Exciting GTC Race finale in Hockenheim with podium for W&S Motorsport

For the one-hour GT60 race on Saturday, Luca Arnold started in 13th place and third in class. Constant weather changes did not make the tyre choice easy for the protagonists and race control sent the safety car onto the track on the first lap as heavy rain set in. Arnold immediately headed for the pits to change to rain tyres and therefore dropped back in the field. After the race was restarted with 40 minutes remaining on the 4.574 kilometre long traditional circuit, Arnold managed to make up a few positions. He came into the pits for the compulsory stop in eleventh place. In the second half of the race, he gained more positions and crossed the finish line after 25 laps with the PARAVAN Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 #7 in third place in the class and eighth in the overall field. 

Heavy rain fell again at the Hockenheimring throughout Sunday morning. Luca Arnold started the first 30-minute sprint race from seventh in class and 15th in the overall field. An accident on the first lap caused a safety car period and a subsequent interruption with the red flag. The 19-year-old finished eighth in class and 13th overall. 

Arnold took up the second sprint race in the afternoon from 7th place and fourth in class. Heavy rain continued to pour down on the track in the north of Baden-Württemberg, causing critical conditions. So, the race was restarted behind the safety car with 20 minutes remaining. For a short time, Luca Arnold was able to take sixth place overall with the PARAVAN Cayman GT4 #7. Due to the track conditions, the race control sent the safety car out on the track again four minutes before the end and Arnold finished in fifth place in class and eighth overall. 

The result for the student from Aichelau after his second GTC Race season with W&S Motorsport is once again excellent. Arnold finished fourth in the GT4 Junior classification and sixth overall. As the third best GT4 driver in the GT60 races he climbed onto the podium at the end of the season. Team W&S Motorsport finishes the 2022 campaign in fifth place in the standings. 

Four selected GT4 drivers now qualify for the GT3 support squad and for the sighting test next weekend. Finn Zulauf, who raced in the GTC Race with W&S Motorsport in 2021, was convincing last season. Luca Arnold was also among the candidates last year. The best driver will then get a free cockpit in a GT3 racer in the GTC Race for two years. 

Quotes after the race 

Patrick Wagner, Team Principal W&S Motorsport: "In these fierce conditions our motto was to arrive safely for all three races and Luca always brought the Cayman GT4 to the finish without any damage. His final positions in the series, despite a suspended race, are absolutely super and he has continued to learn a lot. I would be very happy if he could qualify for the support squad and he can take the next big step in what is still a young career." 

Luca Arnold, Driver #7: "W&S Motorsport did a mega job over the season, everyone in the team! I was able to score points consistently and without incident throughout the year, which was rewarded with third place in the GT60. The last weekend was once again extremely turbulent and challenging, but also very instructive. Finding a suitable tactic was extremely difficult. On Sunday, under these conditions, the motto was to arrive in one piece, which was achieved and the lap times with the Porsche were on a par with the competitors. Again, the crew of W&S Motorsport did a great job. Thanks to the team for a strong season!"