RACING EXPERIENCE BACK IN CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD AFTER CHAOTIC WEEKEND IN ZANDVOORT
Tuesday, June 27th 2023, Wormeldange-Haut
Last Weekend, the third round of the Prototype Cup Germany took place at the F1 circuit in Zandvoort with Racing Experience entering two Duqueine D08 LMP3. While the #12 car of both bronze drivers Kevin Rohrscheidt and Wolfgang Payr was aiming again for a trouble free race weekend and gaining experience and mileage, the #15 car of Markus Pommer and Gary Hauser were looking forward to finish on top to grab points for the championship, as they were on the second place in the total standings after the first two successful weekends in Hockenheim and Oschersleben
A highlight of the weekend was again, that the Prototype Cup Germany was a support series of the DTM with more than 24.000 visitors coming to follow the racing action.
Due to the tight timetable on Friday and only two Free Practice Sessions of both 30 minutes, the preparation before the Qualifying was only limited. As a red flag shortened the time of the second practice session, Gary in the #15 car did only 5 laps before heading to the race day on sunday.
Nevertheless, Markus, who knew the circuit from F3 and GT3 before, was able to put the car #15 in Q1 on Saturday on P2, only +0,080s from the championship contender Oscar Tunjo away. Kevin Rohrscheidt in the #12 car qualified P18.
The race on Saturday was chaotic and started directly with an additional formation lap, as a car with technical problems stopped on track. After a belated start, Markus was not able to hold the position and dropped down to P9 in the first lap. A following red flag and safety car limited the time to catch back all the lost positions and Gary took the car over in P5. Due to a red flag the race was shortened by 13 minutes and there was not enough time to fight the cars in front. Car #12 finished in P12.
Although Gary did not have more than two free laps in the first race, he had to qualify the car on sunday with only little track time and was able to put the car on P4, not far away from pole. Wolfgang in car #12 put the car on P17.
In the second race on sunday Gary took the start and held his position in P4 until the pitstop. Markus tried to fight for P3 in a thrilling battle until the end, but the car in front was able to stay in front. #15 finished in P4.
The #12 car had again a trouble-free race weekend and finished in P15.
The #15 car with Gary Hauser and Markus Pommer is now again first in the Championship after half of the season (105 points).
Christian Hauser, Racing Experience Team Owner, said, “This race weekend was chaotic, as a lot of red flags and safety car periods stopped us from showing our great pace. Nevertheless we are back in the championship lead with car #15. Both drivers of #12 did again a solid job and they were able to finish the races without unnecessary mistakes.”
Markus Pommer, Driver #15 Racing Experience said, “My qualifying pace was great and it was sad, that it was so close to P1. Nevertheless I was happy and the team did a great job. In race 1 I was unfortunately not able to hold the position after the start, but we managed to bring a lot of points home. I am looking forward to the Norisring in two weeks.”
Gary Hauser, Driver #15 Racing Experience said, “I never drove in Zandvoort before and due to a lot of interruptions in the Free Practice Sessions and Race 1, I did not do enough laps to prepare sufficiently for my qualifying session. Nevertheless I put the car in P4 and we finished on the same place in the race. Being back again on top of the championship standings is great, but our aim is to finish also on top in the races! Looking forward to the street circuit at the Norisring and to more points to defend the title!”
Wolfgang Payr, Driver #12 Racing Experience said, “Driving in Zandvoort is a lot of fun, but I was in the same situation as Gary and did not do enough laps in the Free Practice Sessions. Nevertheless I was ablle to improve a lot, but there is still some time to gain.”
Kevin Rohrscheidt, Driver #12 Racing Experience said, “The team did an amazing job over the weekend and I was able again to improve my laptimes. We finished both races without mistakes and I am looking forward to the next race, that is already coming in less than two weeks!”
The next race of the season will take place again in the course of the DTM on the 7th-9th June 2023 at the Norisring in Nürnberg. This will be the first time for LMP3 cars on a street circuit.
All races of the season will be live broadcasted on YouTube as well as on adac.de/motorsport.
The full calendar of the season can be found on racing-experience.lu. Stay updated by following Racing Experience on social media (Instagram: @racingexperience.lux and Facebook).