RACING EXPERIENCE WITH PROMISING KICK-OFF IN ADAC PROTOTYPE CUP GERMANY
Sunday 24th April 2022, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
The luxembourg-based team Racing Experience is off to a strong start to the season in the ADAC Prototype Cup Germany with scoring 5th position in both races of the weekend.
After a difficult start with engine problems during Wednesday’s test day, the team with luxembourgish driver Gary Hauser had only a few kilometers on Friday morning to set up the car for the two qualifying sessions on Friday afternoon. German driver Sebastian Von Gartzen, debutant this weekend in the LMP3 car and completing the driver pairing with Gary, had therefore little time to get used to the 450-hp vehicle.
Complex adjustments to the car left Sebastian with just 10 minutes in his qualifying run on Friday to qualify the car in P10, which decided the grid position for Saturday’s race.
Gary was then able to claim P6 in his qualifying run for Sunday’s race.
On Saturday Sebastian started the race confidently in P10 without taking too much risk before handing the car over to Gary in P9 after a 25-minute lasting safety car.
Gary drove his way up with his pace to P6 and won 5th place due to a penalty from his opponent.
In the race on Sunday, starting position P6 already gave hope for greater things. Gary was able to take 4th position immediately after the start. A very early red flag and the resulting adjustment of the pitstop window shortened his driving time and consequently the possibility for him to fight with the slower opponents in front.
After the driver change, Sebastian did a great job in his first race weekend and was able with his lap times to keep up with the field, keeping his rival behind him in a thrilling battle until the end of the race and finished the race in P5.
The consistent and strong performance of the family team at the first race weekend is promising for the next race in this driver pairing in July, at the second race of the ADAC Prototype Cup Germany at the Nürburgring.
Christian Hauser, Team Owner Racing Experience, said, “The weekend did not start for us in the way we expected. Engine problems cost us important driving time on Wednesday. The whole team did an excellent job on Thursday to get the car ready to drive on Friday. I am happy that we can take 22 points home despite little practice.”
Gary Hauser, Racing Experience driver, said, “Of course it would have been better to have had a bit more time in the practice session, certainly more than P6 would have been possible in qualifying. But in the race we showed where our strengths are, which I was also able to prove with the second-fastest race lap. So we know that we still have room for improvement. I would also like to thank my driver colleague Sebastian, who managed to drive the LMP3 very well with so little practice.”
Sebastian Von Gartzen, Racing Experience driver, said, “It was a difficult start to the weekend and I had virtually no driving time in the LMP3. So I can be more than happy with the two fifth places. A great team result, especially considering the circumstances. Every meter in the LMP3 is incredibly fun for me and the cooperation with Racing Experience and Gary is really great. I am looking forward to the second race where we will show our overall performance even better.”
The next race on the calendar for Racing Experience will take place in Hockenheim on the 13-15th May 2022, for the first round of the GT & Prototype Challenge.