Qualifying: Dutch Viper takes pole
Mike Hezemans will start the Spa 24 Hours from pole position in his Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper on Saturday after his time from the opening qualifying session could not be beaten on Friday morning
The Dutchman lapped in 2m24.053s before unsettled weather conditions moved in over the Ardennes venue and meant Friday's session was rendered meaningless. Hezemans was over a second clear of the Ferrari 550 Maranello of Emanuele Naspetti on Thursday night.
"I could have done much better," said Hezemans. "But on the lap after my best one, I was slowed down by one of the Larbre Vipers. I was impressed by the others' lack of speed."
Naspetti also complained, saying: "I could have done a lap seven or eight tenths better but I met traffic on my best lap."
Belmondo Racing Vipers locked out the second row, while the Larbre Viper of championship leaders Christophe Boutchut and Jean-Philippe Belloc, who are joined this weekend by Belgian star Marc Duez, languished in 11th.
"We had a bad strategy," admitted Bouchut. "We went out on intermediates when it was dry and changed to slicks when it started raining. We are here to race for 24 hours, not to set pole position."
Tassin/Hezemans/J Bleekemolen, Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper, 2m24.053s
Van de Poele/Naspetti/Steveny, Rafanelli Ferrari 550, 2m25.273s
Bouvy/Derichebourg/Defourny, Belmondo Chrysler Viper, 2m25.314s
Belmondo/Gosselin/Kumpen, Belmondo Chrysler Viper, 2m26.259s
Vosse/Clerico/Helary, Belmondo Chrysler Viper, 2m26.428s
Martin/M Bleekemolen/S Bleekemolen, Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper, 2m27.066s
Daems/Longin/Severich, GLPK Chrysler Viper, 2m28.002s
Mollekens/Cohen/Geboers, PSI Porsche 996, 2m31.379s
Dierick/De Donker/Dupont, Silver Racing Chrysler Viper, 2m32.541s
Terrien/Pescatori/Garbagnati/Pregliasco, JMB Ferrari 360, 2m32.661s
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