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Circuit Record number 2 for Team Equipe Verschuur |
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21st Feb 2008 - Today Jos Verstappen set a time of 1:03.2 in the Team Equipe Verschuur
Porsche RS Spyder, further breaking the record set yesterday. Jos said, "I Really
like the track and the two fast right hand corners in particular are very entertaining
on the limit. I will be back!" |
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Circuit Record for Team Equipe Verschuur |
Jos Verstappen and Jeroen Bleekemolen driving the brand new Porsche RS Spyder with Team Equipe Verschuur and Peter van Merksteijn set a new outright lap record with a staggering time of 1:04.1
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Circuit Record for Javi Villa |
Javi Villa of Race Engineering establishes new Guadix outer circuit lap record driving a 2007 Formula BMW in just 1:13.1.
Circuit owner Clive Greenhalgh commented, "Javi is the next Alonso."
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Circuit Record for Laurens Vanthoor |
Laurens Vanthoor of Van Amersfoot Racing Netherlands establishes a new outright inner circuit Guadix Lap record of 1:08.9 in a F3 Dalara 06-07 Opel Spiess on Yokohama tyres
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Circuit Record for Peter Cox |
Peter Cox of Reighter Engineering estabishes a new inner circuit GT lap record of
1:11.8 in a Lamborghini Murcielago GT1.
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This was Mike’s first visit to the Monza race circuit, one of the fastest GP circuits
in the world with so much history and charisma.
After just 10 laps in official practise along with a walk and run around the circuit
the day before, Mike was an excellent 3rd fastest overall.
In race one we experienced a return of our previous brake problem. The brake fluid
was overheating but the team still managed 10th place overall. Then, in race two,
we started from 14th on the grid and after some exciting over-taking manoeuvres
and pushing very hard despite much unnecessary heavy blocking tactics, particularly
from apparently much more experienced Porsche drivers, we out drove them and finished
an excellent 5th overall and 1st in the Ascari challenge.
SO TO THE WINNERS PODIUM AT LAST!
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After an exciting opening round in Silverstone, the FIA GT3 European Championship raced in the city for the very first time, in the streets of Bucharest. With the track being new for everybody, all the drivers were on an equal footing. But there was no room for errors for the grid of over 40 cars expected to take part in the two races, which look like being even closer than usual.
Mike regained his confidence after the Silverstone race, the team eliminated a brake problem that was allowing the brake fluid to over heat giving a spongy pedal and making heal and toeing impossible.
Mike qualified on the second row of the grid out of 39 cars in damp conditions, in the team Berlanga Ascari KZIR. In the race, again damp conditions, he was dicing for 2nd and 3rd when a Porsche lost control and hit the concrete walls he had no option but to hit the tyre walls as there were no run off areas.
The team did an excellent job repairing the car over night, but sadly on the out lap it overheated and the car was a non starter. Ben Collins in the other Ascari gained pole position only to hit a stationary Lamborghini Gallardo on a blind spot and his slowing down lap. This was a massive accident both drivers needing hospital treatment both cars destroyed. Fortunately Ben was allowed to travel home 3 days later and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
The next race is at Monza, Italy on 23rd & 24th June.
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Mike drove well during qualifying for the FIA GT3 race last weekend in what was his first visit to the Silverstone GP circuit. He and new team-mate Dan Gibson qualified 17th out of 45 in their Team Berlanga Ascari KZ1-R.
They finished 18th in race one and 14th in race two when they were the leading the other 8 Ascari’s until just before the finish line when the fuel started to surge.
The team and drivers have gained a great deal of experience from their first event and are fired up for the second round which takes place in Bucharest between the 18-20th May.
www.fiagt3.com
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I am sure most of our friend’s and clients will remember my son Mike, usually on
safety control at Guadix and running a few laps of the circuit when testing
is finished.
We have just confirmed his drive in FIA GT driving an Ascari GT3 his first
race is at Silverstone 5th and 6th May live on motors TV.
Above is a photo of him at the official FIA test at Dijon two weeks ago just
after he did one of the fastest lap times. The eyes say it all! |
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Clive Greenhalgh gets a new toy! |
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