NK HTGT racing gets underway

The 2020 NK HTGT season finally got underway at Zandvoort on the weekend of  12-13 September with two 45-minute races in the Kronos organised Benelux Open weekend.  Despite COVID restrictions in the Netherlands, some 25 teams were raring to go, sharing the track with Triumph Competitions.  Qualifying was interrupted by a red flag, but the clock was stopped and the session generously restarted after everything had been cleared up.  Full marks to Kronos for this, other organisers please take note!  Rhea Sautter and Andy Newall took pole in their E-type, posting a 2:00.8 lap on the new circuit layout.

The first race on Friday afternoon saw Newall build up a lead from Jos Stevens in his Lotus Elan, with Bob Stevens, who had had trouble in qualifying moving up quickly to fight for fourth with the Ford Falcon of father and son Jaap and Jacky van der Ende.  Sadly both these teams were to retire.

After the compulsory pitstop, Stevens overhauled Sautter, now in the E-type to take the win.  Roland Zoomers took third in his E-type, beating touring car winner Bart Deenik (Ford Falcon).

Saturday’s race again saw Newall build up a lead, only for Stevens to take over after the pitstop.  Kaj Dahlbacka drove a steady race and took third in the Corvette Grand Sport, while Frans van Maarschalkerwaart (Shelby Mustang) managed to reel in Zoomers E-type, only to receive a time penalty for a pitlane infringement.

Bart Deenik (Ford Falcon) and Bas Jansen (Ford Mustang) were touring car winners and Sjoerd Peereboom and Jasper Izaks won GTS11 in their MGB both times.