W&S Motorsport with a superb class win and another class podium at the 12h Nürburgring

From 9 to 11 September 2022, W&S Motorsport brought four Porsche to the Eifel for the premiere of the 12h Nürburgring, which was held over two days with six hours of racing time each. In qualifying as well as in the race, the weather in the Green Hell changed constantly between heavy rain and dry periods, which made tactical planning much more difficult and led to numerous unplanned pit stops. The driver trio of the AVIA racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 992 #120 Daniel Blickle, Tim Scheerbarth and David Jahn once again impressed with excellent performances at the wheel during the first part of the race on Saturday, leading the class at race half-time and ranking tenth overall. 

On Sunday, the competitors were sent into the second part in the time intervals of the finish from the previous evening. As it rained heavily shortly before the finish on the previous evening and a tyre change was not allowed by regulations, David Jahn had to start on rain tyres. He headed for the pits directly after the first lap in the second part on Sunday to change to slicks. At the pit exit, there were discrepancies due to the unusual regulations and the #120 dropped back. Undeterred, the driver trio put in a flawless performance, driving an impressive pace and gaining positions. After crossing the finish line, race control then ruled in favour of W&S Motorsport and the class win was celebrated accordingly. Blickle, Scheerbarth and Jahn rank second in the Cup2 drivers' standings and third in the overall championship. W&S Motorsport takes second place in the PETN team classification. 

The work in the cockpit of the production-based Porsche Cayman V5 #460 was shared at the 12h Nürburgring by Kevin Rembert, Niclas Wiedmann and the young talent Finn Zulauf, who has already celebrated successes with AVIA W&S Motorsport in the ADAC GT4 Germany this season and made his NLS debut. Due to a technical problem, qualifying did not go as hoped and the team started the endurance race from fifth place in class V5. But despite the constantly changing weather, all three drivers kept a cool head and the team shone during the pit stops. Thus, the first part was finished in second place in the class. This performance was seamlessly continued on Sunday and second place was the deserved reward of a flawless performance. 

For the two Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS, competing in Cup3 of the PETN, the first part still started promisingly. The AVIA racing Cayman GT4 #960 with Marius Rauer, Daniel Bohr and Sebastian Vittel saw the chequered flag in third place in class on Saturday evening. The Vöhringer Cayman GT4 #961, driven by Jürgen Vöhringer, René Höber and Dirk Biermann, finished the first half of the race in eighth place, but had to retire the car after the first hour on Sunday due to a technical problem. The #960 AVIA racing Cayman GT4 continued to be on course for the podium until the second hour of racing, before Rauer had to pit after a collision and end the race early. 

The next round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series will be held on Saturday, 8 October 2022. At the 54th ZEWOTHERM ADAC Barbarossapreis, the Porsche quartet from W&S Motorsport will once again fight for victories and points. 

Quotes after the race 

Daniel Schellhaas, Team Principal W&S Motorsport: "We survived what was probably the most difficult race I have ever experienced. Saturday was marked by constant changes of rain and dry or something in between. The whole process was extremely intense and we had to make new decisions on the pit stand all the time. The change to rain tyres shortly before the end on Saturday evening was certainly the right thing to do, as it was very difficult for the drivers to see where the tarmac was wet or dry in the darkness after the heavy rain. The fact that there was a perceived disaster at the beginning of the second part and that the pit lights remained red for 4.5 minutes threw everything into confusion. In the end, great respect and thanks to the race control, who analysed the situation in detail and made a fair decision. It was strange to cross the finish line without knowing in which position. The whole weekend was a rollercoaster of emotions: class win and an advancement in the Cup2 standings as well as a great second place, but unfortunately also two retirements. The whole team did an incredibly great job - we have never had so many pit stops within twelve hours of racing - and everyone deserves a big thank you!" 

Patrick Wagner, Team Principal W&S Motorsport: "Already in qualifying we had to be very on our toes and everything had to fit one hundred per cent. Despite all the turbulence and weather, all four cars made it through the first six hours without a scratch. The restart was quite bumpy for us, to say the least, and there was a lot of confusion in the field. Undeterred by this, our whole team worked with concentration and very well, and all the drivers fought impressively at the wheel. It's a shame for two retirements, but we are all the more pleased about the well-deserved victory with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the podium for the V5 Cayman. I can only emphasise my thanks to the team as well. Everyone delivered top performance under such circumstances!" 

Daniel Blickle, Driver #120: "That was an exciting race right to the end and we won it. It was chaotic in parts, but we had the best pace in the field. My two colleagues drove the most laps and did a strong job, the team as well. We can be proud of this victory in Cup2. Now we have to improve this position again in the remaining races." 

Tim Scheerbarth, Driver #120: "An exciting and exhausting twelve hours are behind us. Despite all the complications on Saturday, we were leading after the first part and were even in the overall top 10. The situation at the pit lights after the restart was a bit confusing for everyone. It took six hours to decide and we were able to enjoy a well-deserved victory, also thanks to fabulous teamwork. Now we are closer to the top of the class and will give everything to win the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring. Big thanks to W&S Motorsport, Daniel and David!" 

Finn Zulauf, Driver #460: "My first endurance race in the Green Hell and over half a day went very well. Saturday was indescribably exciting. Despite an unfavourable starting position, we all pushed hard and were quickly in second position, which we then defended over the distance and finished well ahead of the chasing pack. I like driving in the rain, which we had plenty of on Saturday, and driving the Nordschleife is simply amazing! My debut in the NLS with W&S Motorsport was a success and I am looking forward to hopefully many more races on this track with the team. Thanks for everything!"