Delahaye Racing opt for Corvette in Belcar

Delahaye Racing has opted to buy a new Corvette Z06 GT3 Evolution for the team’s assault on the 2011 Belcar Endurance Series with Fred Bouvy and Damien Coens confirmed as its driver line-up.

The Belgian squad, which evaluated several options, including the BMW Z4, before committing to the Corvette, will enter the American-built machine in all six rounds as well as the Spa 24 Hours in June. The team is expecting to receive delivery of the car in March and will get technical support from former FIA GT3 champions Callaway Competition.

Delahaye Racing’s chief engineer Lionel Hansen explained why the team chose the Corvette for its 2011 campaign.

“Mainly because it’s a championship-winning car in the FIA GT3 European Championship,” he said. “For 2011 it has several developments, including better cooling, new brakes designed for endurance racing and an adapted rear subframe.

“The Corvette is a very reliable car and has 600bhp which helps with overtaking. It is also relatively easy to run and we are the only team aligned with the manufacturer in Belgium.”

Champions in 2008 at the wheel of a Ferrari, both Coens and Bouvy have driven Corvettes before at the Spa 24 Hours.

“I’ve driven both the C5 and C6 GT1 versions,” said reigning Belgian Touring Car Series champion, Bouvy. “Corvette is a great product and we’re hoping to regain the Belcar title and score a first ever top five finish at the Spa 24 Hours.

“I have total confidence that Delahaye Racing will maximise the potential of the car. The strength of the team has always been its attention to detail, strategy and the reliability of its cars, all crucial factors for success in endurance racing.”

Meanwhile, the team are also investigating the possibility of entering the car in the new Blancpain Endurance Series.

Watch the Belcar Endurance Series on Motors TV in 2011.


Andy Wilkinson

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