Belgian Touring Car Series at Zolder : guaranteed entertainment at all levels ! 19.10.2009: Among the national touring car competitions, the Belgian Touring Car Series has one of the most varied grids. The headliners are the Silhouettes in the S1 class, which are fighting for the overall victory : ultra-spectacular

Among the national touring car competitions, the Belgian Touring Car Series has one of the most varied grids.  The headliners are the Silhouettes in the S1 class, which are fighting for the overall victory : ultra-spectacular, fast, reliable, they are in the hands of  leading drivers such as Frédéric Bouvy, Steve Vanbellingen, Ruben Maes, Stéphane Lémeret, Koen Wauters, Philippe Stéveny and Jérôme Thiry.

Just before the two 60-minute rounds on the Zolder timetable, two pairs of drivers can still hope to claim the title : Frédéric Bouvy-Christian Kelders and Steve Vanbellingen-Ruben Maes.  The former have a redoubtable Renault Mégane Trophy while the latter remain faithful to their BMW M3.  There will be plenty of referees for their duel, including Philippe Stéveny-Iain Dockerill and Koen Wauters-Raf Vanthoor (KIA Pro_Ceed), Stéphane Lémeret-David Dermont (Mazda RX8), Nicolas De Crem-Julien Schroyen (Audi A4), Jérôme Thiry-Jean-Jacques Smùits-Walter Cleynhens (Jaguar X-Type) and Werner Moonens-Bert Redant (BMW M3).

Just below the S1 cars, logically, we find the S2 category.  Also known as the Touring Cup, these Silhouettes use a single chassis, designed by French specialist Solution F, and use the same V6 engine, the only difference coming from the bodywork, inspired from various production models.  The driving level in this S2 class is particularly high, with Maxime Soulet (frequently seen in the FIA GT with the SRT Corvette), Frenchman Arnaud Gomez, Armand Fumal and youngsters Michael Schmetz, Ludovic Sougnez, Grégory Servais and Loïc Fontaine.  An element of originality in the S2 class comes from the Roadster S, looking like an old Porsche Spider, and in the hands of the only female driver on the grid, Nathalie Maillet.

Each round of the Belgian Touring Car Series attracts around 40 cars, and the classic saloons play a major role in the show, most particularly the BMW M3 and SEAT Leon Supercopa cars, which are fighting for the title in T3.  The Bavarian make is well defended by Eric Qvick and Frédérique Jonckheere who are entering redoubtable mix of a car : a former E90 chassis used by Andy Priaulx in the WTCC, fitted with a 6-cylinder M3 engine.  On the Spanish side, Pierre-Yves Rosoux and Christophe Geoffroy are in the lead, but there will be particular interest in Zolder for the nr 38 Leon, entered by the Belgian importer and in the hands of three well-known WTCC competitors, local hero Pierre-Yves Corthals and Dutch twins Tom and Tim Coronel.

Last but not least, the Renault Clio cars are the most numerous in the T2 category, where they are up against a number of very competitive Honda Civics, and an Alfa Romeo 156, which is in pole position to claim the title, in the hands of  Michel Plennevaux and Guy Katsers.


Championship : 1. Frédéric Bouvy-Christian Kelders (Renault) 182,5 pts ; 2. Steve Vanbellingen-Ruben Maes (BMW) 179,5 ; 3. Philippe Stéveny-Iain Dockerill (KIA) 119 ; 4. Nicolas De Crem-Julien Schroyen (Audi) 111,5 ; 5. Grégory Servais-Loïc Fontaine (Touring Cup S2) 84 ; 6. Armand Fumal-Maxime Soulet (Touyring Cup S2) 82,5 ; etc.



 - Jacquie Groom -  photo SRO

Photos from Zolder will be on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS SLIDESHOWS and PHOTOS ECARDS   FIA GT