Pole position and lead kilometers in the eighth NLS run
25.09.2021
The Frikadelli Racing Team has reached the podium in the Pro-Am category for the third time in a row as part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). Klaus Abbelen and Porsche Young Professional Julien Andlauer drove the # 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R together to second place in the penultimate race of the season. In the final statement of the overall classification, the driver duo took ninth place after Andlauer had previously achieved pole position in the morning timed practice with a fabulous time of 7.53.542 minutes.
“We made extreme progress this weekend and developed a really perfect set-up. The vehicle has never felt as good as it has today. As a result, Julien and I had a lot of confidence in the car and were able to implement the performance on the track very well. It's a shame that we weren't quite able to win the Pro-Am class in the end. At the season finale in two weeks we will try again and fully attack again ”, said team boss Klaus Abbelen.
For Frikadelli Racing, the race day on the Nürburgring Nordschleife began with a dream result after a fog-related delay. In the shortened, 45-minute qualifying, Julien Andlauer got the timing perfect and drove a lap time of 7.53.542 minutes on his second lap, which was to remain the record until the end of the session. The 22-year-old Frenchman secured Frikadelli Racing's second pole position in the current NLS season. “We decided to start chasing times very early on. That was the key to success today, because it gave us a time window without caution phases and with little traffic. For me it was my first ever pole position on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and at the same time a great debut with the Frikadelli Porsche, ”said Andlauer.
In the early stages of the race, the ex-champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup successfully maintained the lead until he had to drive into the pits on lap six for a stop-and-go penalty. The race management had rated the start of the # 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R as a "jump start". Despite the loss of time, Andlauer managed to work his way back to the top before handing over the cockpit to Klaus Abbelen.
"Frikadelli" quickly found his rhythm and fought courageous duels with the GT3 competition. In the Pro-Am category, Abbelen was able to successfully defend the lead right up to the end. In a remarkable photo finish, he crossed the finish line at the end with a lead of just 0.151 seconds over the second-placed Huber Motorsport team. However, due to falling below the minimum pit stop time by 0.4 seconds, the # 30 Porsche 911 GT3 R received a time penalty of 36 seconds after the race. As a result, Abbelen and Andlauer were ranked second in the Pro-Am category and ninth place in the overall ranking.
