TF Sport driver Tom van Rompuy was satisfied with LMGT3 qualifying for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps despite missing out on Hyperpole.
“I’m happy – I didn’t make any mistakes,” the #81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R driver told Motorsport Week after qualifying.
“It felt like a very good lap, but in the end, it was only P11, so that’s a bit hard to take.
“I think for the moment, because he [Ben Keating in the #33 Corvette] has the success ballast on the other car, that’s where the cars at, so let’s see in the race where we end up.”
Close margins covered the 18-strong LMGT3 field, consisting of nine manufacturers.
Rompuy lost out on the top 10 threshold during the Q1 session by 0.458 seconds, with the entire top 11 covered by one second, therefore having missed out on the Hyperpole session.
With the #33 Corvette down in P17, the #81 machine presents as TF Sport’s main hope for the win at the third FIA World Endurance Championship round.
The #81 crew of van Rompuy, who will take the race start, Rui Andrade and Daniel Juncadella already claimed victory this year at the Qatar 1812km opener.
It is the Belgian’s home race in his second consecutive WEC season, noting that he “knows the championship a bit better” with “more knowledge” and “more mileage with the Goodyear tyres” although he insists “it will still be hard” to climb up the field.
“I think our strengths are especially in the high-speed corners or the twisty bits, let’s say,” he added.
“That’s where our car is normally quite strong.
“And I think we’re lacking a bit of acceleration speed, going to top speed. So that’s what hurts us for the moment.”
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