The sixth race weekend of this years Dutch Supercar Challenge took place at the Zolder circuit in northern Belgium. The weather outlook predicted a hot and sunny event, but when Berry van Elk's BlueBerry Mosler team just finished setting up camp, an incredibly fierce storm tortured the region. It was not long before the tent collapsed, but miraculously the Mosler MT900R inside was unharmed.
Friday had more troubles in store for the team as a broken camshaft sensor prevented the engine from starting up. The sensor proved to be out of reach, so part of the team had to skip the practice and qualifying sessions and headed home to the workshop for an overnight engine check. Meanwhile the other Mosler driver Alex van 't Hoff had a hard time finding the pace on the short and twisty track. In free practice he recorded the second quickest lap time in class, but a mere tenth overall, being beaten by eight cars of the SuperSport 1 class. However, he managed to stay ahead of reigning GT class champion Cor Euser.
During the qualifying session the GT cars improved a lot, restoring the normal order. Cor Euser, this weekend sharing his Marcos "La Bomba" LM600 with Peter Versluis, recorded the fastest time around the former Formula 1 track. Roger Grouwels steered his newly acquired Corvette C5.R GT1 to the second spot on the grid. Alex van 't Hoff was third in class beating Dave Basu in a Ferrari F430 GT3.
Berry van Elk and his team arrived Saturday morning with the repaired Mosler well in time for the hour long race. Without having driven a single lap on the Belgian track this year Van Elk lined up last for the race, unsure what to expect from his car and the race. As soon as the starting lights turned green Versluis started building up a gap in the Marcos as SuperSport 1 driver Jaap van Lagen passed the Corvette for second place. A couple of laps into the race Grouwels managed to regain second position and immediately opened the hunt for Versluis. Van 't Hoff in his bright orange Mosler was quick to follow and had a good view when Grouwels spun his Corvette in an attempt to gain the lead. Both Mosler drivers Van Elk and Van 't Hoff recorded great lap times just before the pit stops. By now Berry van Elk, who started from the very back of the thirty car pack was in fourth position behind Dave Basu.
During the mandatory pit stops the head of the field had changed positions due to the success penalty seconds. Basu was now leading the race ahead of Van 't Hoff. Euser had taken over the wheel of the Marcos and was in third, closely followed by Van Elk. After a short but intense battle Van 't Hoff overtook Basu. Euser and Van Elk followed suit not long after and took the fight to the new leader. In lap 29 Van 't Hoff had to bow for both the Marcos and the Mosler driver, settling for third at the finish line. Berry van Elk drove a tremendous race in his Mosler to finish second, recording the fastest lap time in the proces, just a few seconds behind Cor Euser and Peter Versluis. "This is such a great reward for the team", Van Elk said just after the race. "With such troubled preparations leading up to today my mechanics have worked so hard to get the car repaired and back on track. Even without a minute of testing the setup was spot on."
With the results of Saturday's race creating the grid on Sunday for the second hour long race, the Mosler drivers were in a great starting position. Just before the first corner Alex van 't Hoff passed Berry van Elk on the inside to grab second place for the first few laps, until Van Elk made a beautiful move on the outside of the right hander known as Kanaalbocht. With a clear track ahead the young Dutchman reeled in Versluis in the Marcos by two seconds a lap, again recording the fastest lap time of the race. Behind him Grouwels gave it all to pass Van 't Hoff for third, but failed and spun again. Meanwhile Versluis and Van Elk had started lapping backmarkers which ended in tears for Versluis when his left foot became stuck underneath the brake pedal and he hit a Ford Mondeo silhouette. Versluis: "Under braking my left foot slipped off the clutch pedal so I could not brake hard enough and I hit another car." Unfortunately for him and his team mate Euser he had to park the car in the pits with a broken suspension. With Van Elk now in the lead just before the pit window opened, and Van 't Hoff in second, the Mosler teams were on top of the timing sheet.
Van 't Hoff lost his second place during the pit stops due to his success penalty seconds, but Van Elk managed to keep a handsome advantage over Grouwels. In the final stage of the race Alex van 't Hoff had sight of the second position when Grouwels again proved he was not yet in full control of his new car. Berry van Elk took the win, over forty seconds ahead of Grouwels. Van 't Hoff completed the podium just three tenth of a second behind the Corvette.
Alex van 't Hoff is now points leader in the GT class, Berry van Elk is leading the Mosler Challenge.
The next races are at the Rizla Racing Days at the TT-circuit Assen, The Netherlands on August 7th and 8th.
Some onboard footage of the Moslers:
Friday had more troubles in store for the team as a broken camshaft sensor prevented the engine from starting up. The sensor proved to be out of reach, so part of the team had to skip the practice and qualifying sessions and headed home to the workshop for an overnight engine check. Meanwhile the other Mosler driver Alex van 't Hoff had a hard time finding the pace on the short and twisty track. In free practice he recorded the second quickest lap time in class, but a mere tenth overall, being beaten by eight cars of the SuperSport 1 class. However, he managed to stay ahead of reigning GT class champion Cor Euser.
During the qualifying session the GT cars improved a lot, restoring the normal order. Cor Euser, this weekend sharing his Marcos "La Bomba" LM600 with Peter Versluis, recorded the fastest time around the former Formula 1 track. Roger Grouwels steered his newly acquired Corvette C5.R GT1 to the second spot on the grid. Alex van 't Hoff was third in class beating Dave Basu in a Ferrari F430 GT3.
Berry van Elk and his team arrived Saturday morning with the repaired Mosler well in time for the hour long race. Without having driven a single lap on the Belgian track this year Van Elk lined up last for the race, unsure what to expect from his car and the race. As soon as the starting lights turned green Versluis started building up a gap in the Marcos as SuperSport 1 driver Jaap van Lagen passed the Corvette for second place. A couple of laps into the race Grouwels managed to regain second position and immediately opened the hunt for Versluis. Van 't Hoff in his bright orange Mosler was quick to follow and had a good view when Grouwels spun his Corvette in an attempt to gain the lead. Both Mosler drivers Van Elk and Van 't Hoff recorded great lap times just before the pit stops. By now Berry van Elk, who started from the very back of the thirty car pack was in fourth position behind Dave Basu.
During the mandatory pit stops the head of the field had changed positions due to the success penalty seconds. Basu was now leading the race ahead of Van 't Hoff. Euser had taken over the wheel of the Marcos and was in third, closely followed by Van Elk. After a short but intense battle Van 't Hoff overtook Basu. Euser and Van Elk followed suit not long after and took the fight to the new leader. In lap 29 Van 't Hoff had to bow for both the Marcos and the Mosler driver, settling for third at the finish line. Berry van Elk drove a tremendous race in his Mosler to finish second, recording the fastest lap time in the proces, just a few seconds behind Cor Euser and Peter Versluis. "This is such a great reward for the team", Van Elk said just after the race. "With such troubled preparations leading up to today my mechanics have worked so hard to get the car repaired and back on track. Even without a minute of testing the setup was spot on."
With the results of Saturday's race creating the grid on Sunday for the second hour long race, the Mosler drivers were in a great starting position. Just before the first corner Alex van 't Hoff passed Berry van Elk on the inside to grab second place for the first few laps, until Van Elk made a beautiful move on the outside of the right hander known as Kanaalbocht. With a clear track ahead the young Dutchman reeled in Versluis in the Marcos by two seconds a lap, again recording the fastest lap time of the race. Behind him Grouwels gave it all to pass Van 't Hoff for third, but failed and spun again. Meanwhile Versluis and Van Elk had started lapping backmarkers which ended in tears for Versluis when his left foot became stuck underneath the brake pedal and he hit a Ford Mondeo silhouette. Versluis: "Under braking my left foot slipped off the clutch pedal so I could not brake hard enough and I hit another car." Unfortunately for him and his team mate Euser he had to park the car in the pits with a broken suspension. With Van Elk now in the lead just before the pit window opened, and Van 't Hoff in second, the Mosler teams were on top of the timing sheet.
Van 't Hoff lost his second place during the pit stops due to his success penalty seconds, but Van Elk managed to keep a handsome advantage over Grouwels. In the final stage of the race Alex van 't Hoff had sight of the second position when Grouwels again proved he was not yet in full control of his new car. Berry van Elk took the win, over forty seconds ahead of Grouwels. Van 't Hoff completed the podium just three tenth of a second behind the Corvette.
Alex van 't Hoff is now points leader in the GT class, Berry van Elk is leading the Mosler Challenge.
The next races are at the Rizla Racing Days at the TT-circuit Assen, The Netherlands on August 7th and 8th.
Some onboard footage of the Moslers:
