Alfred Hitchkock could have written the storyboard. Indeed, never before I saw a race that was that thrilling. We had to wait the real last minutes to know whom of Jan Limpach (USA) or Vladimir Horky (CZ) should be the winner of the splendid statue offered by the IMCA to the best racer of the 20^th century. At the start no less than 3 racers, all 3 within a small range of 6.5 points at the IOC-standings, had a chance to win the title. Of them Sweden's Lasse Aberg could not defend his cause as it should have been, since he couldn't start in the heat with all the champions. But between Limpach and Horky the battle was that close that at several moments they had exactly the same total of IOC-points (386.5). After 10 hours of racing both were tied with 8314 laps. So the two last hours were full of drama, especially for America's Jan Limpach who was heading the IOC-list (nearly without interruptions) since 1973, but was now at the point to be passed by the much younger Vladimir Horky at the real last race of his long career. Superbly helped by an outstanding Geert Mertens (the actual IMCA world champion) Limpach's team could go out at the lead to hold it until the finish.

THE ENTRIES

18 cars lined up for one of the most fantastic races in the history of slot racing. Favourites were the two Porsches 911 GT1 res. shared by Vladimir Horky (actual G-7 ESROC champion and threefold ex-ISRA world champion), Josef Korec (actual ISRA world champion) and Frantisek Poledna (actual ISRA vice-world champion), and by Luiz "Gugu" Bernardino (BR), Ron Hershman (USA) and Philippe de Lespinay (USA). The last one didn't show at a major international race since …1973 - the year that he missed the USRA G-7 title for a couple of inches. Mercedes had two cars at the start, one driven by the excellent German team of Ralph Klose, Thomas "Boum-Boum" Hahnel and Markus Hahnel, the other by the amateurs team of Patrick Vanneste and TV-reporter Alain van den Abeele. Toyota showed with two superbly prepared cars, one for Limpach (USA)-Geert Mertens (B)-Jean Pierre van Rossem (B), the other for Hugo Dekker (NL)-Ben den Hartog (NL)-John Minheere (NL). Being so low at the rear the cars had to use the old in-line chassis, not the new angle winder. No less than 4 TWR Nissans R390 GT1 were found as outsiders. Among them the #31 shared by Lasse Aberg (S, the actual G-7 world champion), Anders Gustafson (S) and Kristof Klinkers (B), and the #32 shared by "Piki" van Rossem (ex-junior world champion) and girl-friend Maya Willockx (B). Normally Nicolas van den Abeele (the ex-Scalextric world champion) should have joined the last team, but since he stupidly refused to pay the modest entry fee he was refused at the start. A last outsider was the #45 Panoz-Ford GT1, shared by Vlado Okali (SVK), Jozef Miskolci (SVK) and Jan Korec (CZ). The rest of the field was restricted to Porsches 911 GT2, Vipers, a Ferrari F40 GTE LM and an extremely fast BMW V12 LMP driven by the young Youri van Rossem and Yannick Putzeys.

THE TECHNICAL CONTROL

Most cars passed the technical control without problems. This was not the case for the #31 Nissan R390 GT1 presented with a body which was only finished the night before the race. The German Mercedes CLK-LM was presented with a too low weight and the Toyota TS020 GT-One with the wrong motor. All refused cars could be presented a second time. Fortunately all cars were regular at the second show.

QUALIFICATIONS

The BMW V12 LMP of Yannick Putzeys and Youri van Rossem, having been pipped by Piki's Nissan at the prequalifications, drew first blood when Youri van Rossem realised an astonishing 3"7129 being more than 2/10^th of a second clear of the Ferrari F40 GTE LM of Desmond Dekker. During the last minutes Yannick Putzeys took over from Youri and clocked an even faster time: 3"7118. No one of the GT1 cars seemed able to do anything faster. Of the four Nissans only the #30 R390 GT1 by Bob Demeyer went for it, while the three others tried to avoid having to start on the slow outer lane for the TQ-car. Of the two factory Porsches 911 GT1 the American car seemed not to be ready, since it came no further than a poor 4"2115 (Bernardino). Why the computer credited the team with a much faster 3"7311 will remain for ever a mystery. The other factory Porsche, well driven by Frantisek Poledna, realised 3"7262, being a long time second. Towards the end of the session the car was pipped by the #27 Toyota TS020 GT-One (Limpach's), when Jean Pierre van Rossem realised 3"7190 on cold tires. With only one car to go -the Slovakian Panoz - it seemed that the top-3 should be #15 BMW V12, #29 Toyota TS020 and #25 Porsche 911 GT1. But then Jozef Miskolci took over the controller. He drove only two laps, one in 3"7109, enough to take the pole position. Disappointing were the results of Mercedes, coming not higher than 3"8291, good for only a 7^th place on the grid. One car, the Krauss Porsche 911 GT2 by Lars van Densen and Dieter de Schaetsen realised no time at all, due to a bad manipulation of the lap counter, but was credited by the 4"5177 realised at the pre-qualifications. Fastest GT2 car was the Roock Porsche 911 GT2 by Yannick Demeyer in 3"9705, however a full 2/10^th slower than the first KID-car (the BMW V12 LMP). Eventually the grid looked as follows:

1. Okali/Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 3"7109; 2. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 3"7118; 3. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 3"7190; 4. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 3"7262; 5. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 3"7311; 6. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 3"8150; 7. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 3"8291; 8. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 3"9705; 9. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 3"39739; 10. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 3"9739; 11. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 4"0132; 12. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 4"0314; 13. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 4"1020; 14. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 4"1582; 15. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 4"1976; 16. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 4"2922; 17. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 4"4231; 18. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 4"5177.

CONCOURSE

Except for the resin McLaren-BMW F1 GTR, entered by JPVR for Marc Joyeux and Dominique Bellenger, most cars were at the highest model standards. Winner among the GT2-cars was the #65 Porsche 911 GT2 entered by Bob Demeyer for his son Yannick. With 38 votes the car was far ahead of Dirk Wittevrongel's Krauss Porsche 911 GT2 (entered for Van Densen/De Schaetsen) and the Oreca Viper GTS-R entered by Geert Mertens for Koopmans/De Schaetsen. No less than 14 GT1-cars were presented, two of them being non-starters: the Toyota #28 by Dirk Wittevrongel and the #12 Mercedes CLK-GTR by Wim Eeckelers. Of them Eeckelers's car, equipped with steadily burning leds, seemed to be on its way to victory, but two badly applied stickers cost him several votes. So the winners were Lamberto Bosch with a faultless #23 Nissan R390 GT1 (43 votes) and Ben den Hartog with a splendid #29 Toyota TS020 GT1 (40 votes).The concourse winner at the 15^th World Cup, Dirk Wittevrongel, entered no less than 4 cars, among them the extremely well painted Nissans R390 #30 and #31, but with 37 and 28 votes they were pipped by three other entries.

Nissan R390 GT1, Lamberto Bosch 43 votes

Toyota TS020, Ben den Hartog 40 votes

Porsche 911 GT2, Bob Demeyer 37 votes

Toyota TS020, Geert Mertens 28 votes

Nissan R390 GT1, Dirk Wittevrongel, 27 votes

Mercedes CLK-GTR, Wim Eeckelers, 25 votes

Jozef Miskolci: surprisingly fastest qualifier in only 2 laps.

Vlado Okali wins his first IOC-points in model car racing and moves to the 11^th rank in the all-time IOC-list.

 SEGMENTS 1-6

Fastest starter is the BMW V12 LMP of Youri van Rossem crossing the start-finish line after 3"820, closely followed by the Toyota TS020 of Geert Mertens (3"825) and both Porsches 911 GT2. The two leaders steadily increase their advance over the factory Porsches, being challenged by the Nissan R390 GT1 of Peter Ackermans. Both CLK Mercedes run in troubles during the first minutes. Ralph Klose's car breaks the gear, Vanneste's looses the pinion. Troubles too for the TQ-ing Panoz when Okali has to come into the pits with a broken gear. After replacement he is back in 13^th position. Both Mercedes cars come back to the track, res. as 10^th and 18^th. The Dutch Toyota TS020, only present 30 minutes before the start, is handicapped by a wrong gear choice. The car has to come into the pits to change the gear ratio. After 15 minutes Ackermans can pass the American Porsche, while Desmond Dekker (Ferrari F40) does the same towards the end of the session. Outstanding on yellow, Mertens has no problems to take over the lead. Disappointing slow is the French McLaren GTR, being handicapped by overweight. The 911 GT2 Porsches dominate the two Vipers. Positions after 30 minutes are:

1. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 434 laps; 2. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 420 laps; 3. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 406 laps; 4. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 404 laps; 5. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 404 laps; 6. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 398 laps; 7. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 398 laps; 8. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 395 laps; 9. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 394 laps; 10. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 390 laps; 11. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 390 laps; 12. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 379 laps; 13. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 371 laps; 14. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 366 laps; 15. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 364 laps; 16. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 352 laps; 17. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 336 laps; 18. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 331 laps.

During the second segment the BMW V12 LMP, now driven by Yannick Putzeys, is passed by both works Porsches 911 GT1, even by the fast and well-driven Dutch Ferrari F40. Among the Nissans the battle is very sharp, with Lasse Aberg passing "Piki". The German Mercedes and the Slovakian Panoz are chasing like devils and found back in ranks 6 and 8, only split up by Aberg's Nissan. A third Nissan, Ackermans's, has already big troubles with the rear spoiler coming off. The car drops in the standings to the 12^th place. The 3^rd segment sees the Panoz coming into the pits for the second time, again with gear problems. The car drops in the standings to the 10^th place, offering Aberg/Gustafson a possibility to climb in the ranking. Fastest car on the track is now the #35 Mercedes, driven by Markus Hahnel, and passing the American factory Porsche for the 4^th place. The BMW V12 is now 3^rd, coming closer to both cars out on the lead. There, the Czechian Porsche can pass Limpach's Toyota and is setting the pace. At this very moment Limpach and Horky have both exactly the same number of IOC-points (should this be the final standing): 386.5 points. No less than 6 cars hold within a range of 19 laps on ranks 6 to 11. After 3 segments positions are:

1. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 1273 laps; 2. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 1245 laps; 3. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 1228 laps; 4. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 1218 laps; 5. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 1216 laps; 6. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 1188 laps; 7. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 1186 laps; 8. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 1179 laps; 9. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 1178 laps; 10. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 1171 laps; 11. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 1169 laps; 12. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 1138 laps; 13. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 1128 laps; 14. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 1109 laps; 15. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 1096 laps; 16. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 1037 laps; 17. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 1026 laps; 18. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 934 laps.

John Minheere (left) won his first IOC-points in the Dutch team with Hugo Dekker (mid) and Ben den Hartog (right). The last one won the concourse cup at the Race of the Century.

 The 4^th segment starts dramatically for the Dutch Toyota TS020 having to change his gears for the second time. Aberg and Gustafson can take the 5^th place when the BMW V12 KIDS-car of Youri van Rossem and Yannick Putzeys looses 40 laps in the pits with a badly fixed body. In front the battle between Limpach's Toyota TS020 and Horky's factory Porsche 911 GT1 rages stronger than ever. At the end of the segment the Toyota is again out on the lead. Behind them the German Mercedes is going like a rocket, now already 3^rd.

For young Youri van Rossem the 5^th segment is a drama: his BMW V12 LMP is sanctioned by 100 laps because team mate Yannick Putzeys was cleaning the tires during the lane rotation. Fastest car on the track is now "Piki"'s #32 Nissan R390, passing Aberg's sister car and clearly on its way towards a place among the top-3. During the 6^th segment "Piki" can pass after a 424-laps record segment all cars except the two leaders. The combat for IOC-century honours is now fully on, since both Limpach and Horky appear behind the controllers for the first time since the start. On replacement of the rear tires Limpach looses 12 laps on Horky, but not enough to loose the lead. Ron Hershman (19 seconds) made fastest pit stop, against 21 seconds for "Piki". For the Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans #23 Nissan, still 4^th after the 1^st segment, spoiler problems are followed by gear problems. The car drops to the 15^th place. Among the kids the Dutch Ferrari-drivers are out at the lead, ahead of the Roock Porsche of Yannick Demeyer and Lenny Laureys. Standings after 6 segments are:

1. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 2481 laps; 2. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 2445 laps; 3. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 2428 laps; 4. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 2425 laps; 5. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 2415 laps; 6. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 2389 laps; 7. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 2382 laps; 8. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 2358 laps; 9. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 2310 laps; 10. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 2297 laps; 11. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 2280 laps; 12. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 2254 laps; 13. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 2207 laps; 14. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 2173 laps; 15. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 2132 laps; 16. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 2107 laps; 17. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 2102 laps; 18. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 2026 laps.

SEGMENTS 7-12

The whole second quarter of the race is one long fight between Limpach's Toyota and Horky's factory Porsche. The difference between the leaders drops from 36 laps to 22 after 9 hours. However the factory Mercedes is now the fastest car on the track and during the 9^th segment Thomas Hahnel can even pass Horky's Porsche. Undoubtedly the Germans should have been the leaders without their gear problems during the first hour of the race. The #32 Nissan of "Piki" and Maya cannot hold its 3^rd place and is not only passed by the rocketeering Mercedes, but also by the American factory Porsche after a 429-laps segment by Philippe de Lespinay - at that moment a new segment record on red. With their BMW V12 LMP Yannick Putzeys and Youri van Rossem are fighting like devils. During the 12^th segment Yannick improves the segment record, setting 442 laps. The car is again 7^th, ahead of the Dutch Toyota TS020 going much faster since the gear change. At mid-race Horky's Porsche is 31 laps behind Limpach's Toyota, only 5 less than after 6 segments. For Aberg, starting the race still a candidate for IOC-century honours, the situation is hopeless: he's already 240 laps down to the leaders, due to repeated spoiler problems. When team mate Kristof Klinkers - back from a hole night of drinking - eventually shows, one can hardly see how the situation can yet be improved. Just before mid-race we note two bad accidents: Berry Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM), chasing the BMW V12 LM goes off in the chicane "killing" two spectators watching the race from their Messerschmidt. One of the figurines was thrown up at least one metre! Hardly a minute later it is up to the Dutch Toyota MS020 to go off, now at the Garage, hurting one of the two women watching the race. To say that she came from Holland, thing that could be deduced by the fact she was wearing orange Dutch cogs… Positions at mid-race are:

1. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 4977 laps; 2. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 4946 laps; 3. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 4919 laps; 4. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 4875 laps; 5. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 4850 laps; 6. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 4839 laps; 7. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 4754 laps; 8. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 4738 laps; 9. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 4737 laps; 10. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 4704 laps; 11. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 4572 laps; 12. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 4438 laps; 13. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 4422 laps; 14. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 4303 laps; 15. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 4292 laps; 16. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 4124 laps; 17. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 4124 laps; 18. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 4070 laps.

SEGMENTS 13-18

The 14^th segment is a disaster for Youri and Yannick. The pinion of their BMW V12 LMP came off for the 4^th consecutive time. On repairs they loose over 300 laps (only achieving a 98-lap segment). In the ranking they drop from 7^th to 13^th. Youri's hope to be the youngest racer ever on the IOC-list has gone, since it seems impossible to undo the arrears on the 8^th place - the last being eligible for IOC-points. On front the difference between Limpach and Horky seems stable until the moment that all at once the car stops with motor problems. Big panic in the Toyota pit where Limpach fears that it is all over. It takes 20 laps before a bad contact is detected. When the car rejoins the track, the Toyota TS020 follows at …1 lap from Horky's factory Porsche. Up from now the gap becomes bigger: 4 laps after 17 segments, again 4 after 18 segments. "Piki" looses his 5^th place when his #32 Nissan R390 is passed by Miskolci's hyper fast Panoz having set with 431 laps a new segment record on red. Among the kids the Dutch team, having turned around without the smallest problems, comes in heavy problems when their car smashes against the protection rail at top speed after a marshalling error. The car looses over 100 laps in the pits. Now the Roock Porsche of Yannick Demeyer and Lenny Laureys leads the GT2/LMP class. But the Ferrari can come back and passes again the Roock Porsche. Even greater is the ultimate jump of the BMW V12 LMP, where Youri van Rossem and Yannick Putzeys fight until the real end to come back to the 8^th place (the one of the last IOC-point). They can pass the Roock Porsche, even the Dutch Ferrari to move to the 9^th place. However, they are nearly 400 laps down to Hugo Dekker's Toyota TS020 on the 8^th place. At the provisional IOC-standings Limpach and Horky have since the 16^th segment again exactly the same number of points: 386.5. For Limpach, having come back from retirement after 5 years of non-racing, the situation is dramatic. Having led the IOC-standings during 27 years he's catch up by the much younger super boy Horky, having collected his first IOC-points in 1992. At the IOC-office it rains supporting e-mails from Czechia. Indeed, the race could be followed at the Internet. Poor Limpach receives only one supporting mail: America just waked up. At Horky's team both Frantisek Poledna - a striking personality in the grand manner of the movie star - and Josef Korec (421 laps at the outer lane!), make big impression. Only beaten twice in 5 years (by Paul Gawronski in Canada and by Salvatore Noviello at the 1997 ISRA Worlds), the Czechs smell an umpteenth win. Limpach's fate seems sealed… After 3/4^th of the race the #25 Porsche 911 GT1 gets 4 laps clear over the Limpach Toyota, despite heroic fighting on behalf of Mertens, having done two shifts in a row, no longer feeling his cramped fingers. After 18 segments there is not only a combat between the two Porsches and Limpach's Toyota for the overall win, but also between Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers and H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere for the 7^th place; between the cars on ranks 10 to 14 (only 30 laps of difference) for the 10^th place, and between the 4 last cars for the 15^th place. Standings after 18 segments are:

1. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 7482 laps; 2. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 7478 laps; 3. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 7389 laps; 4. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 7356 laps; 5. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 7292 laps; 6. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 7230 laps; 7. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 7134 laps; 8. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 7127 laps; 9. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 6740 laps; 10. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 6692 laps; 11. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 6678 laps; 12. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 6673 laps; 13. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 6670 laps; 14. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 6662 laps; 15. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 6326 laps; 16. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 6316 laps; 17. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 6318 laps; 18. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 6238 laps.

SEGMENTS 19-24

The position of the Limpach Toyota is extremely uncomfortable after the 19^th segment. With Frantisek Poledna out on yellow (the fastest lane) and JPVR on blue (the much slower lane) it can be feared that the arrears of Limpach's Toyota TS020 on Horky's #25 Porsche will sharply increase. However, JPVR - far from being an excellent racer - makes the best race of his long career. Poledna has to fight 10 full minutes to win one single lap, 20 minutes to take a 2^nd lap. Eventually, at the end of the segment, only 3 laps were lost, increasing the gap to 7 laps instead of 4. The second works Porsche continues its fight for at least the 2^nd place. With de Lespinay not having deslotted once in five 30-minutes shifts, with Hershman going faster and faster, and with Bernardino blocking again and again the Toyota at the curb following the front stretch, Mertens seems unable to close the gap. During the 20^th segment we find him (Mertens) - doing all the bad lanes for Limpach's team, just as does "Gugu" for the American Porsche - on the slow black lane, wonder boy Frantisek Poledna (in 1994 already 3^rd at the Mello Yello Junior Worlds) on the much faster blue lane. Normally this is the moment for the Czechs to make the fatal break they missed on yellow. But the defence of Mertens is just great. Instead of loosing ground on Poledna (doing his 2^nd shift in a row) he can take one lap back, five minutes later another one. Poledna becomes so nervous that he, who normally never deslots, makes mistake after mistake. The psychological breakdown of the Czechs, so much searched by Limpach's team, is a fact, and eventually Mertens takes 7 laps back on the Czech Porsche. At the end of the 20^th segment both cars are found with the same number of laps: 8314, with Horky's Porsche four inches ahead of Limpach's Toyota. The second works-Porsche continues its fight for the 2^nd place, especially when Ron Hershman sets a new absolute segment record with 447 laps! The Dutch Toyota, going much faster now, passes the Swedish Nissan for the 7^th place, while the Chamberlain Viper of the Geeraerts Bros can pass both the Dutch Ferrari F40 and the Roock Porsche, being now 2^nd among the kids. After 20 segments the standings are:

1. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 8314 laps; 2. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 8314 laps; 3. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 8265 laps; 4. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 8128 laps; 5. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 8082 laps; 6. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 8016 laps; 7. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 7936 laps; 8. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 7925 laps; 9. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 7566 laps; 10. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 7427; 11. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 7401 laps; 12. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 7374 laps; 13. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 7364 laps; 14. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 7356 laps; 15. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 7160 laps; 16. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 6986 laps; 17. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 6974 laps; 18. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 6906 laps.

So, exactly as what happened at the real 1998 Le Mans 24-hours during the last stage of the race, we find at the slot track a perfect similar situation with two Porsches 911 GT1, numbers #25 and #26, chasing the lonesome Toyota TS020 out at the lead. Of the two Porsches, a motor with a too low torque handicaps the Bernardino-Hershman-PDL one. While the Toyota and the Czech Porsche can increase their speed all over the front stretch, the American Porsche reaches its top speed already after 2/3^rd of the stretch and than crawls to the curb. Despite that handicap the car handles much better in the chicane and is setting remarkable lap times. So the Americans still believe in their chance to win the race, especially since the sister car of the Czechs show signs of fatigue and since the Toyota struggles with braid problems. Another point in favour of the American #26 Porsche is that Ron Hershman is unbelievable fast during the change of the rear tires, where he wins on an average 15 laps over the two cars out at the lead. Having deslotted only 7 times in 20 segments (10 hours!) a 49-laps arrears seems not disastrous and a majority of the racers still believe in the chances of the Americans to win the race.

8.30 p.m. is somewhat the start of the final sprint at the Race of the Century. With Josef Korec on black and JPVR on red, Korec has to repeat his 421-laps-on-black miracle, if he wishes to hold the lead. However the #25 Porsche is much slower now (only achieving 406 laps), while JPVR totalises 423 laps on red, giving the Toyota TS020 again the lead. At the same segment Josef Miskolci (Panoz) seems on his way to improve Hershman's segment record, but he fails at …443 laps (2^nd best ever). On blue "Gugu" Bernardino lost 4 laps on the Toyota so that the standings are now: 1. #27 Toyota TS020 (Limpach & Co), 2. at 17 laps #25 Porsche 911 GT1 (Horky & Co), 3. at 53 laps #26 Porsche 911 GT1 (Bernardino/Hershman/PDL). For the Mercedes and the Panoz, following as 4^th and 5^th, there is no more hope to go to victory lane, since after several smaller mechanical problems they have to face a 200-lap arrears.

At the 22^nd segment it is up to Geert Mertens (on white) to give both Porsches their deathblow. However, he succeeds only partially. He can only do 427 laps against 425 for Horky on red, holding the gap down to 19 laps. Being on the average 12 laps faster at the tire change - and with one last change to go for both teams - the difference stays very small. For the second works Porsche, in heavy problems on black (death motor), the game is all at once over, since the car lost 42 laps in one single segment (nearly as much as during the 20 first segments). With only two segments to go we note: 1. 1. #27 Toyota TS020 (Limpach & Co), 2. at 19 laps #25 Porsche 911 GT1 (Horky & Co), 3. at 95 laps #26 Porsche 911 GT1 (Bernardino/Hershman/PDL). In the background 5^th spot becomes impossible for "Piki" and Maya (#32 Nissan) being already 70 laps behind the Okali Panoz. Similar situation for the Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers #31 Nissan being 28 laps slower than the reborn Dutch Toyota TS020. At the race of the kids Youri van Rossem/Yannick Putzeys are strong leaders after the total collapse of the Dutch Ferrari F40, struggling with heavy motor problems. However little Youri's silent hope to be the youngest racer ever on the IOC-list (the honour goes to America's Philip Helmuth, having finished the ISRA ES24 Worlds as 3^rd at the age of 13!), is gone: his arrears on Aberg (8^th) are up to 300 laps. Two combats are vehemently continuing: the one between the #23 Nissan (Bosch & Co) and the #30 sister car (Wittevrongel/Bob Demeyer/Wim Eeckelers) fighting for the 10^th place, and the one between the Krauss Porsche 911 GT2 (Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen) and the Oreca Viper (Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen) to avoid the last place.

Encouraged by a stream of fan mail, now America woke up, Jan Limpach is the man who has to give the Czechs the deathblow Mertens couldn't achieve it on white. With Poledna now on white, and Limpach on the adjacent green lane, it is not an easy task for America's most famous racer. Normally white is 4 to 5 laps per segment faster than green, what could bring the #25 Porsche back on 14 laps. If one keeps in mind the 12 to loose at the last tire change, the gap could be thrilling narrow if Limpach cannot make the break now. During more than 10 minutes, closely followed by the cameras of the national TV station, Limpach literally hangs on the rear bumper of Poledna's Porsche. The young Czech with the appearances of a movie star becomes so nervous that he deslots, offering Limpach the chance to take a full lap. On trying to come back Poledna is involved in a collision with the Toyota TS020 of John Minheere. That costs the Horky team 2 more laps. Excited by the acclamations of the public, Limpach finds back the shape of his real best years when he won 3 times the USRA Nats. Now he's lapping in 3"8s, against 3"9s and 4"0s for Poledna. At the end of the segment the difference is 6 laps, 25 in total (instead of the 14 so much feared by Limpach starting the segment). Hershman understands that for the #26 Porsche the battle for victory lane is over, and gently he let pass the Toyota in the lead, without the smallest obstruction. With only 1 segment to go the amateur team of Wim Eeckelers, Bob Demeyer and Dirk Wittevrongel is still 10^th (enough for Boccaccio's candle light diner), but only 5 laps ahead of the Bosch & Co Nissan #23. Among the back-markers the Oreca Viper is at once 24 laps clear of the Krauss Porsche, having dropped bit by bit from rank 15 to rank 18. The Patrick Vanneste Mercedes - having had the whole race problems with the pinion - is now ensured to finish 15^th. For the 13^th place the Dutch kids (Ferrari F40), having been dropped from the 9^th place after 17 segments to the 13^th after 23, have only 4 laps over the Chamberlain Viper of the Geeraerts Bros.

During the last segments the Czechs know that the battle is over, since they find the Toyota on the fastest yellow lane. Horky, Poledna and Josef Korec insist no longer, letting the Limpach Toyota go. For Eeckelers & Co (#30 Nissan) the situation is untenable: they loose their 10^th place on the #23 Nissan, superbly driven by Mike Timmermans. Similar situation for Des Dekker & Co, loosing their 13^th place from the Chamberlain Viper by the Geeraerts Bros. Final standings after 24 hours are:

1. Limpach/JPVR/Mertens (Toyota TS020 GT1) 10,006 laps; 2. Horky/Josef Korec/Poledna (Porsche 911 GT1) 9970 laps; 3. Bernardino/de Lespinay/Hershman (Porsche 911 GT1) 9884 laps; 4. Klose/Markus Hahnel/Thomas Hahnel (Mercedes CLK-LM) 9789 laps; 5. Okali/ Miskolci/Jan Korec (Panoz-Ford GT1) 9743 laps; 6. Piki van Rossem/Willockx (Nissan R390 GT1) 9592 laps; 7. H. Dekker/Den Hartog/Minheere (Toyota TS020 GT1) 9534 laps; 8. Aberg/Gustafson/Klinkers (Nissan R390 GT1) 9517 laps; 9. Y. van Rossem/Putzeys (BMW V12 LMP) 9212 laps; 10. Ackermans/Bosch/Timmermans (Nissan R390 GT1) 8951 laps; 11. B. Demeyer/Wittevrongel/Eeckelers (Nissan R390 GT1) 8929; 12. Y. Demeyer/Laureys (Porsche 911 GT2) 8838 laps; 13. J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 8806 laps; 14. D. Dekker/Van de Wiel/Ritmeester (Ferrari F40 GTE LM) 8768 laps; 15. Vanneste/A. vd Abeele (Mercedes CLK-LM) 8628 laps; 16. Joyeux/Bellenger (McLaren-BMW F1 GTR) 8401 laps; 17. Van Densen/D. de Schaetsen (Chrysler Viper GTS-R) 8340 laps; 17. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen (Porsche 911 GT2) 8326 laps.

With 391.5 IOC-points against 381.5 for opponent Horky America's Jan Limpach is crowned at the end of the race as best slot-racer of the 20^th century. (Indeed of the 20^th century, since the race was scheduled to be the last of 2000. Unfortunately the race was to be postponed, since on December 30, 2000, racers coming from abroad could find no plane back). In an emotional speech Limpach confirmed that it was the real last race of his career. He ended his long career in exactly the same way as he began: with an overall victory.

Winners of the race of the kids are Youri van Rossem/Yannick Putzeys receiving at the prize giving ceremonial res. A Playstation 2 and a $ 1500 Testarossem super bike. Second place among the kids went to the Krauss Porsche of Yannick Demeyer/Lenny Laureys winning res. A Playstation 2 and a Testarossem Replica Bike ($ 450).

Winners of the second heat for mixed teams were "Piki" van Rossem and Maya Willockx, winning both a Playstation 2. Maya, having finished 6^th overall won her 3 first IOC-points, against 2 for John Minheere and 1 for Kristof Klinkers. Best newcomer was Markus Hahnel, taking 9 IOC-points. At the end of the ceremonial Jan Limpach received the splendid statue for the best racer of the 20^th century, made by the famous sculptor André Chaudy. He and his team mates received 100,000 B.F. ($ 2.400 US).

The winners: Jan Limpach, JPVR, Geert Mertens

Extremely strong: Vladimir Horky, Josef Korec, Frantisek Poledna (CZ)

Gugu Bernardino (BR), Ron Hershman (USA, new 447-lap record) and Philippe de Lespinay (USA, 2 segment wins): deslotting 7 times in 12 hours!

Ralph Klose, Markus Hahnel, Thomas Hahnel (D): without gear problems in the first segment they should have been leaders at mid-race.

Grid

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1

Limpach/J-P van Rossem/Mertens

Toyota TS020 GT-One

GT1

3.7190

434

844

1245

1664

2086

2481

2897

3298

3703

4127

4557

2

V. Horky/Josef Korec/F. Poledna

Porsche 911 GT1-98

GT1

3.7262

406

831

1273

1680

2071

2445

2871

3284

3681

4103

4525

3

Bernardino/Hershman/de Lespinay

Porsche 911 GT1-98

GT1

3.7311

400

823

1216

1609

2009

2415

2842

3269

3679

4083

4510

4

Klose/Th. Hahnel/Marcus Hahnel

Mercedes CLK-LM

GT1

3.829

398

798

1218

1646

2047

2425

2842

3252

3685

4096

4508

5

V. Okali/J. Miskolci/Jan Korec

Panoz-Ford Esperante GT

GT1

3.7109

379

788

1171

1594

2013

2389

2789

3215

3629

4036

4437

6

"Piki" van Rossem/Maya Willockx

Nissan R390 GT-1

GT1

4.1020

395

780

1169

1582

2006

2428

2799

3178

3582

3988

4424

7

H. Dekker/J. Minheere/DenHartog

Toyota TS020 GT-One

GT1

3.815

390

773

1179

1499

1909

2297

2688

3098

3499

3908

4336

8

L.Aberg/Gustafson/K.Klinkers

Nissan R390 GT-1

GT1

4.1976

394

794

1188

1608

1982

2358

2774

3140

3524

3931

4328

9

Youri van Rossem/Y. Putzeys

BMW V12 LMR

LMP

3.7118

420

798

1228

1604

1898

2280

2690

3092

3512

3920

4320

10

Ackermans/L.Bosch/Timmermans

Nissan R390 GT-1

GT1

4.0314

404

766

1128

1519

1878

2132

2566

2926

3322

3696

4064

11

B.Demeyer/Eeckelers/Wittevrong

Nissan R390 GT-1

GT1

3.9705

371

751

1109

1518

1838

2173

2550

2914

3284

3650

4040

12

Y. de Meyer/L. Laureys

Roock Porsche 911 GT2

GT2

3.9739

390

770

1178

1536

1930

2310

2716

3098

3478

3856

4200

13

J. Geeraerts/A. Geeraerts

Chamberlain Viper GTS-R

GT2

4.0132

366

766

1138

1528

1916

2254

2524

2882

3250

3642

3914

14

D.Dekker/Ritmeester/VdWiel

Ferrari F40 GTE-LM

LMP

3.9956

404

802

1186

1596

1996

2382

2802

3208

3570

3960

4330

15

P. Vanneste/A. van den Abeele

Mercedes CLK-LM

GT1

4.1582

331

698

1037

1423

1822

2207

2582

2927

3328

3706

3973

16

Marc Joyeux/D. Bellenger

McLaren-BMW F1 GTR

GT1

4.2922

336

694

1026

1341

1681

2026

2403

2787

3099

3447

3807

17

D. Koopmans/R. de Schaetsen

Oreca Viper GTS-R

GT2

4.4231

352

676

934

1286

1646

1978

2340

2718

3078

3402

3752

18

L. v.Densen/D. de Schaetsen

Krauss Porsche 911 GT2

GT2

4.5177

364

710

1096

1424

1784

2102

2452

2782

3142

3428

3766