranging from the mechanics in the pitlane, over those responsible for the data, through to the logistics and the technical suppliers, then you are just about there. On top of that if you then run your own race without tuning into what the competition is up to, then you are getting pretty close. If you then add to that the fact that we hardly experienced any unforeseen pitstops, then the sum of the parts is this great victory. But this result has demanded years of work. On several occasions we came close, just think back to 2005, 2007 or 2008, but it is only now that it worked out. Allow me to thank all those who helped us achieve this victory.”

For the four drivers from ProSpeed Competition this was the first victory in the 24 Hours of Zolder, as it was for the team also. “I have won a great deal with Porsche, Rudi and ProSpeed, but this exceptional”, a happy and smiling Franz Lamot remarked. “Finally, I would like to add. This is the umpteenth participation in the Zolder endurance race and this victory was still missing from my record of achievements. We came to the start really well prepared.”

David Loix and Louis Machiels were also over the moon. “Following my great fourth place in the FIA GT2 during the 24 Hours of Spa, this is another brilliant result”, the Limburg based Machiels beamed. “I reckon I have joined a pretty strong team.”

For Porsche this 31st edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder was an enormous success. In addition to ProSpeed Competition’s victory, the make also clinched the double in GT3, a win in GT4 and both the other Porsches at start finished also.

Source : ProSpeed