2’13“718! This is the new track record at Spa-Francorchamps set this Friday afternoon by Franck Perera at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan GTE3 Evo2 No. 163 entered by the Grasser Racing Team in the delicate exercise of Superpole. A performance synonymous with the Italian manufacturer’s first pole position at the 24 Hours of Spa.
To throw into oblivion the record held by Pedro Lamy since 2008 at the wheel of a Saleen, summer weather, new asphalt on 70% of the route and, above all, a hell of a dose of talent on the part of a driver who celebrated his forty birthday on March 21.
« I built my best lap turn by turn a bit like a tennis player does when trying to win an important match point by pointhe emphasized in the press room. My first timed lap was fast but not as good as I would have liked. I threw all my strength into the second revolution. On the radio, I was informed of my progress in the hierarchy. It is not easy to drive at the limit on asphalt where the grip is not the same everywhere. It is very pleasing to see that on the recently resurfaced sections, the car has fabulous grip. But we must also remember that in turn 8 (the Brussels pin), we are evolving on the bitumen installed two years ago. The grip is not the same. »
It prevents ! With a time of 2’13″718, the French driver erases from the shelves a certain Pedro Lamy whose record had stood since 2008! For the record, we remember that the Portuguese shared the big car with a certain Vincent Vosse and that Lamy had destroyed the car during warm-up on Saturday morning! For his part, Franck Perera preferred to evoke his joy while putting it into perspective:
« Starting from the first place on the grid in the Centenary edition and on a circuit as prestigious as Spa-Francorchamps has an exhilarating side.he admits. Generally speaking, it seems that Belgium suits me well. In 1999, I was crowned karting world champion in Mariembourg with the Maréchal team. But we mustn’t get carried away. It’s a 24-hour race. So many things can happen there. Especially if the weather becomes unpredictable as it was in Le Mans a fortnight ago. »
This Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Franck Perera and the Lambo No. 163 will share the first row of the rolling start with Lucas Auer (Mercedes) who also went under the 2’14 mark (2’13″754 precisely). Behind, we will find Alessio Rovera (Ferrari) and Lorenzo Patrese (Audi), best Gold driver in the Superpole. On the 3rd row, Jules Gounon (Mercedes) and Vincent Abril (Ferrari). Gilles Magnus, the first Belgian driver, set the 7th time in the Audi which he will share with his compatriot Ugo de Wilde and the tricolors Jim Pla and Paul Evrard.
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