Blancpain Endurance

ProSpeed Competition 24 Hours of Spa Drivers

© Graffiti Lettrage

This year the 24 Hours of Spa is undoubtedly one of the greatest endurance races for GT cars. With a battle between all the most prestigious makes which we come across in the GT racing world, this 24 hours race at Spa, on 30th and 31st July promises to take its place in the annals of motorsport.

It goes without saying that this race is highlighted in red in the agenda of the most successful Belgian GT team of the moment, namely ProSpeed Competition. The Belgian team will enter two Porsche 911 GT3-R. The car #74 will be driven by Paul Van Splunteren (NL) – Bryce Miller (USA) – Nicolas De Crem (B) – Ludovic Sougnez (B). The car #75 will be driven Marc Goossens (B) – Jan Heylen (B) – Maxime Soulet (B)

#74 – Porsche 911 GT3-R

Track engineer : Frans Jacobs

Paul Van Splunteren (21/10/1957)

Dutchman Paul Van Splunteren has more than 20 years of racing experience under his belt, both in long distance and sprint races. He learned the classic form of motor racing in the Dutch touring car series and the spectacular Renault one-make cups. Paul Van Splunteren became 2010 FIA GT3 vice-champion and in that same year, he also performed strongly in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa with a Porsche 911 RSR in the GT2 class. Like Rudi Penders, Paul Van Splunteren also runs a Porsche dealership (Eindhoven and Maastricht).

Bryce Miller (26/07/1982)

Bryce Miller is an American racing driver from Summit, New Jersey. He currently drives a Porsche 911 RSR in the American Le Mans Series and the Grand Am Road Racing Series for Paul Miller Racing. He also participated twice in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 2010 and 2011. While racing in different series in the States, Bryce Miller also gained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science/History.

Nicolas De Crem (31/07/1990)

Nicolas De Crem, who lives in Namur, started like many other Belgian young drivers in the Belgian Formula Renault 1600 championship, in the team of Marc Goossens. He was initially successful in the Belgian Touring Car Series with BMW and Audi. In 2009, he won the Spa 12 Hours, together with Julien Schroyen and… Marc Goossens. The Formula Le Mans in 2010 was the next step in his career, with a 3rd spot in the final standings. This season, Nicolas De Crem is active in the Le Mans Series, where he’s fighting for the title in LM P2. The 24h of Spa is the first outing for Nicolas in GT racing.

Ludovic Sougnez (09/11/1988)

Ludovic Sougnez is a Belgian youngster with already an impressive career. He started in Formula Renault 1600, but very fast switched to the Belgian Touring Car Series where he won races with BMW and Mazda, while he was also successful in the Belgian Renault Clio Cup. Sougnez meanwhile made his debut on the international scene, winning races for Porsche in the GT4 European Cup. This year, Ludovic – who lives in Trooz – participates in the Blancpain Endurance Series. The 2010 edition of the 24 Hours of Spa was his debut for ProSpeed Competition and this year, Sougnez is once again present.

#75 – Porsche 911 GT3-R

Track engineer : Luc Goris

Marc Goossens (30/11/1969)

Belgian Marc Goossens is one of the most experienced endurance drivers in his country. Marc Goossens lives in Geel and started his career in single-seaters. Marc Goossens won the British Formula Ford Championship and the Formula Ford Festival in 1991. After winning a podium place in the F3 British competition (1993), he won three races in F3000. He switched to endurance racing with so far 11 participations in Le Mans, where he recently finished 6th in the LM GTE Pro Class in a ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 RSR. Marc also spent several years in Japan (Formula Nippon and All Japan GT championship) or the United States, racing in Grand Am, Nascar and American Le Mans Series. “The Goose” has an impressive record in his own country, with several Belcar titles and 4 victories in the 24 Hours of Zolder.

Jan Heylen (01/05/1980)

After a successful start in karting, Belgian Jan Heylen started in single-seaters and won the 2002 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Heylen later competed in the F3 Euroseries and Formula 3000. Heylen also won the 2005 European Mégane Trophy. The highlights of his career were during his years in the US Champ Car World Series, with a 2nd spot in the Dutch GP being his best result. In endurance, he won the 24 Hours of Zolder in 2005 and has already competed in the 24 Hours of Spa with Prospeed Competition. Born in Geel, Jan Heylen currently resides in Tampa, Florida.

Maxime Soulet (26/07/1983)

Belgian Maxime Soulet is one of the stars of the latest generation of Belgian drivers. He lives in Brussels, but also raced in the United States and South Africa. Maxime Soulet made his debut in 2004 and immediately won the Belgian title in both the Formula Renault 1600 and the Mini Challenge. Meanwhile Maxime Soulet took the GT and endurance path and has already twice won the 24 Hours of Zolder and put down some good performances in FIA GT and FIA GT3. He also won the Belcar title in 2007 and was vice-champion in 2008 and 2010.