Benjamin Paque, Kobe Pauwels, Bertrand Baguette, Robin Knutsson, and Glenn Van Parijs triumph after a challenging race.
Porsche secures a one-two finish in the 46th edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder, witnessed by over 33,000 spectators.
Circuit Zolder, 26 August 2024: Porsche celebrated its 20th victory in the 46th edition of the 24 Hours of Zolder, marking a historic milestone. Thanks to the brilliant efforts of D’Ieteren Luxury Performance by NGT and drivers Benjamin Paque, Kobe Pauwels, Bertrand Baguette, Robin Knutsson, and Glenn Van Parijs, a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – claimed victory for the second consecutive year after completing 787 laps.
Belgium Racing secured second place with drivers Lars Kern, Sven Van Laere, Dylan Derdaele, Sacha Norden, and Jan Lauryssen, in what is considered the most prestigious race of the Belcar Endurance Championship.
With an average speed exceeding 130 km/h, this year’s race was particularly fast-paced, maintaining intense competition until the final two hours. Benjamin Paque, elated after the race, commented: “RedAnt Racing kept the pressure on us until around 2 PM. Their teams, driving the #93 (A. Redant, Y. Redant, De Breucker, Heyer) and #38 (D. Van Rompuy, T. van Rompuy, Vanthoor, Güven), proved to be formidable and fair competitors. We had to deliver flawless, high-speed driving in constantly changing weather, with impeccable strategy. Our Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – performed flawlessly, and that’s what enabled us to outsmart the competition and claim this incredible win. I couldn’t be happier.”
RedAnt Racing faced mechanical issues, which reshuffled the leaders and paved the way for D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, alongside NGT Racing as technical partners, to take the top spot. Patric Derdaele, team owner of Belgium Racing, remarked, “It was a tough and thrilling race. Despite problems during the night, we never gave up, and this second place feels like a win for me.” Belgium Racing continues to dominate the standings in both the Belcar Endurance Championship and the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux.
Fierce competition until the end
RedAnt Racing finished fourth and fifth overall, securing third and fourth in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux. “We fought hard as a team and gave it our all. It was a very challenging edition, and I’m proud of everyone involved, but we’re definitely aiming to win this race in the future,” a RedAnt Racing representative stated.
The remaining Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – from Q1-Trackracing, driven by Teunkens, Raducanu, Ooms, Paenen, and Vandierendonck, followed behind, with cars from Rush Drivers Collective by NGT and Speedlover rounding out the top positions.
In the GTB class, Tip Top by NGT made a remarkable comeback after suffering a tire blowout, climbing from the lower ranks to secure a podium finish.
Finally, BE Motorsport captured sixth place in the TC class with a Porsche Boxter, highlighting the spirit of the Belgian endurance classic, where smaller amateur teams also compete for their own victory.
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