First top 10 result for Frikadelli Racing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup
22.08.2021
At the highlight of the Michelin Le Mans Cup season, the “Road to Le Mans”, the Frikadelli Racing Team successfully advanced development work with the new # 30 Ligier JS P320 and made it into the top 10 of the overall standings for the first time. In the first run on Thursday evening, Klaus Abbelen and Axcil Jefferies secured tenth place with the LMP3 car after a faultless performance. In the second race on Saturday, the Frikadelli duo moved up from 42nd to 18th after a strong race to catch up.
“If someone had told me before the weekend that we would have finished 10th and 18th in the 45-strong field of the“ Road to Le Mans ”, I would have gratefully accepted. Accordingly, I am extremely satisfied with our performance. We have been able to gain a lot of experience and now also the certainty that we can be on the road with our driver duo within reach of the top 10 in a completely normal race. We still have significant reserves in qualifying, which we will try to do better at the next championship run in Spa-Francorchamps, ”said team boss Klaus Abbelen.
From position 22 on the grid, Frikadelli Racing started the first race on Thursday. Klaus Abbelen managed to stay out of all turbulence in the initial phase with the # 30 Ligier JS P320 and to consolidate his position in the midfield during the first stint. When the pit stop window opened after 22 minutes of racing, the Frikadelli Racing Team took advantage of the safety car phase to change to Axcil Jefferies. Adjusted, the Frikadelli Ligier found himself from now on in 16th position after all teams had completed their mandatory pit stop one lap later. In the second part of the race, Jefferies was able to keep pushing forward and work his way up to tenth place until the black and white checkered flag fell.
The second race on Saturday, which took place immediately before the start of the 89th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, had to be tackled by the Frikadelli Racing Team from 35th place on the grid after a poor qualifying session. However, starting driver Klaus Abbelen quickly found his rhythm and made up seven positions on the first lap. However, a spin at the beginning of the second lap threw him back to the end of the field. Abbelen then showed great fighting spirit and worked his way up from 42nd to 30th place until the mandatory pit stop. His team-mate Axcil Jefferies then continued the impressive race to catch up and crossed the finish line in 18th place after the 55-minute race distance.
“On Thursday we weren't entirely satisfied with the performance of our car. We then used the rest day on Friday to make a few setup changes for the second race. These have definitely paid off. My thanks go to the entire team for their work and to Axcil ”continued Abbelen.
His team-mate Axcil Jefferies also draws a positive conclusion: “Before the weekend, Klaus and I didn't drive a single lap of Le Mans. Neither of us had an easy qualifying either, but we were able to report back very well in the races with positions 10 and 18. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Frikadelli Racing Team and Klaus. As far as the development of our Ligier JS P320 is concerned, we are on the right way. "
