During the 13th and 14th of October, the gentlemen of the Supercar Challenge could recompete again, this time in the homeland of the Belgian… Spa-Francorchamps. With one free practice, one qualifying session and one race on Saturday, continued by one race on Sunday, it was obvious that Saturday was the center of the weekend. The Spork Racing Team defended their interests with its usual weapons: Jimmy Adriaenssens – David Nye in Supercopa n° 323 and Jonas De Kimpe – Vincent Van Paemel in Supercopa n° 325.
After a favorable free practice and qualifying session on Spork’s homecircuit, the weekend couldn’t go wrong anymore. Just behind a huge pack of GT’s amongst which Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Viper, Mosler,… the red-white vehicle of the duo Adriaenssens-Nye could start from P13 in the Supersport-division.
Jimmy took the start of the first race and enjoyed his stint to the fullest. After about fifteen minutes, the leaders of the Supersport-division appeared in his visor. Slow but certainly, terrain was gained. “Suddenly the weather gods appeared to favor us and treated us with some drizzly rain, some drivers didn’t even seem to notice while others entered the pits for rain tires. It was obvious that this drizzle wouldn’t take long and I decided not to fit rain tires, the track was just a little bit moisty, not wet yet. To my great pleasure, I saw two BMW-drivers losing the trust in their cars and it became a matter of time to overtake them.” Jimmy Adriaenssens. After AJ’s party of ice-skating on the moisty surface, he came in to change drivers with David. “While we were standing in the pits, we really didn’t have a clue how the surface was our there. We saw the track was a bit moisty but we had to trust Jimmy for the choice of tires into the second part of the race. Jimmy decided to send me out on slicks and indeed this was the right choice. The rain stopped almost immediately after the pitstop and everybody went flat out again. I tried to pick up a few places until we got treated with heavy rain just ten minutes before the end. It wasn’t worth it anymore to change tires, so we had to fullfill the race trying to keep the car between the lines. Eventually the weather got worse and everybody lowered its rhythm, trying to avoid risks. Nevertheless we became sixth in Supersport and second amongst the Supercopa’s. A favorable result!” David Nye.
The second race was held in much more stable conditions. The sun would shine from beginning to end, only the podiumceremony would become a soaped happening. David took the start of the second race and drove, thanks to the good result in race one, nicely in between the leading group. It was a matter of attaching and attacking where possible. Also Jimmy’s stint ran that way, with the only difference he refound his former competitors from race one. The message was clear, trying to get the other to make a fuss, make an attack and create a gap so re-attacking would be impossible. Just behind a yellow flag situation Jimmy saw his chance. As well Ruud Olij (BMW M3 GT4) as Martin Lanting (BMW Z4) didn’t seem to find their speed after the neutralization and had to make place for the Antwerpian Super’SPORK’copa. Eventually the Belgian-English duo finished seventh in Supersport and third in Seat Supercopa. With this result they have insured their vice-title in the Supercopa-division.
The final race of the season will be held on the 27th and 28th of October on the Dutch racetrack TT Assen. There, the Belgian-English duo will again try to get a general podium in Supersport.
See enclosed PDF-file for the Dutch race review.