Another NLS podium and top 20 result for AVIA W&S Motorsport

After the cancellation of the second round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series due to weather conditions, W&S Motorsport was able to carry out more crucial test laps on the Nordschleife and collect valuable data on the Friday before the race. The findings paid off and the AVIA racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 992 #120 with Daniel Blickle, Tim Scheerbarth and Ralf Schall at the wheel qualified for the second row of the grid in the highly competitive Cup 2 class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (PETN). The AVIA racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS #960, driven by Marius Rauer, Daniel Bohr and Sebastian Vittel, took up the race from sixth position in Cup 3. Behind them, the Vöhringer Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS #961 started the four-hour endurance race from twelfth place. The work at the wheel was shared by Jürgen Vöhringer, René Höber and Sébastien Carcone. 

Starting driver Tim Scheerbarth really set off fireworks in the first laps, taking the lead of the class already in the first corner and keeping some of the SP9 GT3 cars behind him. Numerous incidents on the almost 25-kilometre long track then slowed him down. His two cockpit colleagues Schall and Blickle were also hindered by numerous Code 60 periods. In addition, they had to serve a 60-second time penalty for speeding before the pit exit, but this had no influence on the overall result. In the end, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup #120 crossed the finish line in third place and the drivers secured important points in the PETN. 

With 16 participants, the Cup 3 category of the PETN was the strongest class this weekend and the battle on the track was fierce. The driver trio of the AVIA racing Cayman GT4 #960 was able to hold its own in the field and finish the race solidly in seventh place. Optimal team tactics as well as good driving performances by the three drivers of the Vöhringer Cayman GT4 #961 were finally rewarded with tenth place. 

Team Principal Patrick Wagner summed up the weekend satisfied: "It was another typical race before the 24-hour classic. Numerous over-motivated drivers caused many accidents and thus made the race unpredictable. Therefore, we can be very satisfied with the third place of the GT3 Cup Porsche. The two GT4 Caymans were running solidly as well and all three cars crossed the finish line without a scratch. Unfortunately, the accident of the V5 Cayman marred the result after a promising starting position. We will attack again at the next race to get even further ahead." 

Tim Scheerbarth says: "Qualifying was difficult. There was a lot of traffic and a lot of accidents. We didn't have a free lap, so third on the grid was the maximum. At the start I had the right touch and was able to brake my way to the front on the inside of the first corner. During the rest of the race it was difficult to get into the rhythm because of the many double yellow and Code 60 periods. The car ran very well and we scored a lot of points for the Trophy classification again. I am very happy to finish the race in the top 20 again. It shows how fast we can be. Hopefully at the next round in eight weeks we'll climb even further up the podium." 

Also satisfied, but a bit self-critical, Ralf Schall looks back on the race: "Finishing third again and 18th overall is a good result and I am happy for the team. The Porsche remained without any faults, which is already a success after such a race. I probably hit the throttle too early before the pit exit. This is the first time in all these years that this has happened to me and I would like to apologise to the team for the mistake. It shouldn't happen and fortunately it didn't affect the result in the end. I had a lot of fun again at W&S Motorsport - a great squad, thank you for everything!" 

"Over the whole weekend it was quite turbulent on the track. Already a few corners after the start there was the first accident, which continued over the entire course of the race. I am not completely satisfied with seventh place and we need to step it up a bit at the next race. But with the packed grid and some overconfident competitors, the result is okay in the end," summarised Daniel Bohr from Luxembourg.

Before the season's highlight, the 50th ADAC TotalEnergies 24h race takes place from 25 to 29 May, W&S Motorsport will have a dress rehearsal at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring qualifying race from 6 to 8 May. The next round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series will be held in eight weeks' time on 25 June.