The Final Round Of The FIA GT International Championship To Take Place At The Belgian Circuit
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Oct 19, 2007
The final round of the FIA GT International championship will take place this weekend at the Belgian circuit of Zolder. The track is close to Hasselt and hosted races in this series from 1999 to 2001.
The circuit is quick and technical but it has none of Spa’s continual ups and downs. It was been radically changed over the years to improve its safety: in 1972 a chicane was introduced in the stretch behind the pit lane and three years later came modifications to lower speed levels. In the eighties another chicane was designed just before Terlamenbocht, scene of Villeneuve’s terrible accident.
Despite these changes, Zolder’s characteristic features have remained intact. The track now measures 3,977 kilometres and has its share of lengthy straights and tricky sections. Wide curves and tighter turns, like the 90° one that spills onto the straight opposite the start-finish line, as well as three chicanes, will give the drivers lots to think about.
The race will decide the destiny of the one title still to be decided. Thomas Biagi (55 points) at the wheel of the Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 will have to defend his overall lead from nine other drivers. These include his team mates, Montanari/Ramos, and the Playteam Sarafree duo, Bertolini/Piccini. Both crews are five points off top spot.
Given that things are so close, the ballast the cars will carry will play an important part. Montanari/Ramos, after their third place at Nogaro, will have 85 extra kilos to handle (25 kg of which is assigned by the Federation to all the MC12s to even out the cars’ performance). Bartels/Biagi, second in France, will have a total of 55kg of ballast. What will make the outcome even harder to call is the weather as rain is not entirely unusual in Belgium.
The other two titles up for grabs have already been secured. Maserati claimed the GT1 Manufacturers’ Cup at Brno to repeat its 2005 success while the Vitaphone Racing Team won its third straight team title.
The last round of the Citation Cup will also be run at Zolder. The category is reserved to gentleman drivers and was won by Ben Aucott and his JMB Racing Maserati MC12. Aucott made sure of the championship crown by taking first place at Nogaro paired with Stephane Daoudi.
The weekend in Belgium will kick off with two free practice sessions (at 9.05 and 13.55). Qualifying will take place at 17.35. The warm-up session is programmed for Sunday at 10.05 with the two-hour race due to line up at 13.15.
