Belgium Racing made an impressive start to the 2025 Belcar Endurance Championship during the New Race Festival at Circuit Zolder. Drivers Brent Verheyen and Michael Cool secured a strong third place in both the GTC class and the overall standings with their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (#98). The event also marked the opening round of the Porsche Endurance Trophy, where the pair earned important points for the championship.
The weekend began on Saturday with promising pace. In pre-qualifying, the team set a time of 1:32.089 to place fourth in class, and later improved to 1:31.543 in qualifying, securing third place on the grid in both class and overall.
The 76-lap race took place on Sunday afternoon under dry conditions. Brent Verheyen took the start and managed to maintain a competitive rhythm in the opening phase. During an early full course yellow (FCY), the team opted for a strategic pit stop to change tires, allowing Brent to continue the stint without losing significant track position. Around the halfway mark, another FCY provided the perfect opportunity for a second stop – this time for refueling and a driver change. Michael Cool took over the car and brought it safely to the finish with consistent pace and a fastest lap of 1:31.838.
Reflecting on the performance, Brent Verheyen said:
“I had a strong start and was able to hold position in a very tight field. The timing of the full course yellows worked in our favour, especially with the first tire stop. The car felt great and our pit strategy was spot on. Michael did a great job in the second half of the race to secure the podium. It’s a perfect way to start the season and a great reward for the team’s hard work.”
This result puts Belgium Racing #98 in a strong position in both the Belcar Endurance Championship and the Porsche Endurance Trophy. With solid momentum heading into the next round at Spa-Francorchamps, the team is confident and motivated to build on this early success and challenge for further podiums.
