SRT – 2008 / FIA GT R5 SPA
After four races in the FIA GT-championship the SRT drivers Christophe Bouchut and Xavier Maassen are presently in second place in the championship rankings. With the most mythical race of the season, namely the 24 Hours of Spa looming on the horizon and with double points to be earned, SRT has compiled its driver crew who will further confirm the team’s success over these last few months.
Maxime Soulet hardly needs any introduction and with the Swiss driver Christophe Pillon SRT can count on some solid experience. In 2002 and 2003 Pillon won amongst others the LMP 675-class in the world renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans.
"Following the recent test day Christophe Pillon and the team came to an agreement. We were both satisfied with the results of the test day, and an agreement was quickly concluded.", team manager Patrick Selleslagh told us.
"Pillon might not be that well known in our part of the world but with two victories in the LMP675-class at Le Mans (2002 and 2003) to your name you can boast of a decent reference in endurance racing. More recently in 2005 he finished second in LMP2 in the LMS 1000 Km of Spa. In addition he also has FIA GT1-races with Larbre, JMB and Belmondo on his CV."
Next to Pillon we have Maxime Soulet once again driving for SRT. This is the third time that Soulet will be competing in the 24 Hours of Spa with SRT, and he has in fact twice won the endurance race at Zolder at the wheel of the SRT Corvette C5-R. In October at the end of last season Soulet also competed in the final FIA GT-race in Zolder together with Tom Cloet.
"All in all SRT can look back with satisfaction on the recent test day", Selleslagh continues. "Our drivers were all satisfied and at the end of the day it was only Marcel Fässler who was faster than our boys, and it was that same Fässler who only recently won a race for us in France. In addition we were able to work hard on the set-up with Michelin, with a view to putting in a strong performance in a month’s time in Spa. "
The festivities around the 24 Hours of Spa take off on Wednesday 30th July with the parade to the circuit of Spa, and on Thursday and Friday the official practice and qualifying sessions will take place. The actual race will be flagged off on Saturday 2nd August at 4 pm.
Prior to SRT taking on the 24 Hours of Spa, Soheil Ayari and Bruno Hernandez will be competing in the fifth meeting of the FFSA GT-championship (19th & 20th July) with the SRT Corvette C6.R on the circuit of... Spa.
Intermediate standings FIA GT:
1. Michael Bartels(Vitaphone Maserati) 24
Andrea Bertolini (Vitaphone Maserati) 24
2. Christophe Bouchut (SRT Corvette C6.R) 22
Xavier Maassen (SRT Corvette C6.R) 22
Fabrizio Gollin (Phoenix Corvette C6.R) 22
Mike Hezemans (Phoenix Corvette C6.R) 22
Ryan Sharp (Jet Alliance Aston) 22
Karl Wendlinger (Jet Alliance Aston) 22
...
-SRT - also photo
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