Frikadelli Racing is aiming for a top position in the 24h race at the Nürburgring
20.09.2020
With the 24h race on the Nürburgring, the Frikadelli Racing Team is facing the first major highlight of the season after an intensive preparation phase. The team of Sabine Schmitz and Klaus Abbelen is sending two extremely strong Porsche 911 GT3 R into the race, with which the Barweiler team would like to be at the forefront in both the Pro and Pro-Am categories.
“The 24h race on the Nürburgring is of course an absolute highlight every year. It is still a big dream of ours to win this endurance classic with Frikadelli Racing. But it depends on a huge number of factors, some of which you cannot influence yourself. In terms of vehicle preparation and the driver line-up, I see ourselves as being very well positioned. We will do everything we can to achieve a top result in the overall standings in the end. At the same time, we have set ourselves the goal of winning the Pro-Am category, ”explains team boss Klaus Abbelen.
Last year the Frikadelli Racing Team was on the verge of achieving the best team result ever in the 24h race and topping third place overall from 2008. Three hours before the end of the race, they were in second position in the overall standings before a puncture broke all the dreams. In 2020, the cult racing team is now hoping that the last bit of luck will return.
The # 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R will be shared with Maxime Martin by the three Porsche works drivers Kévin Estre, Michael Christensen and Matt Campbell at the endurance classic. Campbell is celebrating its comeback in the "fastest meatball in the world". In the sister vehicle with the number 30, the regular drivers Klaus Abbelen, Alex Müller and Lance David Arnold will receive support from Robert Renauer, who, like last year, will take the wheel in the 24-hour race.
For Frikadelli Racing, the qualifying sessions are initially on the program on Thursday and Friday. For the start number 31 of Estre, Christensen, Campbell and Martin, it is still a question of getting the ticket for the so-called top qualifying. The Porsche 911 GT3 R from Abbelen, Müller, Arnold and Renauer is already pre-qualified for participation. Motorsport fans have the opportunity to watch the race over the entire distance live on RTL Nitro or in the stream on www.24h-rennen.de.
Driver voices:
Kévin Estre (# 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R): “Our preparation was very good and all in all we learned a lot for the 24h race. It was important that we in the team adjust to each other and find our rhythm. In the last race the balance in the car was very good. Now it is time to use the qualifying sessions to do the last fine work. We have a very good driver line-up together, but we also face incredibly strong competition. I'm really looking forward to this event. My big goal is to definitely win the Nürburgring 24h in my career. "
Matt Campbell (# 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R): “At the 24h race Nürburgring I will experience something new this year. For the first time ever, I am starting in two vehicles during a race. It's going to be a big challenge that I'm really looking forward to. At both Manthey and Frikadelli Racing we have a good squad of drivers and a strong car. Accordingly, we are well prepared and hope for a good result. "
Alex Müller (# 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R): “We were able to test many things during the preparatory runs and are now well sorted out for the 24h race. Our goal is to win the Pro-Am class. We have already proven that we have the speed for this with our two victories this season in the Nürburgring endurance series. It would of course be a dream if we could also achieve an overall placement among the top 10. The grapes are of course incredibly high, but they only add up after 24 hours. Until then, we have to get through without any problems. "
Robert Renauer (# 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R): “It's great that Klaus is putting his trust in me again for the 24h race and that I can share the car with him and the other two guys. We have a very good, experienced and balanced driver pairing together, with whom a lot should be possible in the Pro-Am class. I'm really looking forward to the weekend and hope that we will have more luck this time than last year. We were very fast in 2019 but ended up coming home without a countable result. Toi, toi, toi, that it will be better this time. In terms of the driver line-up, we definitely have what it takes. "
