JB Motorsportコミュの10 years JB Motorsport – departure for a new era

At the end of the year 1995 the foundations of successful motor sport was laid in the contemplative city of Roeselare in the west of Belgium. Ten years later for JB Motorsport starts off a new era.

The project JB Motorsport was launched by the Olivier family and Jaques Bruynooghe. The initials JB were coined by the considerable promoter of the starting time. The young team moved into the Bruynooghe building at Zwaaikomstraat and took part at the German Formula 3-Championship 1996 as the only Belgian racing team. The German Formula 3 was one of the hardest up-and-coming series of the world. A lot of current and former Formula 1 pilots – not least the Schumacher brothers – can look back on some instructive years in this series. 21 years old Yves Olivier fought for first points and good positions in the B-class of the previous year and second hand cars and closed the starting year as third.

From the following season on the young team was formed as a powerful crew to take part in the A-championship of the current cars and increased from year to year. 1999 they achieved the first victory with Yves Olivier at Salzburgring and the fifth position on the table. Also the second from now on inserted car got a title: Walter van Lent was best newcomer in 1999 and became "Rookie of the year"

For Yves Olivier it was time to rise to the next higher division. So with his change to Formula 3000 he places his cockpit at a young driver's disposal. Since then the shorthand expression JB stands for "Jonge Belgen". And although many international talented drivers learned for their racing life at the Belgian: Most of them will feel admitted into a great racing family.

Sporty JB was an important step for some drivers. Yves Olivier collected experiences for Formula 3000 and rose up to official Opel driver in DTM (German Touring car Masters). In 2003 he gave up racing, went into the group of his father, Willy Olivier, and took on the management job of the team. Robert Doornbos, employed by the Team 2001, meanwhile is Formula 1 driver, 2005 seen in a Jordan and Minardi.

The new in 2003 established Recaro Formula 3 Cup stands for best motor sports. JB strengthened the partnership with its engine supplier Opel, concentrated itself first on one car and engaged the Japanese Hiroshi Kato as engineer and the Brazilian Joao Paulo de Oliveira as driver. With JP in the cockpit and Opel power under the bonnet the Belgian dominated the competition. Already after twelve of 16 races and with altogether thirteen wins the 22 years old JB pilot held the champion's cup in his hands.

2004 JB Motorsport started in the yellow outfit of the partner JCB and with the young Irish Michael Devaney. In the middle of the season Jan Heylen became second driver. The level of the Championship was much higher in the second year. Both drivers achieved eight victories in all and besides they were many times on the rostrum. Up to the last race Jan fought for the title – a great performance, particularly the Belgian entered the championship with the seventh event.

Ho-Pin Tung and Ferdinand Kool were the successful drivers of JB in 2005. The Chinese with residence in the Netherlands achieved two victories and some second and third places. He concluded the championship as third. Ferdinand Kool came it strong in the middle of the season. He won as well his home race in Assen as the highlight of the season, the race on the tri-oval of the Eurospeedway.

Also at international races JB Motorsport celebrated good results. In the races at Pau (F), Macau (RC) and Korea, where only the best teams of the national series can start JB pilots drove under the top five. At Formula 3 Masters in Zandvoort JB was official Marlboro-Team in the red colours of the combine twice. In the dunes of Zandvoort 2005 JB tested first time a new chassis too: The Lola B05/30.

With the British chassis manufacturer JB Motorsport will start into a new era. Supported by Lola the Belgian will bring two cars with well-tried Opel-Spiess power at the start of Recaro Formula 3 Cup 2006. For the first cockpit already signed the fast Dutch Ferdinand Kool. Also the second car will filled by a fast young man. Team manager Yves Olivier is sure: "With the Lola/Opel we will get a competitive car next year. Our partners and the team are motivated up to the hair tips. And Ferdinand is a strong driver. Up to the start of the season units and chassis will synchronized. So we take aim the championship."

picture by Delien
picture by MotorSport-Concepts

(pw)

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