Further successful test before the 24h race
02.08.2020
At the end of the first half of the Nürburgring long-distance series, the Frikadelli Racing Team achieved the eighth overall position with the #30 Porsche 911 GT3 R and collected further important data for the 24h race. Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) alternated at the wheel of the "fastest meatballs in the world" together with Maxime Martin (Belgium).
"For us, the main goal was to continue developing for the 24h race, which we succeeded in doing. Both drivers were at the wheel of our Porsche for the first time and, like our entire Frikadelli Racing Team, did a flawless job. Now we have the dress rehearsal with the 6h race in four weeks. There we still have to improve little things and then decide about the driver crews of our two Porsche 911 GT3 Rs for the 24h race," sums up team leader Klaus Abbelen.
In the fourth run of the Nürburgring long-distance series, the Eifel weather should provide an additional arc of tension. Already the morning time training took place in difficult conditions on rain-soaked road. However, Bleekemolen and Martin were able to adapt to the challenging conditions very well and qualify the #30 Porsche 911 GT3 R on the fourth position in the starting grid.
At the start of the race, the weather should continue to play a decisive role. Thus, large parts of the route were still very wet at the beginning, other passages were already dried up. Start driver Martin managed to bring the Frikadelli Racing Porsche safely through the difficult mixing conditions in the initial phase. After that, the track dried up completely, so that the Frikadelli Racing Team and the two pilots could gain experience in all circumstances. In the end, Martin and Bleekemolen finished eighth in the overall classification.
Driver voices after the race:
Jeroen Bleekemolen (driver #30 Porsche 911 GT3 R): "We can be satisfied with the weekend. We learned a lot for the next races, had no problems and got through without errors, especially in the different weather conditions. It was a lot of fun to work with the Frikadelli Racing Team and to be on the road together with Maxime. I'm looking forward to the next races. The Nordschleife is always a highlight."
Maxime Martin (driver #30 Porsche 911 GT3 R): "The raceweekend came to me relatively quickly, but I was very happy to return to the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I completed my last run of the Nürburgring long-distance series (or in the past VLN) about two years ago. I was driving the Porsche from Frikadelli Racing for the first time ever and i have to say that it was a very nice experience for me. Many thanks to Klaus Abbelen for the trust placed in me this weekend."
