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2004 Race
Reports
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Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, 7-9 May
2004
Qualifying -
Friday
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Click here for more photos from this
race
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Ralf Kelleners and Jim Mullen took a win apiece on the opening
weekend of the Group C-GTP Racing season. Having put his Kremer Porsche 962CK6
on pole by a massive 8 seconds in terrible conditions, Kelleners cruised to a
relatively comfortable victory from David Mercer (Spice-Ford SE90C). Mullen
(Spice-Chevrolet GTP) laid the groundwork for Sunday's success with third.
Saturday's poor weather caused a
number of competitors not to take to the track. Indeed, the Bryan family
decided to pack up for the weekend. High in the mind was the high speed
qualifying accident, from which Paul Whight (Aston Martin AMR-1) and Henry
Pearman (Jaguar XJR-11) were lucky to escape.
On what is believed to be the Chevrolet Intrepid's
European racing debut, Bryan DeVries and the Jade Pig Racing team took a
creditable fourth. Ian Stinton (Harrier GT1) followed, on his way to a double
in the invitation category. Peter Schleifer (March-Chevrolet 84G) made his race
debut with us claiming class honours and sixth overall. Jim Graham (Porsche
962C) secured a class victory despite fuel problems, but Sunday would see
retirement due to a suspension bolt working loose.
Retirements which wouldn't been seen again were the
Randalls' Nissan NPT-90 (low oil pressure), Nick Rini's Jaguar XJR-12 (head
gasket failure) and Neil Clark's Harrier LR9C (right rear upright broken in
accident at the Radaillon).
American, Mullen followed up his solid third with a thrilling win over
compatriot Brian DeVries on Sunday. Mullen's drive earned him a one-off silver
salver presented by the circuit. Kelleners incurred a Stop-And-Go penalty
during the Pace Car period caused by Charlie Agg (Nissan R90CK) nudging the pit
wall at the start. He chased hard but a broken gear linkage forced him into
retirement from third. Former Spa winner, Martyn Konig (Porsche 956B) was
promoted, rewarding the Brunn Racing team's hard work in solving gearbox and
electrical problems.
The most
travelled competitor of the weekend was undoubtedly Michael Schuster (Argo
JM19C). He made a round trip to the German-Polish border of over 1500km to
collect his spare Judd motor. His reward? Third in class. and fourth overall.
Another most astounding effort was made by Henry Pearman. To the amazement of
the Belgian stewards, he replaced his damaged Jaguar with the ex-RLR Italya
Sports Porsche 962C and brought it home fifth.
Not having run on Saturday, John Pearson in
Ecosse-Ford C285 "Henry" took sixth and class honours ahead of Schleifer.
Stinton followed with Stefan Schrauwen (Chevron B8) take another second in
class in ninth overall. Richard Bateman (Tiga-Rover GC287) was the final
runner.
Nigel James (Porsche
962C) suffered a frustrating weekend with oil leaks, firstly from the engine,
then the gearbox. Similarly frustrating was Stephen Hepworth's Argo-Chevrolet
JM20. Electrical gremlins plagued the car throughout, though it was the first
time it had turned a wheel since being returned to GTP spec.
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| No. |
Driver |
Car |
Time |
Laps |
| 14 |
Kelleners R |
Porsche 962 CK6 |
2:40.674 |
7 |
| 112 |
Mullen J |
Spice Chevrolet GTP |
2:48.640 |
10 |
| 27 |
Agg C |
Nissan R90CK |
2:49.184 |
5 |
| 21 |
Mercer D |
Spice-Ford SE90C |
2:49.323 |
5 |
| 64 |
De Vries B |
Intrepid RM-1 |
2:59.187 |
12 |
| 18 |
Whight P |
Aston Martin AMR-1 |
3:00.997 |
8 |
| 33 |
Konig M |
Porsche 956B |
3:02.566 |
9 |
| 3 |
Pearman H |
Jaguar XJR-11 |
3:06.926 |
6 |
| 7 |
James N |
Porsche 962C |
3:07.596 |
5 |
| 22 |
Stinton I |
Harrier GT1 |
3:09.809 |
7 |
| 8 |
Rini N |
Jaguar XJR-12 |
3:11.808 |
7 |
| 16 |
Schleifer P |
March Chevrolet 84G |
3:11.912 |
7 |
| 51 |
Schuster M |
ARGO Judd JM 19C |
3:13.601 |
6 |
| 88 |
Randall C/Randall N |
Nissan NPT-90 GTP |
3:14.405 |
5 |
| 78 |
Pearson J |
Ecosse C285 |
3:18.300 |
7 |
| 17 |
Schrauwen S |
Chevron B8 |
3:20.646 |
12 |
| 28 |
Hepworth S |
ARGO Chevrolet JM20 |
3:22.533 |
5 |
| 10 |
Graham J |
Porsche 962C |
3:22.654 |
7 |
| 23 |
Clark N |
Harrier LR9 |
3:31.096 |
6 |
| 37 |
Bateman R |
Tiga-Rover GC287 |
3:40.214 |
6 |
| 58 |
Bryan B |
ARGO JM19D |
3:49.738 |
5 |
| 11 |
Bryan R |
Mustang GTP Probe |
6:08.241 |
2 |
| 2 |
Law J |
Jaguar XJ220GT |
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Race 1 - Saturday |
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| No. |
Driver |
Car |
Time |
Laps |
| 14 |
Kelleners R |
Porsche 962 CK6 |
41:22.326 |
13 |
| 21 |
Mercer D |
Spice Ford SE90C |
41:33.615 |
13 |
| 112 |
Mullen J |
Spice Chevrolet GTP |
41:48.766 |
13 |
| 64 |
De Vries |
Intrepid RM-1 |
42:37.909 |
13 |
| 22 |
Stinton I |
Harrier GT1 |
42:51.237 |
12 |
| 16 |
Schleifer P |
March Chevrolet 84G |
43:08.187 |
12 |
| 17 |
Schrauwen S |
Chevron B8 |
43:43.762 |
12 |
| 37 |
Bateman R |
Tiga Rover GC287 |
44:41.810 |
11 |
| 10 |
Graham J |
Porsche 962C |
14:16.423 |
4 |
| Not
Classified - less than 90% |
| 88 |
Randall N |
NPT90 GTP |
33:39.620 |
10 |
| 8 |
Rini N |
Jaguar XJR12 |
15:43.326 |
5 |
| 23 |
Clark N |
Harrier LR9 |
17:25.039 |
5 |
| 7 |
James N |
Porsche 962C |
24:13.011 |
3 |
| 33 |
Konig M |
Porsche 956B |
38:12.095 |
3 |
| 28 |
Hepworth S |
Argo Chevrolet JM20 |
09:54.394 |
1 |
| Retirements |
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Race 2 - Sunday |
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| No. |
Driver |
Car |
Time |
Laps |
| 112 |
Mullen J |
Spice Chevrolet GTP |
40:54.322 |
16 |
| 64 |
De Vries |
Intrepid RM-1 |
40:54.568 |
16 |
| 33 |
Konig M |
Porsche 956B |
42:15.542 |
16 |
| 51 |
Schuster M |
ARGO Judd JM 19C |
43:04.747 |
16 |
| 4 |
Pearman H |
Porsche 962C |
41:26.572 |
15 |
| 78 |
Pearson J |
Ecosse C285 |
42:28.083 |
15 |
| 16 |
Schleifer P |
March Chevrolet 84G |
42:32.667 |
15 |
| 22 |
Stinton I |
Harrier GT1 |
42:01.758 |
14 |
| 17 |
Schrauwen S |
Chevron B8 |
42:32.353 |
13 |
| Not
Classified - less than 90% |
| 37 |
Bateman R |
Tiga Rover GC287 |
41:26.268 |
13 |
| 14 |
Kelleners R |
Porsche 962 CK6 |
22:09.969 |
8 |
| 10 |
Graham J |
Porsche 962C |
33:41.784 |
7 |
| 7 |
James N |
Porsche 962C |
12:52.396 |
4 |
| 28 |
Hepworth S |
Argo Chevrolet JM20 |
32:54.781 |
3 |
| Retirements |
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