'Battle of the champions' in Belgium
This weekend (July 16th till 18th), the BOSS GP series is back in action after a four weeks’ break with a pair of races to be held at the circuit of Zolder in Belgium at the occasion of the ‘Zolder Superleague’ event. Zolder has a long-standing tradition of hosting BOSS events and the old-style circuit is highly popular with teams and drivers. Conveniently located in the west of Belgium with The Netherlands and Germany not far away, Zolder often attracts good crowds for its race meetings. Spectators can look forward to some exciting single-seater action from the impressive machinery in the BOSS GP series.
Even though the World Cup is now over, there is still some kind of football atmosphere to this weekend’s meeting as the drivers in the Superleague Formula are representing various football clubs from all over the world. But obviously, motor racing is the main thing at the event and what better way could there to enjoy racing at its best with cars from the highest level than in the BOSS GP class?
The Circuit Zolder, formerly known as the ‘Omloop van Terlaemen’, is yet another old-school motor racing venue to feature on the calendar of the BOSS GP series. The circuit hosted the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix for the first time in 1973 and then – after the final event at Nivelles – was home of the Belgian round of the Formula 1 World Championship continuously from 1975 till 1982. In the aftermath of the tragic accident that claimed the life of Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve, only one more Formula 1 Grand Prix was held at Zolder, in 1984. However, the circuit has welcomed many other major series ever since, from DTM and World Touring Cars to FIA GT and World Series. Comprehensive updates to improve pit and paddock facilities were carried out in recent years.
Of course, all the drivers who have been among the front runners in recent BOSS GP series events at Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort and the Nürburgring will be back in action again at Zolder, both in the ‘Masters’ and in the ‘Open’ class. The event at Zolder being the penultimate meeting of the season already, the title fight in both categories is heating up. Accordingly, the series’ organisers have dubbed the BOSS GP meeting at Zolder as ‘Battle of the champions’. This promises quite something…
An interesting addition to the entry list is a 1973 Formula 5000 car, the Chevron B24-Chevrolet that Peter Gethin drove to victory in the 1973 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. This will be the first time for a Formula 5000 car to join the BOSS GP field. When the car turns out to be competitive, more drivers and owners of such machinery might join BOSS GP for the future. But now, it is on to Belgium first, for the ‘Battle of the champions’.
BOSS GP action at Zolder starts with free practice on Saturday at 9.45 am. Qualifying is scheduled on Saturday at 11.30 am. The first race is on Sunday at 10.40 am, the second race is at 5.30 pm. All sessions and races are 20 minutes each. Other categories featuring on the programme of the ‘Zolder Superleague’ meeting are the Dutch Supercar Challenge, Benelux Formula Ford, Youngtimers, the Dunlop Special Open Trophy and, of course, Superleague Formula by Sonangol.
