Difficult weekend for W&S Motorsport at the 12 Hours of Nürburgring

The weekend started very promisingly. On Saturday, Niclas Wiedmann, Philip Miemois and reigning Porsche Endurance Trophy champion Daniel Blickle in the CMS Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport #962 started the six-hour race from second on the grid in the Cup3 class and directly ahead of the sister car of Marius Rauer and Moritz Oberheim in the AVIA racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport #960. Sébastien Carcone and Andreas Gabler in the Vöhringer Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport #961 started from tenth position.

Right at the start, the AVIA racing Porsche Cayman GT4 #960 moved to the front of the field and led the Cup3 class. After seven laps, he was already 55 seconds ahead of the runner-up when he had to pit due to a puncture. Due to the repair work, he was two laps behind when he continued the race. In the end, he finished eleventh in the Cup3 class.

The CMS Porsche Cayman GT4 #962 survived the Green Hell without any damage and crossed the finish line in fourth place in Cup3. The Vöhringer Porsche Cayman GT4 #961 finished tenth in class.

Race 7 of the NLS started on Sunday with pole position in the Cup3 class for driver duo Marius Rauer and Moritz Oberheim in the AVIA racing Porsche Cayman GT4 #960. Somewhat unlucky with code-60 phases in qualifying were Niclas Wiedmann, Philip Miemois and Daniel Blickle in the CMS Porsche Cayman GT4 #962, who started the race from seventh place. Sébastien Carcone and Andreas Gabler in the Vöhringer Porsche Cayman GT4 #961 qualified in ninth position.

Marius Rauer took the start in the AVIA racing Porsche Cayman GT4 #960, defending the lead and then pulling away from the field. But again on the seventh lap, the #960 suffered a puncture and came into the pits for repairs. With a seven-minute gap, the race could be continued in tenth place. But the driver duo did not give up and fought their way back to fifth position in Cup3.

After four hours of racing, the CMS Porsche Cayman GT4 had to retire from the race due to a technical defect. The race was also over for the Vöhringer Porsche Cayman GT4 #961 before the checkered flag dropped, following a trip into the gravel trap and the resulting damage to the car.

At the eighth round of the NLS on 23 September, W&S Motorsport wants to attack again in the final sprint for the championship.

Quotes after the race

Patrick Wagner, Team Principal W&S Motorsport: "We came here with the goal of winning and making another run at the championship. Unfortunately, it didn't go as we had expected. We started at the front and the drivers were fast. It's a shame that the #960 suffered punctures in both races. After the good starting positions we had hoped for more, but the repairs of the consequential damage cost too much time. The other two cars did well and finished without scratches on Saturday. Fourth place for #962 is particularly pleasing after the problems in the last races. But on Sunday they both had a bit of bad luck with a small off and a technical defect, which is a shame. Many thanks to the team for their efforts over the whole weekend. Next time we will attack again!"

Moritz Oberheim, Driver #960: "Sunday's race day started well and pole position was the first step in the right direction. Marius drove the start for the first time this year and did very well. He kept the car in front and handed over to me in first place. I was able to extend the lead, but unfortunately had a puncture on the left rear, which cost us a lot of time. We were able to bring home fifth place and set the fastest race lap, which allowed us to score some points to hopefully secure second place in the championship. We will continue in a fortnight and hopefully with a win then."

Niclas Wiedmann, Driver #962: "With a mega lap in the first qualifying by Philip, we were able to start our weekend very well with second place on the grid. Despite the lack of power, we were still able to finish the race in a solid fourth place. On Sunday, I was unfortunately only able to finish seventh due to the lack of power and traffic on my qualifying lap. However, we were able to work our way forward well in the race, but had to park the car before the end of the race due to a technical defect. We won't let that drag us down and we will focus on the next race."