FIA GT Championship

SRT to enter a Corvette C6.R in the FIA GT

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat // SRT Corvette C5-R at Zolder

Selleslagh Racing Team (SRT) will once again compete in the FIA GT Championship this season. After running a Corvette C5-R in the 2007 season, in the Citation Cup, the team has bought an ex-Corvette Racing USA C6.R which will be driven by experienced sportscar driver Christophe Bouchut and one-time FIA GT driver and former World Series by Renault driver Xavier Maassen.

Planetlemans used its international contacts and found out that SRT did indeed acquire a Corvette C6.R from the United States and that Bouchut and Maassen will share the car in this years championship.

With the signing of Christophe Bouchut the Belgian squad will have a three time FIA GT champion onboard their Corvette. Bouchut won the Drivers Title in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Since 2000 the 41-year old Frenchman has been on the overall podium 19 times, seven of them were on the top step. In 2007 Bouchut took part in the Le Mans Series for Larbre Competition and the FIA GT Championship for All-Inkl.com Racing.

Joining Bouchut is the 27-year old Xavier Maassen from Heerlen, The Netherlands. Maassen raced in the Formula Renault series in past seasons. After doing Formula Renault 2.0 since the winter of 2002 he moved up in to the World Series Renault with Prema Power Team in 2007. Maassen is a rookie in the FIA GT Championship, having raced only once in the series, back in 2004 in the US Carworld Racing Viper Competition Coupe during the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa. At Spa the team Maassen raced for retired just before 8:00 am after losing oil out on the track.

The team’s weapon of choice will be an ex-Corvette Racing USA Corvette C6.R. The car was used in 2007 in the American Le Mans Series where it was very successful as it won nine out of twelve events in the GT1 class and finished second in the other three races. Unfortunately the car did not make it to the finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where it suffered a rare retirement.

With the addition of the SRT Corvette for the FIA GT championship has gained another top car. So far it is looking good for the upcoming race season.

UPDATE 27-02-2008:
Selleslagh Racing Team has just confirmed the above by sending out a press release. Here is what team owner Patrick Selleslagh and the new SRT drivers think of the deal.

Patrick Selleslagh: “I want to prove that we can hold our own at this level, but I’m thoroughly conscious of the high level of the competition we’re up against. But with these drivers, a brand new Corvette C6.R and an experienced team we’re aiming at a few highlights and podium places. Anyhow I’m 200% motivated to make the most of this new step to the top. I want to thank my partners, Michelin en Pratt & Miller on the one hand and my drivers on the other for their trust and truly hope that 2008 turns out to be a fabulous sporting year.”

Xavier Maassen: “As a young driver you have to remain realistic and everyone knows that it is very difficult to work on up to F1. So you start looking for alternatives, and one of these reputable alternatives is endurance racing, more specifically the FIA GT. You then come across a package that includes a Corvette, SRT and Christophe Bouchut, and you realise that this is the choice in which to excel and give you career a new orientation.”

Christophe Bouchut: “I have known Patrick for a few years and competed with him in the FFSA GT, where we clinched numerous podium places. Another excellent memory was the victory we achieved together with Jan Heylen in the one Belcar-race in Spa. For me this is the logical step-up with the team. I reckon that we’ll be coming up with a few pleasant surprises this season.”