The Finnish driver, Markus Palttala, will join forces with the Skylimit Yokohama Race Team. Palttala has his roots in the Belcar Championship, competing in the series from 2005 to 2008.
“For me it feels a little like coming home,” he said. “I enjoyed many fantastic battles and results in my Belcar years. The Zolder 24 was always a highlight in my calendar and I’m pleased to be coming back.”
He will be mentoring the drivers of the BMW Clubsport Trophy #69. Both Markus and Skylimits Team Coach Andy Jaenen enjoy great careers in motorsport, albeit on different levels, and have worked alongside each other before, both in the USA and at the Nürburgring.
This co-operation comes in a year where both have celebrated some of their greatest personal results. Markus drove to victory at the recent Spa 24 Hours with the MarcVDS BMW Z4 GT3. Andy was part of the Riley Motorsports Viper team, playing his role in winning the 24 Hours of Daytona as spotter.
Markus Palttala will be joined by four junior drivers in the Skylimit Yokohama BMW 325i. At just 17 years old Robin Put is the youngster of the team. He made his debut during the Skylimit trackdays only 18 months ago and raced successfully in the Belcar Trophy this year. He will be joined by his regular teammate Davy Suffeleers, who also drove his first laps on Circuit Zolder when he was just 16. But it took 12 years to make his racing dream come true and enter the Belcar Trophy. Together, they’ve shared their first two races and finished on the podium both times. Now they will do everything possible to make it three in a row.
They will be joined by Simon Podhalicz, who is a Dutch driver with years of trackday experience. He is often seen on track with his VW Golf Rallye but tested many times with Clubsport-spec BMWs: “The last test went very well,” said Simon. “I’m ready for the race”.
“As he rarely misses a Skylimits trackday at Zolder, he must be the rookie with most circuit miles,” admitted Andy Jaenen.
Rounding off the team is Dale Lomas. The Englishman is well-known at the Nürburgring as the owner of the BridgeToGantry.com website and as a freelance journalist for Pistonheads.com and other petrolhead oriented magazines. His relationship with Skylimit events goes back many years, where he was supported by this leading Belgian trackday organization in his first-ever races in the VLN. This will be his second 24 Hour race of 2015 after bringing his BMW 330i to the finish of the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May.
“The primary goal for the team is to finish the race,” said Team Coach Andy. “But it’s also important to remain in the top 3 of the BMW Clubsport Trophy class of the Belcar Trophy.”
The QSR BMW will be serviced by SRD before and during the race.
The second car of the team will be the #70 Porsche 997 in GT4 spec. This car finished in 10th place last year after winning the GT Light class. The car will be serviced by former overall winning team First Motorsport. Jerry De Weerdt will be one of the drivers on the Porsche, just like last year. The Nascar Euroseries driver won the GT Light class in his first participation of the 24 Hours of Zolder. He is keen to repeat this result this year!
Fellow driver Danique Aelaerts is a real Skylimit product. After her first steps on the racetrack she won the Drift Cup in 2011. In 2013 she drove her first 24 Hours of Zolder in a Mazda MX5 and won the GT-2000cc class. One year later she got second place in the GT Challenger class with another Porsche of the Skylimit Yokohama Race Team. She wants to get her third podium in a row in this hard race. Third driver Peter Van Delm had a lot of success, but many years ago. Since his comeback to this race last year in a Clubsport BMW he wanted to step up his game and to get back behind the wheel of a Porsche. His experience will help him to be a strong addition in this line-up.
Last but not least we have Jo Lammens. He started his career in trackdays and was the first Belgian Drift Champion in 2004. Meanwhile he is the partner of Andy Jaenen in Skylimit Events. He won his class in the 24 Hours of Zolder in 2010, 2011 and 2014 and got a second place in 2012. His experience and car control is great. If he finishes the race you should have a look in the first left corner where he will perform some spectacular donuts.
There is still room for a 5th driver with experience and a budget to fill the final spot in this car. The drivers and teams have one big goal : finish the race. But if a podium is possible they will go for it!