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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">FIA GT CHAMPIONSHIP</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">22/04/2002</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Carsport reflect on opening round</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Hezemans and Kumpen excite about Silverstone</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/hezemans-&-kumpen.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">Anthony Kumpen and Mike Hezemans scored a well earned second place finish in the FIA GT season opener at Magny Cours, France yesterday (Sunday).<BR> <BR> The superfast Belgian / Dutch pairing felt they could have won the race however, if it weren’t for an enforced stop-go penalty when the latter overtook another car as the yellow safety flags were waived.<BR> <BR> Friday’s free practice session saw the Carsport Viper GTS-R well on the race pace, and indications were such that there would be a 3 way battle shaping up with the Lister Storm and Larbre Viper teams.<BR> <BR> However, at Saturday morning’s all important first qualifying session, which determines the top 6 cars for the afternoon’s Superpole shootout, Hezemans suffered an unwelcome shock on his out lap from the pits, in the form of an exploding brake disc which caused a failure to put in any fast laps, missing out on Superpole, and no less than 4 hours solid work to get the car ready from the team’s hard working Italian mechanics. <BR> <BR> “A shock isn’t a strong enough word! I was building up speed and then the front right side of the car seemed to explode. I had to keep the car from the barriers -– it was worrying!” commented Hezemans.<BR> <BR> With the car rebuilt, Hezemans repaid the mechanics for their efforts by rounding out in 7th place for the 3 hour race. <BR> <BR> With no problems reported in Sunday’s morning warm up Hezemans would make the start of the race. Under warm sunshine the 27 strong FIA GT field burst into life at 11.20am and the season was underway. Wasting no time, Eindhoven based Hezemans made short work of moving into 2nd after a mere 10 laps had expired. He then set about chasing the lead Lister Storm of Jamie Campbell-Walter, but could make little headway before handing over to Kumpen.<BR> <BR> Unfortunately during his stint, Hezemans overtook a slower car as the yellow warning flags were waved. This was spotted by the officials who called him in for a 10 second stop-go penalty. This decision was to play a big part in the team’s fortunes, as the race unfolded.<BR> <BR> “After the pitstop I joined the race in 4th place. The car felt okay and I felt I could push and make up the lost places” commented the Belgian.<BR> <BR> And push he certainly did. Within a handful of laps he had wrestled the number 3 car from 4th, and fater a demon passing manoeuvre on David Terrien’s Larbre Viper, took the lead on pulled out a handy gap between himself and the chasing group. “I decided to ease back a little after I passed Terrien but I didn’t know the Lister was catching – the etam didn’t notify me” Kumpen added.<BR> <BR> At the final round of pitstops Hezemans took over the car for the final stint, but could do nothing about the Lister which “Was so easy to drive” as Campbell-Walter commented in the post-race Media conference. Nevertheless the Carsport pair were happy with their day’s work.<BR> <BR> Kumpen said “I’m happy for sure. To finish 2nd in the opening race proves we are competitive. The car is great, and the team did a wonderful job. If we didn’t receive the stop-go it would have been a lot closer at the finish. I think we may have made a wrong choice of Pirelli tyres also. It would have been better if we opted for a softer compeund on one side but we will learn a lot from this race. Mike did a fantastic job too. I’m very pleased and now I’m looking forward to Silverstone (round 2) where both Mike and I are quick”.<BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>