FIRST PODIUM FOR RACING EXPERIENCE IN SEASON 2022
Sunday, May 15th 2022, Hockenheimring, Germany
The Racing Experience team successfully started the past weekend in the GT & Prototype Challenge with Gary Hauser and Lea Mauer with their first podium finish in the 2022 season.
In the two free practice sessions on Friday, the first data could be collected in the LMP3 at the Hockenheimring, as the team had never been represented with this car on this race track before. Gary Hauser was then able to achieve the second position on the grid for both races on the weekend with his two fastest laps during qualifying in the evening.
In the first race on Saturday afternoon, it was Gary who immediately led the field after the start and was able to build up a lead of over 40 seconds. However, two unfortunate safety car periods erased this gap and Lea started her very first race in a race car as the leader under safety car conditions after the successful pit stop.
With consistent lap times and no mistakes she drove the LMP3 to 1st place in class and P6 among 33 competitors in the overall standings.
The second race on Sunday morning was to build on this success of the previous day. Gary took the start in P2 and was able to secure the first place in the second lap. 10 minutes before the driver change, a car to be lapped touched Gary unfortunately on the front wheel, which resulted in a suspension failure and Racing Experience consequently had to retire the car.
Christian Hauser, Racing Experience Team Owner said, “The first race was a strong start for our team. Our focus was to get Lea ready for the race as quickly as possible and to finish it cleanly and without any mistakes. She already made a big step in practice on Friday, as it’s not easy to manage the car and traffic while learning the track. Here Gary and our engineers did a great job and I am very proud that we could experience the first podium for this year. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side on Sunday and we had to retire the car. Nevertheless, we go into the second round to Zolder in June with a positive mindset.“
Gary Hauser, Racing Experience driver said, “I have mixed feelings when I lock back to the weekend. We can be very proud of the result of the first race and also of the progress Lea made this weekend. She finished her very first race ever on a podium, a great experience! Nevertheless, I’m disappointed about the second race, where we were eliminated from the race due to a contact. Valuable time in the car was lost, as well as a possible further top result. Thanks also to the team, which did a great job again this weekend.”
Lea Mauer, Racing Experience driver said, “The weekend was insanely demanding for me. It was my first day on a circuit with so much traffic and my very first time in a race. In practice on Friday morning, with little experience on the track, I was able to immediately set a lap time that was only 5 seconds slower than Gary. On Friday afternoon, however, it was extremely difficult for me in the LMP3 because the rubber on track affected the grip which was difficult to handle. For me, the focus was then on finishing the first race on Saturday without making mistakes, which was rewarded with my first podium finish! For Sunday, I had prepared very well for my second stint with the data and the engineers and I’m sure I could have made another step forwards. Unfortunately, we had to retire the car, but I’m even more excited to show what I’ve learned in Zolder in June!”
The second race of the GT & Prototype Challenge will take place in Zolder, Belgium, on the weekend of June 10-12th 2022.