NEWS

Dutch GT4 2011: Zandvoort Report

Ricardo van der Ende ended his perfect season with a more than superb performance during the 'Formido Finaleraces' in the HTC Dutch GT4 Championship. The BMW M3 driver won both the second sprint race and feature race at Circuit Park Zandvoort in the upper class of Dutch racing. He also defeated his rivals in the European series, which means that Van der Ende crowned himself champion in the SRO GT4 European Cup.

Race one
Jeroen Bleekemolen celebrated victory during the first race of the weekend. Bleekemolen started from poleposition and wasn't in serious trouble for a moment. After fourteen laps and when the chequered flag came out, his margin over Simon Knap (BMW M3) was 1,382 seconds. Knap was faster from time to time during the race, but the Corvette C6 driver didn't have to worry about his lead. Dick Freebird finished third in his Lotus Evora GT4.

Bleekemolen: “I could open a gap directly after the start. One could say that I won this race during the first meters. I couldn't relax for a moment though, because Simon wasn't that far behind. I had some vibrations in my car, which made it difficult to drive consistent lap times, but that was no problem. Just a challenge, I would say.”

Race two
Victory in the second sprint race was for Ricardo van der Ende. Van der Ende proved why he is the new crowned HTC Dutch GT4 champion by driving a very solid race. He catapulted his BMW M3 to the lead even before the Tarzanbocht and opened up a gap straight away. European driver Stefano D'Aste (Lotus Evora GT4) tried to launch a counter-attack, but there was never a real fight for position. Behind D'Aste, Cor Euser (Lotus Evora GT4) fought his way to third place overall, while Simon Knap (BMW M3) was classified third in the Dutch class and fourth overall.

Van der Ende: “Even before the lights went out, it was my plan to take the outside line in the first corner. I was really on the edge, but never afraid that I would lose control over my car. It turned out to be the right decision and everything just went perfect. D'Aste tried to close the gap halfway the race, but it stayed around three seconds and then I knew I was save.”

Race three
Ricardo van der Ende ended season 2011 in style with his second victory of the day. Together with his team mate Duncan Huisman, Van der Ende was victorious in the feature race with mandatory pit stop included. The BMW M3 pair earned the lead when the combination Dick Freebird / Cor Euser (Lotus Evora GT4) was hit by a puncture. Stefano D'Aste also punctured, which ended his hopes for the European championship. After the retirement it was easy for Van der Ende to seal the title.

Van der Ende: “I had an easy job on my hands after my rivals both punctured. I didn't have to drive on the limit anymore and was just waiting for the chequered flag to come out. There wasn't much excitement for me on the track, but a puncture is just bad luck. I haven't had any bad luck at all this season and we didn't make any mistakes. After three years of trying, the HTC Dutch GT4 and European title are my rewards.”

After twenty races, the third season of the HTC Dutch GT4 Championship is now over. As per tradition the new season will start at Easter with the 'Kruidvat Gillette Paasraces'.

Results Formido Finaleraces – Circuit Park Zandvoort 2011
Race 1 HTC Dutch GT4 Championship:
1. Jeroen Bleekemolen, Corvette C6, 14 laps in 25:37,435 minutes (141,191 km/h)
2. Simon Knap, BMW M3, at 1,382 seconds
3. Dick Freebird, Lotus Evora GT4, at 5,258
4. Dennis Retera, Aston Martin Vantage, at 14,965
5. Duncan Huisman, BMW M3, at 16,747
6. Anthony Scragg, Aston Martin Vantage, at 17,972
7. Stefano D’Aste, Lotus Evora GT4, at 18,695
8. (6) Ferdinand Kool, BMW M3, at 19,123
9. (7) Robert den Otter, BMW M3, at 25,433
10. (8) Phil Bastiaans, Porsche 997 GT4, at 25,951
11. (9) Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje, BMW M3, at 28,944
12. (10) Philip van Beurden, Porsche 997 GT4, at 56,111
13. (11) Luc Braams, Chevrolet Camaro, at 2 laps
14. Gianni Giudici, Lotus 2 Eleven, at 4 laps

Not classified: Eduard Leganov, Ginetta G50
Did not start: Ales Jirasek, Ginetta G50

Race 2 HTC Dutch GT4 Championship:
1. Ricardo van der Ende, BMW M3, 14 laps in 25:25,003 minutes (142,342 km/h)
2. Stefano D'Aste, Lotus Evora GT4, at 3,489 seconds
3. (2) Cor Euser, Lotus Evora GT4, at 11,483 seconds
4. (3) Simon Knap, BMW M3, at 24,937 seconds
5. (4) Peter van der Kolk, Corvette C6, at 25,459 seconds
7. (5) Bernhard van Oranje, BMW M3, at 31,607 seconds
8. Eduard Leganov, Ginetta G50, at 44,021 seconds
9. (6) Eric Bruynoghe, Porsche 997 GT4, at 44,628 seconds
10. (7) Wim van Genderen, Chevrolet Camaro, at 47,708 seconds
11. James Appleby, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, at 1 ronde

Not classified:
Jan Lammers, Porsche 997 GT4, at 4 laps
Jan Joris Verheul, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, at 4 laps
Henry Zumbrink, BMW M3, at 9 laps

Did not start:
Jiri Gottwald, Ginetta G50
Gianni Giudici, Lotus 2 Eleven

Disqualified for technical infrigment: Pim van Riet, BMW M3 GT4.

Race 3 HTC Dutch GT4 Championship:
1. Duncan Huisman - Ricardo van der Ende, BMW M3 GT4, 27 laps in 51:16,376 minutes (136,082 km/h)
2. Peter van der Kolk - Jeroen Bleekemolen, Corvette C6, at 3,911 seconds
3. Dennis Retera - Jan Joris Verheul, Aston Martin Vantage, at 26,415
4. Simon Knap, BMW M3 GT4, at 27,795
5. Jan Lammers - Phil Bastiaans, Porsche 997 GT4, at 59,711
6. Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje - Bernhard van Oranje, BMW M3 GT4, at 1:05,857
7. Robert den Otter - Pim van Riet, BMW M3 GT4, at 1:22,506
8. Stefano D'Aste, Lotus Evora GT4, at 1:35,000
9. (8) Eric Bruynoghe - Philip van Beurden, Porsche 997 GT4, at 1:50,066
10. (9) Dick Freebird - Cor Euser, Lotus Evora, at 1 ronde
11. Ant Scragg - James Appleby, Aston Martin Vantage, at 1 ronde
12. Eduard Leganov, Ginetta G50, at 1 ronde
13. (10) Henry Zumbrink - Ferdinand Kool, BMW M3 GT4, at 6 laps

Not classified:
Wim van Genderen - Luc Braams, Chevrolet Camaro GT4, at 13 laps

Did not start:
Ales Jirasek - Jiri Gottwald, Ginetta G50
Gianni Guidici, Lotus 2 Eleven

Standings after 20 races:
1. Ricardo van der Ende, 164 points (CHAMPION)
2. Duncan Huisman, 122
3. Jeroen Bleekemolen, 120
4. Dennis Retera, 113
5. Simon Knap, 106
6. Jan Joris Verheul, 97
7. Cor Euser, 92
8. Phil Bastiaans, 91
9. Peter van der Kolk, 88
10. Jan Lammers, 69