With Maserati the Vitaphone team, with amongst others Michael Bartels and Eric van de Poele, together with ALD Automotive won the 24 Hours of Spa three times in the era of the GT1 cars. Today this world renowned race in the Belgian Ardennes is reserved for a new class, namely the GT3 cars, and once again the ALD Automotive Vita4One is one of the main contenders for victory, even though the team swapped one prestigious Italian make, Maserati, for another, namely Ferrari. The team is entering three cars, three Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, for ten drivers: Eric van de Poele-Nico Verdonck-Jean-Karl Vernay, Frank Kechele-Matteo Bobbi-Giacomo Petrobelli and Louis Machiels-Niek Hommerson-Michael Bartels-Andrea Bertolini.
“The team’s ambition is a fourth win”, is how the German team owner and driver Michael Bartels opened the conversation at the press conference, “however we are more than fully aware how difficult this will be. In this edition of the 24 Hours of Spa no less than 10 top makes and in the region of 25 cars all have the potential of claiming victory. The new regulations in Spa and in the Blancpain Endurance Series – and in which the 24 Hours of Spa is also included – is focussed on the GT3 cars, which have all been evenly matched by the organisers. This gives you a highly balanced field, with a well-nigh endless list of candidates for the victory. Our Ferrari 458 GT3 is one of the candidates for this victory in the international highly reputed GT event, next to Mercedes, Porsche, Lamborghini and quite a few other makes. I’m extremely proud of my team that we have here, seeing it was only on 25th March that we first saw the brand new Ferrari 458 for the first time. Since then we have worked extremely hard, with amongst others one victory in the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series in Navarra as result. We are therefore fully confident for Spa, but are only too aware that this will not be a simple assignment.”
“This trust in Michael Bartels’ team and the identical aims and objectives also drives us”, Matthys Hoffmann, the ALD Automotive Deputy General Manager, emphasized. “For us the 24 Hours of Spa is, within the marketing strategy of our company, a major event, but we also thoroughly enjoy motorsport and together with the entire company and our 800 guests we are going to fully support the team during the entire 24 hours.”
The three ALD Automotive Vita4One cars will be at the start on Saturday at 16.00hrs with as sole ambition to clinch the top tread of the podium, some 24 hours later.
#1 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3: Eric van de Poele (B)-Nico Verdonck (B)-Jean-Karl Vernay (Fr)
Nico Verdonck: “This is the first time that I will be competing in the 24 Hours of Spa and that in itself is an exceptional event. I’m fully acquainted with the team and the car, having won a race earlier this season during the Blancpain Endurance Series and I’m looking forward to this race with a mix of impatience and confidence.”
#2 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3: Louis Machiels (B)-Niek Hommerson (NL)-Michael Bartels (D)-Andrea Bertolini (It)
Michael Bartels: “The mix of fast gentlemen drivers and professional drivers is definitely not a disadvantage in a gruelling race such as Spa. Louis and Niek know the car, drive fast and are familiar with the race, having performed strongly last year in both the 24 Hours of Spa as also the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We are also going to help them in the battle for their championship in the Pro/Am class.”
#29 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3: Frank Kechele (D)-Matteo Bobbi (It)-Giacomo Petrobelli (It)
Matteo Bobbi: “Our team is well balanced and we are also targeting victory, but everything will depend on a few small details. Whoever spends the least time in the pit lane and does not commit any errors, will come close to clinching victory on Sunday.”
Source : ALD Automotive