Below you see the preview of my 2009 calendar. The calendar showcases a combination of different classes.
( F1/Clienti, GP2, FIA GT and Ferrari Challenge )
Important dates like New Year’s Day, Easter, National Days and Christmas are included.

Talking about Christmas… this calendar will be the perfect gift!

To keep my work exclusive there are only 51 calendar’s available. ( I will mark the numbers by hand )

SOON more news! The calendars will be available half October/ begin November.

Spa, the weekend of the stewards, the different weather conditions and Bruno Senna who stills has hopes to win the championship.

Like always I gonna mix this report with some personal points of view.

Friday 5 September 2008:

After some delay during the trip I arrived at 2pm in the Welcome center to pick up my pass.
Walking through the crowd with alot of attention on my camera’s I made it to the GP2 paddock.

There was not much time to take a deep breath because the GP2 drivers had to do their qualifine at 4pm.
Quickly I was searching just for one car in the pitlane, the car with nr.2 from Bruno Senna.

Bruno was allready in the car and after taking some photographs his sister Bianca showed up in the pits. I was very pleased she recognized me and she started to smile and weaving her hand at me. After saying hello to each other it was time for the drivers to perform on their best.

Bruno Senna

During this qualifine session I took the gamble and start to walk around the track. Inside Les Combes I made my action shots.

Karun Chandhok

It was Karun Chandhok who did the fastest lap (2:15.489) but because of his penatly in Valencia Senna was on Pole Position for Race1.

GP2 press conference after qualifine

Saturday just before the start of Race 1:

The cars are rolling to their start positions, time for some last shots before the race. While everybody was getting ready to race it started to rain. It was heavy enough to put rain tires on the cars. The field started behind the Merecdes SL63 AMG Safty Car for 2 laps.

After the green flag Bruno was pulling a gap of 1.5 seconds but after a couple of laps Parente was putting pressure on Bruno. The track was drying and it was Zuber who made the first pitstop. He went to slicks and not much longer the championship contenders Senna and Pantano came in at the same time for their stops.

I was standing in front of the Isport crew and saw the drama coming.. Bruno had to much wheelspin on the cold slicks and wet floor. Even that nobody got hurt (just a scary moment for one of the DPR wheelgun men) the stewards gave Senna a drive through pentaly for an unsafe release. The first mistake that the stewards made that weekend.

Isport pit stop for Bruno Senna

Lap 21 and Alberto Valerio went off very hard. The Safty Car came out again and during this period Pantano had problems onboard. The car had no drive for a split moment. He could manage the car back to normal and after the Safty Car came in Bruno made his drive through penalty.

Grosjean was awake and took the lead from Parente while the Piquet Sports drivers had a battle on their own. It was Zuber who took 3rd.

Pantano had to climb up the field for some points and in the final lap he knocked out Lucas di Grassi. For this move Pantano got banned to drive the second race of the weekend. Again a mistake from the stewards. A 10 place grid penalty or a 25 second penalty would be fair.

Lucas di Grassi disappointed with the move from Pantano

The Unofficial top 3 was.
1) Grosjean
2) Parente
3) Zuber

Top 3 Race 1

After the race Zuber also got disqualified for something wrong on his car and so Maldonado took the points for 3rd place.

Zuber telling about his race

Sunday morning 9.30am, time to roll the GP2 cars back to the start grid.

Vitaly Petrov

The Belgian racing fans were happy because local hero Jerome D’Ambrosio was on Pole Position.

Jerome D’Ambrosio

With 11th spot and Patano banned from the race Bruno Senna could take revenge on the stolen victory.

Bruno Senna

Like yesterday it started to rain just before the start. This time it was not so heavy so the drives could hold their slicks on.

At the start Karun Chandhok was touched by Sakon Yamamotto. Both could go on but lost alot of places.

Sakon Yamamotto

Bruno Senna was fighting his way up through the field. In lap 5 the Safty Car had to come out again because  Alberto Valerio went off.

One lap later Alvaro Parente, who was on the podium yesterday had a huge lock up in the Bus Stop Chichane and his race was over as well.

It was cold that morning and the brakes on the GP2 cars were cooling down. Just one lap back into the race Bruno Senna had a moment at the Bus Stop Chichane, attempted to avoid a crash with Buemi, went on the curbs and damaged the car to much to continue.

Bruno Senna

After the race Bruno told it was better to lose 1 point from 6th place than making a crash and have penalty for the next race.

The race went on and while Asmer, Filippi and Soucek also didn’t drove the full race distance it was Maldonado who made a great move in the final stages of the race on D’Ambrosio for the lead.

Vitaly Petrov

A good weekend for Maldonado and a horrible weekend for Isport, Bruno Senna, Giorgio Pantano and Andreas Zuber.

Podium:

1) Maldonado
2) D’Ambrosio
3) Petrov

Even before the start of the race the pole postion car (nr.7 Saleen from Vosse/Franchi/Lamy/Zacchia) crashed on top of the Eau Rouge during the warm up. It impact was so heavy that they couldn’t start the race.

24 Hours of racing is a battle against the time for man and machine.  The famous quote “You can’t win the 24H in the first corner” went arround on the paddock just before the start.

Xavier Maassen thought different and made a great start. At the end of the Camel straight he took first place in Les Combes from Fassler.

The Corvette C6R was just ready to race after a big impact during the training. Sadly there was no time to check the car proper before the race and after a couple of laps the Corvette started to have brake problems.

A few laps later it was all over for the nr.3 Corvette when Maassen crashed the car into the tire wall at the Bus Stop chicane. Again it wasn’t a drivers error but problems with the brakes.

The Maserati drivers didn’t push their cars to the limit and it should pay off later on.

With one AF Corse on the pole position for GT2 class the other one had to start from the pits because of an engine change.

Under the eyes of the master himself the drivers and teams went into the night shift.

During the night session the drivers had great difficaults aspecially because of the weather changes all the time.

Record holder of the most victories in FIA GT; Karl Wendlinger had a moment, lost control and drove into one of the Phoenix Carsport Racing Corvette’s. It was fatal for the Jetalliance Aston Martin team.

During the race the Italian forces went stronger and stronger. Maserati leading for GT1and Ferrari for GT2.

The winners from last year couldn’t repeat their performance. They had a dramatic end when the engine went on fire.

Just before the end it started to rain again. Enough to force alot of stress in the Vita Phone Maserati box.

At the end it was Maserati who won in the GT1 class. With this result Eric van de Poele has won his 5th 24 hours of Spa. A record performance! Third place was for the Gigawave Aston Martin.

In GT2 it was the BMS Scuderia Italia team with the Ferrari who won in front of the Prospeed Porsche from Collard/Westbrook/Lieb.

Visit the FULL gallery on Van De Velde Photography.com

Photographs brough you by: Michaël van de Velde

For many years I’m a fan of Bruno’s uncle Ayrton Senna da Silva. Never the less Bruno shows he has also a great talent for racing cars. He is not only quick in Formula cars but also in GT cars as he showed in 2007 during the Ferrari days at Silverstone. Bruno took pole position and won both races in the Ferrari 430 Challenge from the GB Dealer Team.

Bruno Senna Ferrari Challenge 2007

One year later I saw Bruno again on the same track but now in GP2. Bruno who is one of drivers with changes for the 2008 GP2 title was on pole position for race1.

On Saturday morning I finaly had the change to meet Bruno and his sister Bianca in person. After all those years being a Senna fan it was a great moment, even that it was very short.  Ofcourse I didn’t want to bother Bruno just before the race. On this level professional drivers have to focus on the race.

Bruno Senna GP2

During race 1 Bruno made a slide mistake and went wide in the early stages of the race. He finshed 6th.

Bruno Senna GP2

Anyway… as the name SENNA still stands for rain king. Bruno was simply by far the best during a rainy race 2 won and still has big changes to win the 2008 GP2 championship. Uncle Ayrton can be proud on his nephew.

Bruno Senna GP2

Bruno Senna GP2

Bruno Senna GP2

Bruno Senna GP2

Bruno Senna GP2

More photographs at: http://www.vandeveldephotography.com
Pictures proudly brought you by Michaël van de Velde

The home race from Ange Barde and Nicolas Misslin, the 2007 Coppa Shell champion Lloyd La Marca and championship contenders Bjorn Grossmann, Max Blandardi and Philipp Baron are the ingredients for a spectacular racing event.

Ange Barde ( 2 ) who won here last year the first race had to start from 7th place on grid.
A nearly mission impossible, but not for Ange.

On the pole its another French driver, Nicolas Misslin.

With holding the lead in the first part of the race Misslin ( 5 ) was forced to give up with gearbox problems.

Max Blancardi ( 3 ) took the lead and for a moment it looked like he should win the race. Ange Barde had different thoughts and in the final stages of the race he took the lead.

From left to right: Max Blancardi, Ange Barde and Bjorn Grossmann.

Race 2 and its Bjorn Grossmann on the pole position. After some bad luck in the previous races he is back in form.

Philipp Baron ( 9 ) had good hopes for a podium place at end of race 2.

Bjorn Grossmann ( 4 ) in the lead from start to finish.

Alexey Vasiliev ( 8 ) couldn’t continue after a collision in the early stages of the race.

Lloyd La Marca ( 77 ) found out there is a very strong competition in the Trofeo Pirelli. He finished 11th.

Philipp Baron’s thoughts became reality and he finished 3rd.

Bjorn Grossmann could use the victory and he is back in the race for the championship.

From left to right: Ange Barde, Bjorn Grossmann and Philipp Baron.

The Saturday morning qualifine sessions started with a huge moment for Oleg Barabash.
Just after the Mistral straight in ‘Signes’ he lost control, went off and made a sideway impact with the crash barrier. (I don’t know if it was a drivers error or mechanical problem)
The Paul Ricard crew did a fast job to give Oleg all the medical attation he needed and in an Official confirmation we heard that he broke his leg. (Van De Velde Photography wish Oleg a good and fast recovery)

Normaly its nice and sunny in the Cote d’Azur but this time it was cloudy. With a strong wind at end of the weekend days the F1 Clienti drivers had great difficaults to controle their cars.

Race 1 and the clouds packed together.

It was the French driver Jean-Marc Bachelier ( 129 ) on the pole with Jaimie Constable ( 127 ) making it an all front row for the Ferrari GB Dealer Team. Championship leader Michael Cantillon ( 128 ) had to start from 7th place.

During the race Bachelier kept his head cool but further down the field there were some hot battles.

For this event the La Marca family was back and aimed for success with Kessel Racing. Eric wanted to repeat the success from his older brother Lloyd in 2007. Well, he did and I think in the whole history of Ferrari Challenge nobody was happier at the end of the race than Eric.

Sad enough for Eric the joy didn’t took long because the stewards found something on the car and they disqualified Eric.

At 3/4 of the race Jaimie Constable had the ‘drive through penaly’ sign board which cost him a podium place.

As you can see not everybody was pleased with the move Jaimie made.

Jean-Marc Bachelier took the victory at the end of race 1. Second became Eric La Marca (later disqualified) and third place was for Wido Roessler. For the championship it should be: 1. Bachelier 2. Roessler 3. Cantillon.

Race winner Jean-Marc Bachelier.

Championship leader Michael Cantillon happy to take points to stay in the lead.

Day 2 and this time it was Plamen Kralev on the pole.

Compatriot Fons Scheltema had to start from 14th out of 27.

The start of race 2 with Kralev in the lead and he drove a race without mistakes.

Walter Forer ( 109 ) had more problems…

…and a few laps later Forer had to make a move to avoid a touch with Fons Scheltema who was under attack by Magnus Frodig from Sweden.

Hero of the day was Eric La Marca who started from 7th and again took 2nd place. This time there was nothing wrong with the car.

From left to right: Eric La Marca, Plamen Kralev and Michael Cantillon.

Where else than Monaco would be the perfect place to have an event like this?

With various cars through the years the spectators had worth for their money. There is no other circuit where you can get so close to the track than in Monaco.

I think the photographs says enough for this blog!

Seen yourself? Want to see more photographs? See the full gallery on Van De Velde Photography.com

Direct album link: 6th Historique de Monaco

Pictures brought you by: Michaël van de Velde | Van De Velde Photography

Read the story here: http://www.fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1539

See the race results here: http://www.fiagt.com/results.php

3rd place drivers Simonsen/Peter in the Aston Martin DBR9.

Ferrari 430 GT2.

Moser/Del Monte.

Aston Martin DBR9.

Thomas Biagi.

Ferrari 430 GT2 doing a pratice drivers change and tire stop.

One of the English FIA GT grid girls.

Karl Wendlinger.

Peter Kox.

Ferrari 550 Maranello GTC.

Bartels in the Maserati MC12.

Porsche 997 GT3 RSR.

Playing with my camera!

The G2 pole positon Saleen S7R lost the left rear wheel.

Ferrari 430 GT2.

Another shot shows that I know my job.

The safty car had to came out just before the end of the race.

Ferrari 430 GT2.

Bartels making a little pose for me.

Race winner Ryan Sharp.

GT1 podium.

GT2 podium.

————————————————–

The GT3 class:

Grid girls line up.

Going into detail…

Lorgere-Roux in the Ferrari 430 GT3.

Doing a last pose just before the race.

Another grid girl.

Forsten/Loix.

Ascari KZ1R GT3

Khan/Mutsch the winners of race 1 and 2 in the Ford GT.

The top 3 for the second race.

Nikki Cadei in the Ferrari 430 GT3.

It was very tricky on the wet track.

The Trofeo Pirelli was the last class on the program during Saterday. The weather became from bad to wurse and the Trofeo Pirelli class should have all difficaults to keep the cars on the track. Never the less 18 out of 19 cars should finish the race.

The field had an extra warm up lap to heat up the tires and check the conditions. After the start it was Baron for half of the race leading the field but than the drivers had to came in for rain tires.

After the pitstops it was Barde in controle followed by Blancardi and Baron back to third place.

The places for the podium didn’t chance, so at the end of the race it was the 2006 Trofeo Pirelli champion Barde in first, Blancardi second and Baron third.

Ange Barde

Max Blancardi

Philipp Baron

Robert Pergl (39) and Phillipe Prette (7) showing the conditions.

Bjorn Grossmann

Max Blancardi

Ange Barde on top of the podium.

During race 2 it was still wet but a little better as the laptimes showed. The drivers were about 10 to 15 seconds faster in their fastest lap.

Guest driver Andrea Piccini for the Ferrari GB Dealer Team was in controle for the second race. He was taking a pretty big gap but half way the race Barde came back.

In lap 7 Robert Pergl went off in Becketts. Two laps later it was Sergio Rota who left the track almost on the same point.

Piccini won the race but Barde took the points for the championship. At the end of the race the gap was just 1.948.

The start of race 2 and Piccini was allready pulling away.

Andrea Piccini

Phillipe Prette

Sergio Rota lost controle in Becketts. Very disappointed he left the gravel to retire.

Jan Danis

Bjorn Grossmann

Piccini across the line to win the second race.

Piccini searching for his teamsleader to share the joy.

Ange Barde