Up front in the championship to Circuit Zolder!

This season Enzo Ide is concentrating on a double European programme. Together with Anthony Kumpen he is not only competing in the FIA GT Series, the European GT sprint championship, but also the Blancpain Endurance Series, the European endurance championship. These two Belgian drivers will be at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS Ultra entered by the German Phoenix, a car that over the last few years boasted a fair amount of success. In the endurance championship they will be joined by the German GT world champion Markus Winkelhock. This last weekend the first race of the FIA GT Series was held on the French Nogaro circuit and a first podium was the outcome.

During qualifying Enzo Ide and Anthony Kumpen finally finished in seventh place. The duo was reasonably satisfied, however the full potential of car, team and drivers had not as such been fully reached.

Enzo Ide: “Indeed, we can definitely do better, but this is the first qualifying session of the season, with a new car in a new team and more specifically a new qualifying formula. The top ten cars out of the two short timed sessions compete in a sort of superpole, where you are given exactly two laps to set a best lap time. What with the rain just prior to the sessions the track conditions changed very quickly and there lay the secret of a top lap time. All those competing in the superpole had completed their two short sessions and were fully aware of the track conditions. Anthony had in fact completed the first and still needed to find his way. We must remember this for the following races!"

Neither of the Belgians was disappointed as they retain a strong fighting spirit and the German Phoenix team is amongst the top best GT teams in the world. That was soon proven during the first race of the weekend.

Enzo Ide: “During my start I was hindered by an Audi that was side on in front of me, whereby I was forced to stop. I dropped back several places, but somewhat later managed to climb back up. After that a perfect pit stop carried out by the Phoenix mechanics and Anthony’s strong stint resulted in our team clinching a third place in the Pro-­‐category. With that we scored important points and more especially a good second row starting place on the grid for the main race on Easter Monday!"

The second race turned into real thriller. Anthony Kumpen and Enzo Ide drove an exceptionally strong race resulting in a highly fought out fourth pace in the Pro-­‐category, whereby they are up front in the championship as they head off for Zolder, where the following championship race will be held in a mere three weeks time. Prior to that the first round of the Blancpain Endurance Series will be on the menu on 14th April.

Anthony Kumpen: “Enzo Ide drove brilliantly, setting some impressive lap times in the wet. A strong race all round and highly important points scored before heading off to Zolder."