PROSPEED COMPETITION on championship, two categories, two ambitions 13.03.2012: In 2012 ProSpeed Competition will be competing in the Blancpain Endurance Series, entering two cars

In 2012 ProSpeed Competition will be competing in the Blancpain Endurance Series, entering two cars. A new challenge, which the Belgian team, and double European champion, will be taking on with their “2012 Spec.” of the Porsche 911 GT3-R. Marc Goossens, Xavier Maassen and Marc Hennerici make up the team entered in “Pro Cup”, the category reserved for professional drivers.


On the other hand, the fast Paul Van Splunteren, always teamed up with the young professional Maxime Soulet, will be the stalwarts of the “Pro-Am” team. This latter category brings together, in one car, a professional driver… and two ”gentlemen drivers”. NEC, the IT & Communication multinational, and CPL Trans, the family run international haulage company, are the programme’s privileged partners.


In a mere two years, the Blancpain Endurance Series has emerged as the key event for Grand Touring cars. Five three hour endurance races are on the programme during which three drivers will relay one another. The 2012 championship will be calling on the major European markets: Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain. Not forgetting “the” sixth event, in Belgium, for July’s traditional meeting, namely the 24 Hours of Spa.


Rudi Penders (Team Principal): “It goes without saying that ProSpeed Competition will be present in the Blancpain Endurance Series because today, this competition is where the best European teams are to be found. We are present because we love the sport, and are ready to take on challenges… and on top of that we dearly love great victories. The year promises to be gripping.


And we are delighted to have already brought together, into our midst, four drivers who share these very same ambitions. With a front line car in the “Pro” category, and a top team in the “Pro-Am” cup, our ambition is to expand the performances.”


Marc Goossens (Porsche 911 GT3-R #75 – “Pro” Cup): “The implication was carefully thought out because ProSpeed Competition does not appear in the Blancpain Endurance Series empty handed. The team boasts a solid expertise in the GT3 category, as was proven by its European champion’s title in 2010.


And the team is equally well versed when it comes to “pitstops”. This quality, a vital priority when it comes to endurance events, earned the team the Prix Escra (Best Technical Support, ed) at the last Le Mans 24H.”


Xavier Maassen (Porsche 911 GT3-R #75 – “Pro” Cup): “I am delighted to join up with ProSpeed Competition. My wish was to have the best possible “package” available with, as ambition, to play up front in the competition. The latter is going to be pretty fearsome, what with no less than fifty cars at the start!


However we have all the means in hand to prove ourselves… and I am fully motivated not only to perform brilliantly in the 24 Hours of Spa, but to excel when it comes down to the final count. Can’t wait for the first test sessions.”

2011 Le Mans 24H Escra Award - 2010 European FIA GT3 Champion – 2009 European FIA GT2 Champion


Marc Hennerici (Porsche 911 GT3-R #75 – “Pro” Cup): “I'm pleased to join Prospeed Competition and to work with such fantastic teammates, such as Marc and Xavier. Prospeed Competition’s professional level is really high, as they have often proved over the last decade in GT-Racing.


For me, 2012 is a special year, because this is the 10th anniversary of the partnership between MoWeKo, Dr.Koch and myself. So we are very happy to have such a strong package for this coming season. At this present moment, I just can’t wait to get behind the wheel!”




Paul Van Splunteren (Porsche 911 GT3-R #74 – “Pro-Am” Cup): “I’m always delighted to take on a new season, especially when I’m competing in a Porsche. 2012 will be no exception to the rule.


The Blancpain definitely represents a new challenge, however knowing both ProSpeed and my young teammate Maxime Soulet, I know that we’re on solid foundations. I wish to take this opportunity to welcome the arrival of Remeha, specialists in low energy boilers, who will be joining our faithful partners NEC, HTC and Bilderberg.”


Maxime Soulet (Porsche 911 GT3-R #74 – “Pro-Am” Cup): “I’m delighted to be able to continue my career at an international level, together with Paul, Porsche and ProSpeed Competition. We proved our competitiveness last year, clocking up two successes in the European FIA GT3 Championship.


The objective is to carry on through in this same light. The title in the “Pro-Am” category? I suggest we do an initial assessment after the 24 Hours of Spa.”


The name of Paul Van Splunteren’s and Maxime Soulet’s teammate (Porsche 911 GT3-R #74) will be revealed following the final preparatory test sessions.



ProSpeed Competition (www.prospeed.be): Established by Rudi Penders and Luc Goris in 2006, this Belgian company (Liège) is structured around five pillars. ProSpeed Competition: a top performing team, double European champion in FIA GT2 and FIA GT3.


ProSpeed Engineering: a research bureau taking on assignments and developments for constructors. ProSpeed Services: a specialised workshop that overhauls and maintains the “racing”, “rally” or “classic” versions of Porsche and Corvette.


ProSpeed Parts: a department commercialising parts for Porsche Genuine Parts, Porsche Motorsport, OZ Wheels, Drexler and Mobil1. ProSpeed Event & Marketing: a communication bureau specialised in the return on investments in the motor sport “marketing” field.


Blancpain Endurance Series (www.blancpain-endurance-series.com): The international series set-up by SRO is made up out of six European meetings. Of the “endurance” type, the races will last three hours with the exception of the 24 Hours of Spa, “the” rendezvous of the year.


The races cater for Grand Touring cars complying with the “GT3” technical regulations. A “Pro-Am” class brings together professional drivers and “gentlemen drivers”, whilst alongside a “Pro” category is solely reserved for professional drivers.


The calendar:

March 20th & 21st: Blancpain Test Days (France) -
April 15th: Monza (Italy) -
June 3rd: Silverstone (UK) -
July 1st: Paul Ricard HTTT (France) -
July 28th & 29th: Spa 24H (Belgium) -
September 23rd: Nürburgring (Germany) -
October 14th: Navarra (Spain)


- JF VanLaere - photos ProSpeed