 
|
| Season 2007 > News |
|
|
On the even of the first free practice sessions, within the framework of the Total 24 Hours of Spa, the FIA ‘s Court of Appeal confirmed that PK Carsport has had its victory at Oschersleben annulled. For Jos Menten and Peter Kox this implies that they have now climbed up to fifth place; clinching four points on the way in the championship: “We could have earned these four points on our own, had it not been for the fact that I was spun around during the first lap by another competitor. You then see a third or fourth place slipping out of your fingers … but we have now made it to Spa for the sixth race of the championship. We now need to confirm our previous good form”, Jos Menten commented.
|
The Lamborghini Murciélago was put in to a new livery for these Total 24 Hours of Spa. Orange – the Dutch national colour - is clearly represented on the bonnet and the roof of the Murciélago. For the 24 Hours of Spa the Lamborghini bears the race number 28, and the car is registered in the name ‘HD GIGAWAVE Reiter Engineering’.
Peter Kox took advantage of the first free practice to work on some tuning laps, prior to handing over to Jos Menten. The 26 year old driver from Dutch Limburg was compelled to return to the pits a few minutes later: “I noticed some smoke coming from the rear. The mechanics removed the bonnet panels and immediately spotted the problem. A stone had drilled a hole in the radiator. This can always happen … and far better that it should be during practice as opposed to the race”, Menten continued. Kox-Menten-Bleekemolen finished off the first practice in twelfth spot (2:20,133). The second session, lasting some 90 minutes, was more positive for the Dutch trio, registering a seventh time “The tyres are fine and the car is well balanced. I reckon we can still knock off two seconds, but we’re definitely not going to take any risks. We have been avoiding the curbstones and saving the car for the race. If we carry on at a tempo of 2:20” we’re sitting pretty.”
Peter Kox gets behind the wheel of the Lambo for the first qualifying session. The driver from Eindhoven systematically builds up his rhythm. Just at the right moment, some fifteen minutes before the end of the session he puts in a fast lap: clocking 2:15,530 – worth a temporary sixth place: “Peter really drove an excellent lap there. We’re in the middle of the pack, in a perfect sixth spot. Now we just need to wait to see whether this lap time can be held in the dark”, a smiling Menten remarks after the first session.
Jeroen Bleekemolen and Jos Menten work off the second qualifying session: “We used up these ninety minutes as an additional training session. Lap times here are not relevant. The car handles well, and I don’t think there will be any lap time improvements tomorrow. We’re pretty sure of our place on the third row of the grid. We’re sticking to our planning which means that we shall not be taking part in the final qualifying session. There’s no point in taking any additional risks.”
The bull from Sant’Agata will remain in its pitbox on Friday. Up front a battle ensues for pole between Hezemans and Wendlinger; whereby Hezemans draws the longest straw. But in no way does this influence the grid for our Dutch trio comprised of Kox-Menten-Bleekemolen: “The championship is highly competitive, we have known this for a fair amount of time … but after the first qualifying session the top ten were split by a mere one second. Today Hezemans was able to get a slight advantage… but we retain our place on the third row. We’re in for a pretty exciting 24 Hours of Spa. If only it were Saturday afternoon already!”
|
| |
| « Terug |
27-07-2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
