WTCC

Oschersleben: Racing for Belgium preview

Miguel Freitas back on track Porto was the last WTCC race so far for Racing For Belgium. As a result of Miguel Freitas' serious accident in the streets of the Portuguese capital, Wim Coekelbergs' team had to cry off the following race in Sweden.

Edited: Sep 8, 2007, 3:01 AM

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Miguel Freitas back on track

Porto was the last WTCC race so far for Racing For Belgium. As a result of Miguel Freitas' serious accident in the streets of the Portuguese capital, Wim Coekelbergs' team had to cry off the following race in Sweden. "However in Oschersleben we're back on track", team manager Wim Coekelbergs told us. "The car is now in 100% perfect running order and we have a new engine awaiting us in Oschersleben. We're fitting a works engine which should allow us to close in on the top independents. But there is a marginal note; we won't have any time to actually carry out any tests and this is obviously not the ideal situation for us with this upcoming race."

The images of Freitas' serious skid in Porto are still in everyone's mind, but Racing For Belgium is definitely looking to the future. "What happened is now history", Wim Coekelbergs remarked, putting things into perspective. "We are now working flat out to ensure that we perform as well as possible during the last few races of the season. After Oschersleben we have scheduled several test sessions in order to be in peak shape for Brands- Hatch and Monza. We might even be in a position to climb up into the top-5 in the Independents Trophy. Notwithstanding our share of bad luck the team has thoroughly enjoyed this first season in WTCC and it is our ambition, perhaps with different material, to be back on the grid in 2008 of this highly competitive championship. This season has been a learning curve for us, in all aspects. We mustn't forget that the Alfa 156 is not of the newest cars and we are in fact competing with a 2004 model, ideal to discover this championship and clinch the odd results here and there, but we mustn't hope to be able to battle it out when it comes to pure top speed."

Racing for Belgium is also highly active on other fronts. In July Michael Rossi won the Megane Trophy in Budapest and scored the maiden victory for Racing For Belgium in 2007. It goes without saying that the Belgian team will be carrying on in the Eurocup Megane Trophy. "We are perhaps the fastest team of the entire bunch, but electronic problems withheld us from even better results. Rossi has now shown us that we are in a position to win races and this is the sole ambition we aim for at Donington in just over two weeks time."

Last but not least there is the GT3 Aston Martin DBRS9, which has already given the team various podia places in both Belcar and the Dutch Super Car Challenge. After the Belgian and Dutch GT-championship, the German ADAC GT Masters is on the programme next weekend and this as curtain raiser for the Champ Car in Zolder. "The German GT3s are in fact competing prior to the American F1 also known as Champ Car", Ron Marchal explained. "We will also be present with our Aston and we are looking forward to measuring up against the German competition, and at the same time prepare ourselves for the 24 Hours of Zolder, being held on 8th and 9th September. But before that event we want to finish up amongst the top and who knows even clinch victory in front of the large Champ Car-public!"

-credit: rfb

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