Archive for category: News

The NK HTGT powered by Nolte Küchen celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. For our loyal drivers there was a gift: a free race. There was a catch however: to receive it, they had to travel to the Circuito de Catalunya, the Formula 1 circuit near Barcelona in Spain. Many did so and it made for an unforgettable weekend.

While it had been sunny and warm all day, there was a rain shower during qualifying. After a few laps, the track became extremely slippery. Andy Newall was on the ball and took pole in the E-type which he shares with Rhea Sautter. Frans van Maarschalkerwaart took P2 thanks to a super fast time on the third lap, when it was still just about dry. Michiel Campagne (Corvette GS) and Mark Dols (Marcos 1800GT) qualified on row 2. The first touring car, the Ford Falcon of Bijleveld and Van der Ende, was on row 3. Norbert Gross (Ford Falcon) was second fastest in the touring cars, ahead of Mini Cooper crews Bert Mets/Christian Frankenhout and father and son De Vries.

At 8 pm on Friday, it was time for the evening race. Shortly after the start, Michiel Campagne took the lead, followed by Armand Adriaans in the “normal” Corvette. On lap 7, Adriaans came to a stop in a dangerous spot, whereupon the Safety Car was deployed. A number of drivers cleverly benefited from this, in combination with the Pit Window, which opened after 20 minutes. Michiel Campagne left his stop too late, allowing Andy Newall in the E-type Jaguar to take the lead, ahead of Norbert Gross (Ford Falcon) who had passed Martin Bijleveld in the pits, and Erwin van Lieshout who made a giant leap into third with his Porsche 911. Michiel Campagne managed to recover to second place, but could not catch Newall. As darkness fell, the German-British team came home with over a minute’s lead. Gross took the third podium spot and won the touring car class. Mark Dols made several spectacular excursions but still managed to steer his Marcos past Van Lieshout’s Porsche into fourth place. Sixth place fell to Martin Bijleveld in the Falcon. René and Thijmen de Vries finished seventh overall and won the small touring car class in their Cooper S. In the meantime, darkness had fallen and it was time fors ome beers in the paddock was. It was a to be a short night, because on Saturday it was racetime again at 9:45.

Exactly on time the lights went green and race 2 was underway. Shortly after the start, Hemmo Vriend’s Ford Falcon broke down, whereupon race control immediately deployed the safety car. This caught most drivers by surprise and caused chaos. When the dust clouds had settled, Michiel Campagne was in the lead. Behind was Jaap van der Ende ahead of Norbert Gross in their Ford Falcons and next up a group with Frans van Maarschalkerwaart (Shelby Mustang), Thijs van Gammeren (Falcon), Rhea Sautter (Jaguar E-type) and Mark Dols (Marcos 1800GT). Van der Ende was safe in second place when Gross had to pit to remove a flapping Falcon wing. Sautter fought her way past the competition to take the third podium spot. Frans van Maarschalkerwaart, Thijs van Gammeren and Jac Meeuwissen completed the top 6. Shadowing the Big Healey was Thijmen de Vries who drove a mighty race in the little Cooper S. In GTS11 we witnessed a race of attrition. Dennis Bron (MGA) ran out of fuel and both Porsches disappeared from the scene as well. And thus the honours fel lto Frank Veenstra and Egbert Kolvoort in their MGBs.

Results: Q R1 R2

Full results:  https://raceresults.nu/Results/organisator/2021?evenement=24H+Series&race=22nd+Hankook+24H+BARCELONA+2021

Belgian Lotus driver Luc de Cock bagged pole in Friday’s qualifying session at Jack’s Racing Day. An il trial followed by heavy rain meant that qualifying only lasted three minutes. Those who were up to speed immediately were lucky, the rest could forget about setting a meaningful time.

Michiel Campagne had to start in sixteenth place and used the abundant horsepower of the Corvette Grand Sport to take the lead within a few laps. Martin Bijleveld steered his Ford Falcon to a strong second place after a rocket start. Rhea Sautter held off two Triumphs and took the final podium spot with her Jaguar E-type. Luc de Cock was fourth in the Lotus Elan. Behind them came a train of Ford V8s led by Frans van Maarschalkerwaart (Shelby) followed by Cees Lubbers (Falcon) and Mustang pilots Armand Adriaans and Roel Korsten. In GTS11, Erwin van Lieshout (Porsche 911) was well ahead initiallly. He didn’t make it to the finish however and the win went to Niek van Gils (MGA), who had outsmarted Theo van Gammeren (Porsche 911) halfway through the race. René De Vries was on course to win CT07, until he made contact with the E-type of Ed van Dijk. Bert Mets (Cooper S) took advantage and won the class.

On Sunday, Campagne made it 2 out of 2. The Corvette Grand Sport took an immediate lead at the start. Andy Newall in the Jaguar E-type was very determined in his pursuit and even managed to pass Campagne a few times, but a big cloud of smoke from the engine room of the Jaguar meant the end of his race. Jaap van der Ende initially occupied third place in the Ford Falcon, next he was promoted to p. 2, but then he had an increasingly hard time with the track limits. He had to let Thijs van Gammeren (Ford Falcon) and Luc de Cock (Lotus Elan) pass. On the last lap the Belgian Lotus driver managed to find a way past the the wide blue Falcon and took second overall. Fifth overall and first in GTS12 was Frans van Maarschalkerwaart in the Shelby GT350, chased across the line by Roel Korsten (Ford Mustang) and Jac Meeuwissen (Austin-Healey 3000). In GTS11 Niek van Gils was too fast for everyone in his MGB, while Rob Rappange won the small touring car class in his Mini Cooper S. CT08 was won by Bert Du Toy van Hees in the Lotus Cortina.

Next race: Barcelona, September 3 and 4.

Top 10 race 1:

1. Michiel Campagne (Corvette Grand Sport) 15 laps
2. Martin Bijleveld (Ford Falcon) +78.1
3. Rhea Sautter (Jaguar E-Type) +96.1
4. Luc de Cock (Lotus Elan) +96.6
5. Frans van Maarschalkerwaart (Shelby Mustang GT350) +111.3
6. Armand Adriaans (Ford Mustang) +112.8
7. Roel Korsten (Ford Mustang) +92.3
8. Jac Meeuwissen (Austin Healey 3000) +119.7
9. Henk van Gammeren (Ford Falcon) +121.8
10. Hemmo Vriend (Ford Falcon) +130.7

 

Top 10 race 2:

1. Michiel Campagne (Corvette Grand Sport) 13 laps
2. Luc de Cock (Lotus Elan) +61.0
3. Thijs van Gammeren (Ford Falcon) +62.1
4. Jaap van der Ende (Ford Falcon) +71.6
5. Frans van Maarschalkerwaart (Shelby Mustang GT350) +92.0
6. Roel Korsten (Ford Mustang) +93.1
7. Jac Meeuwissen (Austin Healey 3000) +93.8
8. Cees Lubbers (Ford Falcon) +126.3
9. Hemmo Vriend (Ford Falcon) +127.0
10. Rob Rappange (BMC Cooper S) 12 ronden

Full results at raceresults.nu

Jaap van der Ende was the NK HTGT powered by Nolte Küchen race winner during the Supercar Madness weekend at Zolder. With his Ford Falcon he took the lead at the start, ahead of Norbert Gross in a similar Falcon. Fighting for third place were Mark Dols in the Marcos and Niek van Gils, Jos Stevens and Luc de Cock in Lotus Elans. Rob Rappange led the Mini class, with Bert Mets in his wake, until Rappange had to make a pit stop and Mets inherited the lead. Dennis Bron in his MGA dominated GTS11. After about five laps, Jos Stevens, the fastest driver in qualifying, broke away from the battle for third place. He calmly waited for the heavy Fords to smoke out their tyres. That moment would never arrive, however, as the race was suspended after about 20 minutes due to an accident. Jaguar driver Roland Zoomers and Armand Adriaans (Shelby Mustang) were having a mighty scrap for the lead in the GTS12 class. After dropping back a bit the Jaguar ran wide and ended up in the tyre barriers. The track marshals immediately gave the unfortunate Zoomers the necessary medical attention, after which he was transported to the hospital in Hasselt. The results of the race were based on the laps completed so far. The atmosphere in the paddock after the race was gloomy. With a fellow driver in hospital, it was decided to abandon the second race planned for the following day. Fortunately, good news came from Hasselt on Monday. Roland Zoomers was able to return home later in the week, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

We are looking forward to the Jack’s Racing Day at the TT circuit in Assen, where the NK HTGT powered by Nolte Küchen will racing on August 7 and 8. Do come and see us!

Top 10 race Zolder:
1. Jaap van der Ende (Ford Falcon) 11 ronden
2. Norbert Gross (Ford Falcon) +3,6
3. Jos Stevens (Lotus Elan) +14,7
4. Niek van Gils (Lotus Elan) +24,7
5. Armand Adriaans (Shelby Mustang) +26,9
6. Mark Dols (Marcos 1800GT) +31,2
7. Luc de Cock (Lotus Elan) +35,5
8. Jac Meeuwissen (Austin Healey) +78,6
9.  Hemmo Vriend (Ford Falcon) +88,6
10. Dennis Bron (MGA) +106,7

The first weekend of the 2021 NK HTGT powered by Nolte Küchen on the Zandvoort GP track provided plenty of excitement.

Niek van Gils was the fastest qualifier in his TVR Griffith, posting a 2:02,0 laptime. Roelant de Waard (Shelby 350) was just 0.4 of a second slower. Jos Stevens (Lotus Elan) was third fastest, in marked contrast to his son Bob who did not complete a single lap due to brake problems. Duncan Huisman was fastest of the touring cars in Cees Lubbers’ Ford Falcon, just 0,4 of a second ahead of Carlo Hamilton.

The first race was very close. It took a while to get properly underway though, as young Bob Stevens’ Lotus Elan had yet more problems. With brakes locked solid he ended up stranded on the track at the back of the circuit. That meant a long drive for the tow truck and thus a lengthy Safety Car period. A compulsory one minute pitstop between the 20th and 40th minute made keeping a lapchart interesting. After an hour of pedalling it was Niek van Gils who was just 4 seconds ahead of Roelant de Waard, with Jos Stevens in third another 4 seconds back. The touring car class was hotly contested. Initial leaders Huisman and Lubbers finished third. Carlo Hamilton came from the back to finish a strong second. Old hands Martin Bijleveld and Jaap van der Ende took the win in an all Ford Falcon podium. Jasper Izaks took the win in GTS11 sharing the MGB of Egbert Kolvoort and Rob Rappange won CT07 in his Mini Cooper. CT08 fell to the Lotus Cortina duo of Gerrit Jan van Leenen and Bert Du Toy van Hees.

Race 2 started on a slightly damp track, but the racing line dried quickly as usual in Zandvoort. Jan van Elderen was quickest away in his E-type, hotly pursued by Roelant de Waard in the Shelby Mustang. Jaap van der Ende led the touring cars from Carlo Hamilton, both in Ford Falcons. Meanwhile Jasper Izaks (Cooper S) and Bob Stevens (Lotus Elan) were moving up through the field, having started from the last row. Cor Visser then got his Austin-Healey stuck in the sand at Tarzan, bringing out the Safety Car for a while. The end of the caution period just about coincided with the opening of the pit window. Bob Stevens was one of the first to stop and subsequently went on to record some very quick laptimes. When de Waard had made his pitstop, the little Lotus was ahead and stayed ahead, Bob Stevens scoring a dominant win. De Waard came home second and took first in GTS12, from Ed van Dijk (E-type) and Jac Meeuwissen (Healey 3000). In GTS11, winners Theo and Thijs van Gammeren were Porsche mounted. They finished just 5 seconds ahead of Egbert Kolvoort in his MGB, with Frank Veenstra (MGB) taking third. There was mayhem in the touring car class. First Hamilton dropped out with engine failure, then van der Ende pitted too early and was sent on his way by the team, only to receive a stop-and-go for pitlane speeding. After the pitstops Duncan Huisman was the man on the move, taking over the lead in Lubbers’ Falcon, but Bas Jansen was not far behind in his Mustang. He was so close in fact that he was gifted the win when Lubbers/Huisman received a 10 second penalty for a pitlane infringement. Bijleveld/van der Ende salvaged third in class. In CT07 Jasper Izaks was going great guns in Rappange’s spare car, soon catching up with the class leader. The two put on a great show until Izaks had to make a pitstop with smoke pouring from under the bonnet. Thus Rappange took another win, from the father/son duo De Vries and Bert Mets. Frank Romo won the Lotus Cortina battle in CT08 this time around, beating Van Leenen/Du Toy van Hees.

Roll on Spa in 3 weeks!