No luck for Frikadelli Racing in the chaotic Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Imola
16.05.2022
The Michelin Le Mans Cup weekend in Imola was not under a good star for Frikadelli Racing. Although the team from Barweiler was able to make some progress in the setup area of the LMP3 vehicle, they lacked the necessary luck in the race to be able to completely escape the numerous turbulences on the track. After a series of incidents through no fault of their own and the resulting loss of time, the #30 Ligier JS P320 of Klaus Abbelen and Felipe Laser was parked prematurely in the pits after completing 13 laps.
“It just wasn't meant to be this weekend. Unfortunately, we were always in the wrong place at the wrong time and really attracted the collisions and moments of shock, none of which we were responsible for. It was a totally crazy race, the likes of which you probably only experience very rarely. We are therefore already looking forward to the "Road to Le Mans" in mid-June. At the big highlight of the season, the Michelin Le Mans Cup, we definitely want to go on the offensive again and, like last year, make it into the top 15 in the overall classification,” explains team boss Klaus Abbelen.
With 40 vehicles, the starting field for the series comeback of the Michelin Le Mans Cup in Imola was once again packed to the brim. It was correspondingly close from the start. Abbelen with the #30 Ligier JS P320 felt this several times already in the starting lap. “Frikadelli”, who started the race from position 26, was initially braked so hard by a competitor that he was no longer able to avoid him and hit him on the rear. A second maneuver followed only a little later, during which a car cut the Ligier's path so unluckily that the front apron of the LMP3 was damaged and had to be replaced in the pits. After almost three minutes, Abbelen was able to continue the journey, but was already one lap behind.
“The hustle and bustle in the field still didn't calm down after that and unfortunately we were still right in the middle. During an overtaking maneuver on the start-finish straight, I was almost pushed into the pit wall, which luckily I was able to avert. I guess the other pilot just didn't see me in the mirror. Another moment of shock followed a little later when a car suddenly came towards me on the track. It was just totally chaotic this time, it's not for nothing that there were such an impressive number of full course yellow and safety car phases in the race. Due to the many incidents and our large deficit, we finally decided to park the car early in the pits. We will now have a test day at the Nürburgring next Tuesday to prepare for the “Road to Le Mans”, Abbelen continued.
