24h Race Tokachi - Full programme

The Spa-Francorchamps based Mühlner Motorsport Team has a pretty full timetable over the coming weeks. Following the Nürburgring 24hrs both Porsches were rebuilt and prepared for their next event. One of the 911s was airfreighted direct to Tokyo in Japan and transported on to the Tokachi Speedway, on Japan’s north island. The other GT3 remained in Belgium where it took part in the official FIA test day at the newly modified Spa Francorchamps grand prix circuit before being stripped again and rebuilt with new parts.

On Monday the Mühlner race team fly out to Japan where, following Dubai in January and Nürburgring in June, they will take part in their third 24-Hour race of the season prior to their home race, the Spa 24 Hours at the end of July. Whether Mühlner Motorsport take part in the Zolder 24 Hours (end of August) or Silverstone 24 Hours (early September) has not yet finally been decided – and will depend upon drivers and sponsors. However, the team will in any case be entering the second half of the German Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring and the two Middle-East 24 Hour races in the winter.

In Tokachi the Belgian Tom Cloet, current leader in the FIA GT Citation Cup, the Frenchman Gilles Vannelet, current leader in the FIA GT3 Championship, professional race driver Tim Bergmeister (Langenfeld) and Mühlner regular Heinz-Josef Bermes (Willich) will share the driving duties.

"We’re hoping for a good result in our first race in Japan. The car is well prepared, the mechanics know what they are about and the driver line-up is ideal. That should mean that a good result is possible" explained team boss Bernhard Mühlner his expectations for this unusual race where no Belgian team has ever taken part and very few Europeans at all have entered.

Two Mühlner Porsches are entered for the Spa 24 Hours. One is entered in the name of the Porsche Centrum Eindhoven for Paul van Splunteren (NL), Ian Khan (Monaco) and Simon Frederiks (NL). The other Mühlner Porsche has two drivers signed up - Heinz-Josef Bermes and Tim Bergmeister – with the other seat not yet fixed.

"The Spa 24 Hours is our home race and since it has been a GT race we’ve had two wins from two starts. Prior to that, in the touring car days, we won our class three times. In fact both in 1996 with our Astras and in 2004 with the Porsche 911s we scored a one-two. But the competition in the GT3 class this year will be tough so we’ll have to fight for a win this year" noted team boss Renate-Carola Mühlner.

Alongside the current race team activities, the factory at Francorchamps is also busy with engine and gearbox rebuilds for customers and preparation and rebuilds of complete cars. Transport to and from events and running the car at the circuit for customers is also part of the package on offer from the team. The M-Service division of the business is now well established and represents an important element of the future business of the team. 

- Bernhard Mühlner - also photo