SILVERSTONE, 2 and 3 May 2009 – The GT4 European Cup kicked of the season this weekend at the Formula 1 race track of Silverstone in the United Kingdom. Having driven a hopeful Balance of Performance at the race track of Paul Ricard in April, Donkervoort Racing was looking forward to the first races of the season. And not without reason, for there could not have been a better start to the season. In race 1 Denis Donkervoort’s D8GT managed to obtain an excellent 3rd overall place and a 1st place in the Supersports series. The other GT’s finished with a fine 2nd and 4th place in the Supersports series. An accident in race 2 resulted in a 2nd place in the Supersports series ‘only’.

Start of the season
The FIA GT4 European Cup season 2009 kicked of with fantastic weather at the Silverstone Circuit. After a successful training season in 2008, in which Donkervoort Racing finished with a 5th and 6th place overall, the team has worked hard on further improving and optimizing the cars during wintertime. Equal to last season, Frenchman Stéphane Wintenberger (102) and Dutchman Denis Donkervoort (103) will compete for the championship in their two white Donkervoort D8GT’s. This season, the team is reinforced with the Dutch/Swiss race car driver Nico Pronk (104) in a grey/black Donkervoort D8GT.

Race 1
The first race of the season was driven on Saturday and ended very successfully for the Donkervoort Racing team. Although the Supersports series had to start behind the GT4 starting grind, Denis Donkervoort achieved an impressive 3rd overall place and a 1st place in the Supersports series.  “The car is in top form and the race went really well! A major improvement with regard to last season are the new tires; grooved slicks in stead of street tires. With this great kickoff I think we will have a good chance for the championship this year.”

Stéphane Wintenberger managed to obtain a 2nd place in the Supersports Series. “The race went great and the car just keeps getting better. We have managed to make the Donkervoorts strong enough to properly compete with the GT4s now, which is even more fun. The Donkervoorts have evolved since last year and are a real pleasure to drive”. Nico Pronk drove his very first race ever and obtained a 4th place in the Supersports series.

Race 2
The second race on Sunday was dominated by a serious accident, right before the Donkervoort, in which a Ginetta crashed into the pit wall during the start, bringing out the safety car for the first 10 minutes of the race and resulting in a chaotic situation. After the race was continued Denis Donkervoort was taken out of the race by Race Control, for accusations of this involvement in the accident. In the end, Donkervoort was cleared of all charges, but the race had already been finished by that time. Because of damage on the car caused by pieces of wreckage Wintenberger also had to pull out of the race. Debut race car driver Pronk finished with a 2nd place in the Supersports Series.

The provisional calendar for this season:
Saturday, May 16th 2009              Italy                  Adria
Sunday, June 21st 2009               Germany           Oschersleben
Sunday July 25th                          Belgium            Spa-Francorchamps
Sunday, August 23rd 2009            Belgium            Zolder
Sunday, September 13th 2009      Portugal            Algarve