13.08.2004 Victory for Rory Bertram at Zandvoort in the Pearle Alfa Challenge keeps his championship hopes alive as the series for Alfa 147GTA racers heads into its final two races

Phil Baastians and the Cable 1 team headed for the Dutch track of Zandvoort last weekend for round six of the Pearle Alfa Challenge, part of the Marlboro F3 Masters programme, with a twenty five point lead at the top of the championship, as the series headed into the first of three closing races, all at this circuit.

The eight-race, Pearle-sponsored championship, involves identical specification Alfa Romeo 147 racers, fitted with 220bhp 2-litre engines, and clothed in GTA look-alike bodywork, fighting it out in what never fails to be action packed, bumper-to-bumper races.

The 2004 series, the second year that the championship has used the 147GTA, kicked off back on 12th April at Zandvoort, and then took in two further races at the seaside track.

An early summer programme saw the teams travel to Zolder and Assen, before they returned to Zandvoort last weekend to support the prestigious Marlboro Masters event.

However, disaster struck the Cable 1 team during qualifying when Baastians had his qualifying times cancelled after he ignored yellow flags waved following an accident at Tarzan involving Wilbert de Burg.

This handed the advantage to title chasing Rory Bertram who placed his Tempo Team-run Alfa 147GTA firmly on pole position with an unmatched time of 1:53.567 (136.545km/h).

Bertram commented, "I believe still that I can become champion despite a gap of 25 points on Bastiaans. I must win simply the three remaining races and hope that I can keep Coronel, Bastiaans and Van Es behind. It is possible!"

Sandor van Es and Tim Coronel lined up fractions behind Bertram, van Es just 0.085 seconds adrift, and Coronel, a mere 0.177.

Slightly surprisingly, Berend Gesman, Niki Meredith and Robert van der Burg were the drivers next up, and rounding out the first three rows on the grid.

Rory Bertram went on to comfortably win a closely fought race and narrow Baastians' advantage to twenty points.

Bertram was ably assisted by his Tempo Team team-mate Tim Coronel who rode shotgun all race, taking points away from the the Cable 1 drivers, van Es and Baastians, as well as giving Bertram, a clear run at scooping the maximum points.

Baastians meanwhile drove a stunning race, the Cable 1 driver clawing his way through the field to eventually cross the line just two and a half seconds behind Bertram and Coronel, and claim the final podium step.

Sixth place was enough to allow Sandor van Es to hold onto second in the championship, but he has slipped to 13 points behind Baastians, and now has Bertram breathing down his neck, just 7 points further back.

Race Result, Zandvoort (round 6): 1. Rory Bertram, 12 laps in 23.17541 (133.602km/h), 2. Tim Coronel + 0.249 sec, 3. Phil Bastiaans + 2.488 sec, 4. Melvin de Groot + 4.198 sec, 5. Berend Gesman + 4.510 sec, 6. Sandor van Es + 9.794 sec, 7. Bernhard ten Brinke + 9.971 sec, 8. Oscar Middeldorp + 10.376 sec, 9. Robert van der Berg + 13.454 sec, 10. Gaby Uljee + 15.772 sec. Fastest Lap: Berend Gesman in 1.54.845.

Pearle Alfa Challenge Championship (after 6 rounds): 1. Bastiaans 108pts, 2. Van Es 95pts, 3. Bertram 88pts, 4. Coronel 64pts, 5. Middeldorp 62pts, 6. Gesman 52pts, 7. Ten Brinke 44pts, 8. De Groot 40pts, 9. Kroes 26pts, 10. Van de Burg 25pts