SUPERSTARS: Vanthoor shares Zolder secrets
The Zolder racetrack, a circuit that made the history of motorsports with four runnings of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Belgium in the eighties, will be welcoming the SUPERSTARSWORLD for the first time this weekend. Many fresh new additions are set to join the grids including the returning Nicola Larini and Domenico Schiattarella plus the arrival of official WRT Belgian Team Audi racer Laurens Vanthoor, currently leading the FIA GT Series.
The 21-year-old Belgian youngster will be driving and Audi Sport Italia-prepared Audi RS5 to partner team's regular Gianni Morbidelli.
"In general, Circuit Zolder school track - said Vanthoor - one with its challenges and not much room for errors. It's a track with a lot of stop&go action so it's important to exit the corners very quickly, there aren't long straights. Overtaking is not easy but surely possible. It's difficult for me to say if the Audi RS5 will suit the track because I will have my first experience only on Saturday. But from what I'm hearing and considering the history, Audi with its Quattro transmission might be strong there. The weather might also be a factor as it's a a bit changeable... For me it will be a big challenge as I will only have 60 minutes to learn the car. I'm going to do my best and I'm happy to be part of the Audi Sport Italia RS5 team this weekend!".
Vanthoor also stopped by for a deeper analysis... "After the start/finish straight we approach the first corner, a medium speed one to the left. Quite a tricky corner where some laps are required to find the correct line. Also a good overtaking place during the race. Then we arrive to the "Sterrenwachtbocht-Kanaalbocht combination", a long right hand corner where a lot of difference can be made with a good car. Off to the fastest and most challenging corner of the track, "Bianchi", an high speed bend where only a touch to the brakes on entry is required. It's followed by a long straight, not too much room for error so always a challenge. After that, we arrive at the first chicane on this track, the smallest. Only a small nudge on the steering wheel on entry and then immediately back to full power. After turn 4 we go over the bridge towards the "Villeneuve Chicane" followed by "Terlaemen Bocht" a quick uphill corner off the bridge. "Bolderbergbocht" is the slowest part of the track, a standard 120° degree corner. After that, we hit the "Jacky Ickx Chicane", the last chicane before start/finish line with the exit going uphill and making it difficult to get traction".