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Zolder: Series preview
Old-school Zolder set to test Superleague Formula's best Superleague Formula by Sonangol reaches its half-way stage this weekend when the football-themed series visits Zolder in Belgium, a circuit famed for its challenging nature. The 2.492 ...
Published: Jul 15, 2010, 6:12 PM
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Old-school Zolder set to test Superleague Formula's best
Superleague Formula by Sonangol reaches its half-way stage this weekend when the football-themed series visits Zolder in Belgium, a circuit famed for its challenging nature.
The 2.492 mile, 10 turn circuit has remained a staple of the championship since its inception in 2008. Indeed, it is the only venue to have been included on the calendar throughout Superleague Formula's brief history to date.
There's every chance of local fans cheering on a home victory too with RSC Anderlecht and Azerti, the outfit that run them, flying high in the championship. Their driver, 2008 champion Davide Rigon, has been quietly clocking up points for the Purple and Whites so far, including two wins at Assen and four further podium finishes, to lie fourth in table.
And the Italian will be amongst the favourites again this weekend after tasting victory at Zolder back in 2008.
"I have good memories of Zolder, because in 2008 I got an important victory which proved decisive for the final championship result," said Rigon. "The circuit is of an old-style that's typical of an era in which the tracks proved really challenging for drivers. At first it seems quite simple to learn, but that's not the case. It is very technical, with elevation changes that makes it difficult to pick your braking points.
"Zolder will be very important for me because it's the home race for my club, RSC Anderlecht, and also for my team, Azerti. The company is located just a few miles from the circuit."
It's also a place where Tottenham Hotspur's Craig Dolby is hoping to re-affirm his position at the top of the league standings after Yelmer Buurman's AC Milan slashed his advantage by 30 points at the Nurburgring last time out.
The Englishman knows Zolder well from his time spent in Belgian junior formulae and took his first Superleague Formula victory there last season.
"I personally love the place and think it's wicked!" he said. "With a Superleague Formula car it's very exciting, especially over the hill and into the woods; an unbelievable place to be. It's fast in places but in others quite slow.
"It's a very technical circuit which if you get right can really reward you. Everyone will be fairly quick around the first two-thirds but there's a knack to getting the final sector right, so it'll be very interesting."
Another to look out for will be FC Basel's Max Wissel who is something of a Zolder specialist. The German's Superleague Formula CV includes two fourths, a fifth and an eighth place finish at the track, despite the championship's fully reversed second race grid concept.
The action starts on Friday with two 40-minute free practice sessions ahead of Saturday's qualifying at 1425 local time. The first of Sunday's three races begins at 1130 with the second at 1400 and the Super Final set to follow straight after.
Don't forget you can catch all the qualifying and race action live on the Superleague Formula website this Saturday and Sunday.
-source: sf
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