FIA GT1 World Championship
Spa – Francochamps (Total 24 Hours of Spa)
July 29th – August 1st, 2010

For the fifth FIA GT1 World Championship race the GT pilots participated in the legendary Total 24 Hours of Spa. 22-year old Christopher Haase (Kulmbach) competed for the second time in his motorsports career at the Circuit Spa–Francorchamps. In 2008 Haase drove the 7,395m long track in a KTM X-Bow (GT4). “This is the first time that I compete at this track with a really fast car,” says Haase.
 

Freak weather with heavy showers and dry periods did not leave the Franconian pilot much room for the necessary practice sessions on slick tyres. However, the German/Dutch duo performed well in the rain and reached the 4th place in the pre-qualifying session. Haase’s partner Peter Kox (46) drove the Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S (REITER Engineering) in the first of the three qualifying sessions and qualified for the Top16 of Q2 by reaching P7. Christopher Haase took over for Q2. “In my first lap I had problems using my new slick tyres optimally because I mostly drove in the rain before. The long middle section was especially difficult for us. We do well in the first and third section but Peter and I have problems in the technically demanding middle sector. We are 1 or 2 seconds slower than the other Lambo,” says the 22-year old. Haase placed 8th with his fastest lap. However, he dropped to start position 9 shortly before the end, with a 0.034 seconds gap to P8. Therefore he did not qualify for the Top 8 for Q3.
 

Christopher Haase started the qualifying race, was able to push but was then blocked by a Young Driver Aston Martin. He ended up on the main field and lost places (P12). During the first half Haase had some close fights for places with the Vitaphone-Maserati (Bernoldi/Ramos). The Maserati hit the Lamborghini hard and the diffuser loosened. Haase fought the strong vibrations in the car for two laps. The diffuser loosened completely. The Maserati continued to fight. After a driver error he cut the track and positioned himself in front of Haase. After an attack from Haase his competitor hit him in the side and drove Haase over the curbs. Haase was forced to surrender due to deteriorating tyres. “I am happy with my stint. I was able to fight and keep up with the pace, except for the middle section. Peter took over with good tyres and drove good times up to a few laps before the end. However, he also had problems in the middle section,” says Christopher Haase. Kox drove across the finish line in 8th place. In the end the duo reached P7 due to a drop out.
 

A modification in the setup allowed for great progress in Saturday’s championship race. After the flying start Kox placed in P2 but lost it to the Mad-Croc-Corvette at the hill after start/finish. Together with the other Lamborghini (Zonta/Kechele) the leading trio broke away. After five laps a change in positions. Maassen (Corvette) P1, Kox (Lamborghini) P2 and Zonta (Lamborghini) P3. Then Maassen dropped out with damaged tyres. Kox in front. Zonta placed the other Lambo behind him in P2. “I was able to break away and it would have been a clear victory for me and Christopher. Unfortunately we had very bad luck,” Peter Kox says disappointedly. After the change Haase noticed a loss of power while driving through the pit exit. After the Eau Rouge section a short increase in engine power. Kechele came closer. Haase was able to keep his Reiter colleague behind him but let him pass after a further loss of power. “Unfortunately I was to find out that I had massive problems with the car and I did not want take away the team colleagues’ chance for a victory. My oil pressure decreased considerably and there was some oil flow to the tyres in the end. I did have no choice but to park the car during the safety car phase. Very disappointing. We would have reached at least the podium; even the first place was possible. Anyway, we made great progress with the car and now we look at the next race,” says Christopher Haase optimistically. Haase’s/Kox’s car was listed in P20 after the drop out.
 

At the end of August the GT1 World Championship will continue in Germany. The sixth race of the FIA GT1 World Championship will take place together with the FIA GT3 and German GT Masters series at the Nürburgring on 27th – 29th August.
 

The race in Durban (South Afrika) in November is cancelled. Instead there will be a GT1 race in Navarro (Spain) on 22nd –24th October, 2010.



mmr/motioncompany