Spa: Zytek race report

Trading Performance team delighted with its Zytek 07S

In only its third ever race, this weekend's 1,000km of Spa, the recently established Trading Performance team raced to a commendable finish. The Swiss squad expressed delight with the performance of the Zytek 07S that enabled it to stay in touch with the field for over five hours. At one point it was even up to third in the LMP2 class, an admirable effort considering the team's inexperience at this high level of racing and the level of the competition. Fifth place in class and 13th overall was its eventual reward, just 10 laps behind the front-runners from the major manufacturers

"It has been a very nice weekend, very gratifying," said driver Karim Ojjeh, whose mother Renate owns the former factory 07S, the same chassis that came second in class at last year's Le Mans 24-hours. "The car is absolutely fantastic. I have great confidence in it. The race proved to us that we have a good chance of performing well at Le Mans next month." Team manager Luc Andre added that the car's Zytek ZG348 engine was "quite perfect."

Saudi, Karim was partnered by fellow drivers Belgian, Julien Schroyen and Frenchman, Claude-Yves Gosselin. The former, he observed, did a "fantastic job" towards the end of the race when conditions were far from perfect.

The other Zytek 07S in the race, that of the Barazi-Epsilon team from France, immediately proved on the pace. Owner Juan Barazi from Denmark drove the first stint after Dutchman, Michael Vergers had taken third LMP2 class place in qualifying. During the early stages of the race he held tenaciously on to fourth spot, setting up a potential podium for himself, Michael and third driver, Brazilian, Fernando Rees. However, problems with the power steering caused a series of pit stops before the car was eventually retired. Once again a Zytek 07S had shown its undoubted potential.

Both Zytek customer teams now look forward to the famed Le Mans 24-hours, which takes place over the weekend of June 14/15. The Barazi-Epsilon team's drivers will be as at Spa while the young Englishman, Adam Sharp will join Karim and Claude-Yves at Trading Performance.

-credit: zytek.co.uk ZPR13/08