Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux starts next weekend during New Race Festival at Circuit Zolder
Just like in previous seasons, the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux will also be part of the Belgian endurance championship in 2023, better known as the Belcar Endurance Championship. This competition, reserved for various types of Porsche, will start during the coming weekend of 13 and 14 May at Circuit Zolder. As in previous seasons, the starting field of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux is very attractive, with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – leading the peloton.
The concept of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux is identical to previous seasons: the participants with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 991 and 992 – and the Porsche Cayman GT4 compete in a mutual competition, in this case the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux. Last season, the title went to Russell Racing by NGT, with brothers Hans and Frank Thiers, Jeffrey Van Hooydonk and Christoff Corten behind the wheel of the Porsche. However, many candidates are drumming to succeed the foursome and that battle is over five race weekends on three different circuits. As always, the focus of the season will be the 24 Hours of Zolder, one of the toughest endurance races for man and machine in the world. Meanwhile, the teams with a Porsche naturally also try to be successful in the general classification of the Belcar Endurance Championship or the national endurance championship. The champions of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux became national vice champions last season, which opens up prospects.
Rudi Penders (Series Manager Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux):
“Of course, the speed and reliability of Porsche's various competition products are a lasting asset in competitions such as this national endurance championship. The Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux is of course important, but our teams are also aiming for the national endurance title. In this regard, Circuit Zolder, the promoter, and the national federation RACB have developed a Balance of Performance (BoP) between the different cars that should make the competition even more intense. Moreover, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – is the benchmark for that BoP.”
Troop review
In essence, the battle for the title in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux will be a battle between four of the strongest Porsche teams in our country: former champion Belgium Racing, RedAnt Racing, Speedlover and Q1 Trackracing. They each deploy two and possibly three cars, with well-known names behind the wheel. At Belgium Racing these are Dylan Derdaele and Michael Cool on the one hand and Koen Wauters together with comeback man Jos Menten on the other. RedAnt Racing will compete in Zolder this weekend with the trio Steve Vanbellingen and father and son Van Rompuy. One of last season's young promises, Michiel Haverans, races with the fast gentleman driver Philippe Wils in the same colors of the East Flemish team. At Speedlover we see John De Wilde, while at Q1 TrackRacing Jan Lauryssen and Tommy Rau could well provide the surprise, in addition to the experienced trio of Filip Teunkens, Jan Ooms and Glenn Paenen. Last but not least, BE Motorsport defends the Porsche honor in the GTB class with Stephan Beyens, Jurgen Vandenbroek, Didier Beyens and Davy Suffeleers.
The first race of the season starts on Sunday at 12.45 pm and lasts three hours. The free practice sessions and qualifications will be fully completed on Saturday.