The final round of the Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar Original 2006 takes place this Sunday at Zolder. This last race will reveal the last secrets of this year’s championship, even though some of the series major questions have been answered off-track. Why?
Despite the marvellous double of SRT during the Spa Racing Festival – the team also took the lead of the Belcar championship -, Patrick Selleslagh decided, even before the Spa Racing Festival, not to come to Zolder. SRT will instead, with both the Corvette C5-Rs, be competing in the last round of the French FFSA-GT series in Magny-Cours.

This absence has serious consequences for both SRT and the Belcar championship outcome, as the Belcar rules stipulate that in order to be in the final ranking, one has to be present for the last race. So, GLPK is now without each and wins the overall Belcar and the class-1 titles, while Kumpen and Longin are the sole contenders left for the drivers challenge. Anthony Kumpen now leads the Driver Challenge by 2 points, but if Longin takes pole (3 units) and Kumpen sets the fastest lap in the race (1 unit), both GLPK-partners are indeed co-champions.

Patrick Selleslagh himself explains his decision: “We are saying goodbye to Belcar Original on a high note, after our victories at the 24 Hours of Zolder and the Spa Racing Festival, and as from now we are focussing on 2007. As we will remain active in GT1 in the seasons to come our future lies in the FFSA-GT and no longer in the Belcar Original. Hence our decision to finish off the season by competing, with our two cars, at Le Mans as also at Magny-Cours. SRT today needs to take decisive action in order to perform at a high level next season. We are fully aware of the consequences for the Belgian championship, but for our team the future lies in GT1 and as such in France or eventually in an international series such as the LMS”

But we’ll also have to miss the sponsors of the SRT-squad: “That’s correct”, Patrick Selleslagh endorsed. “Sara Lee is one of the pillars of the team’s success. It is also thanks to them that we grew and that today we have reached our objective. But today our ways part, even though they might cross again one day; today you can’t predict the future. All that there is left for me to do is to heartily thank everyone at Sara Lee and wish them every success with their sports sponsorship in the future.”

The rest of the top-3 of the Belcar championship is still open. Mathematically, four teams can still take second place: Goossens-Van Dongen (Eurotech Marcos), Severich-Josten (GS BMW M3 GTR), Haane-Meert (First Porsche Supercup) and Penders-Lamot (Prospeed Porsche 996 RSR). The Eurotech and GS-pair are closest to second and with only two points separating both drivers, it will still be a thriller. Sixth place is even more open, with 13 teams still in contention.

The battle in the classes and the different challenges will also be decided this weekend. An overview:

In class-1, the top-3 is almost certain. Only should the Marcos retire, then the MC Donald’s Porsche 996 Biturbo of Kuus-Bouillon could go into second.

In class-2, the battle between GS and Prospeed is still open, with GS leading the Porsche-team by 12 points. During the race at Spa, Mario Josten and Rudi Penders touched at Blanchimont, due to oil on the track, and both drivers went off heavily. The consequences were important as Rudi Penders suffered a broken collarbone and three broken ribs.
Both the cars also suffered important damage, but the teams did a great job and the M3 GTR and the 996 RSR will be back this weekend. “We got a new chassis from Porsche and we had all parts in reserve. In fact, we built a new car over the last days”, explains Franz Lamot. “The team did a great job and even Rudi wants to be back too. He deserves all respect for that. The title in class-2 will be difficult. There only 20 points left, which is not much with a 12-point gap separating us from GS-Motorsport.”

Wolfgang Koepp, GS team manager: “The damage on our BMW was indeed important. But we have to continue, given our championship position. Mario Josten is OK; he’s convinced that his HANS played an important role in the good outcome of the crash.”

The ba ttle for third is one between KS-Motorsport (Essers-Coens-Vanbellingen), CEO-Racing (De Laet-Vollebergh), Rudolph Racing (Grouwels-Grouwels) and the Porsche of the Thiers-brothers. Both KS and CEO might even take second spot, if Prospeed retires.
The main contender for victory in class-2 this weekend is without a doubt the G&A Mosler of Kenis-de Keersmaecker.

In class 3, the First Motorsport pair Haane-Meert are the new 2006 champions. “But this does not mean that the we will cruise around. We want to end the year with another victory in our class”, says a determined Jean-Claude Meert. Seven teams can still take second, so the battle in class-3 will be as intensive as ever.

If Kumpen and Longin are the only competitors left in the driver challenge and David Hart is the runner-up, Goossens, Van Dongen, Josten, Haane, Meert, Penders and Lamot are still in competition for the places of honour.

The Ladies Challenge 2006 goes to Stephanie Boden, Mario Josten wins the Philip Verellen Junior Challenge and Raymond Raus is the laureate of the Gentleman Challenge. The only undecided challenge is the Welcome Challenge for new drivers, where an absent Soulet is leading, with a 12-point bonus on Mark Thomas and a 17-point bonus on Menno Kuus.