Podium place and top 10 result at the inauguration of the Sabine Schmitz corner
12.09.2021
At the season highlight of the Nürburgring endurance series, the 6h race, the Frikadelli Racing Team made it onto the podium. Klaus Abbelen, Felipe Fernandez Laser and Axcil Jefferies finished second in the Pro-Am category with the # 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R. At the same time, the team from Barweiler was able to look forward to a top 10 result at the inauguration race of the Sabine Schmitz corner.
“Even if it wasn't quite enough for us to win the Pro-Am category, I am satisfied with our performance in this year's 6h race. In the overall standings, things could certainly have gone a little further up, but unfortunately we didn't have the ideal setup today in these somewhat cooler conditions compared to the last races. For the next run we will make a few adjustments and then hopefully come back even stronger, ”said team boss Klaus Abbelen after the race.
The Frikadelli Racing Team laid the foundation for another podium success in the Pro-Am classification in the morning qualifying. After the Nürburgring Nordschleife was initially still very wet, Laser managed to achieve a lap time of 8:46,499 minutes with the nine-eleven on the drying track, which should be enough for second place on the grid in the Pro-Am category. In the race, Abbelen, Jefferies and Laser were able to successfully assert themselves among the top 3 right from the start. The trio of drivers didn't make any mistakes on the track, which should ultimately be the key to second place.
The weekend did not go as hoped for Hendrik von Danwitz and “Jules” with the # 962 Porsche Cayman GT4. The German-British driver duo was able to achieve a strong second place on the grid in the Pro-Am category of the Porsche Cayman GT4 Trophy in qualifying, but this time the race ended early for the two drivers after an accident in the early stages.
Driver voices for the weekend:
Felipe Fernandez Laser (# 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R): “The weekend was a lot of fun again. I immediately felt at home in the Frikadelli Racing team and it was something very special for me personally that after the official opening of the Sabine Schmitz corner on Friday, I was allowed to drive her Frikadelli Porsche on it. Since I was last driving the nine-eleven on the Nordschleife over a year ago, I first had to get used to it a bit. But I was able to focus again quickly and I believe that we can be satisfied with the result and our pace. "
Axcil Jefferies (# 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R): “First of all, I'm very grateful that Klaus placed his trust in me and made it possible for me to start at such short notice. It was a very interesting and at the same time nice experience for me to drive a Porsche on the Nordschleife for the first time. We drove a clean race and were able to achieve a very solid result. "
“Jules” (# 962 Porsche Cayman GT4): “I was just about to pass a slower vehicle and assumed that the driver saw me and the blue flags. Unfortunately, there was still a misunderstanding and after the evasive maneuver over the curb / grass, I could unfortunately no longer avoid hitting the guardrail. Of course, that's a shame for the whole team. We had big plans for the weekend. "
Next station: Michelin Le Mans Cup in Spa-Francorchamps
For the Frikadelli Racing Team things are going on in quick succession. The next round in the Michelin Le Mans Cup is already on the program for the coming weekend. In Spa-Francorchamps, Klaus Abbelen and Axcil Jefferies want to build on their strong performance from Le Mans with the # 30 Ligier JS P320 and take another leap forward with the LMP3 car. Both the qualifying (12: 35-12: 50 p.m.) and the race (3: 55-5: 55 p.m.) will take place on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
