Stars and high carats at the second VLN race
Cheers at the Renngemeinschaft Düren eV in the DMV: More than 190 vehicles quit for the 40. DMV 4-hour race on. The second round of the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring next Saturday, 25. April 2015, leads over the usual four-hour distance on the 24,358 kilometer-long combination of Grand Prix course short connection and the legendary Nordschleife. The crème de la crème of the European long-distance scene is also part of the party. This is where DTM stars, sports car specialists and touring car aces meet promising young talents and old hands' off the ring '- a mixture that makes die-hard motorsport fans' hearts beat faster. The race starts punctually at 12 o'clock, beforehand the starting positions will be moved from 8: 30 to 10 o'clock. The entrance around the Nordschleife is free. For a visit to the paddock - including pit walk during the break between training and racing - the starting line-up and access to the open grandstands on the Grand Prix course, family-friendly 15 euros must be paid once per person. Teenagers up to and including 14 years have free admission.
According to the preliminary list of participants, the top group with 24 GT3 cars, 18 vehicles in the VLN specials up to 4.000 ccm displacement (SP7), six Cup Elven Porsche and two SP-PRO racers in the second run is wide. More than a quarter of the approximately 190 vehicles are good for a podium in terms of technical data.
Just a week before the DTM kick-off in Hockenheim, some current DTM drivers meet at the Nürburgring. Maxime Martin (Belgium) and Augusto Farfus (Brazil) in the service of BMW and Audi driver Nico Müller (Switzerland) will start in the VLN on Saturday. In the GT3 class, all three have to prove themselves against a number of former DTM drivers, led by Marcel Fässler (Switzerland), now a three-time Le Mans winner, who is steering the wheel for Audi and DTM record champion Bernd Schneider (Bottighofen), who is at the start for the Black Falcon team in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Schneider is in danger from his own warehouse, because ROWE RACING and the Haribo Racing Team are extremely strong with the same GT3 racers and a top driver line-up. The Porsche faction, including the Manthey and Frikadelli Racing teams, should not be underestimated and rounds off the sports car quartet from Germany. The competition comes mainly from Great Britain - Aston Martin and Bentley - as well as from Asia with vehicles from Lexus and Nissan. One should not forget, of course, the Italian super athletes from Ferrari, whose logo with the jumping horse symbolizes the southern temperament.
The two drivers from the World Touring Car Championship, Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) and Gabriele Tarquini (Italy), continue their preparation for the run for the World Touring Car Championship as part of the ADAC Zurich 24-hour race in the front midfield. The duo starts in the Audi TTRS from Rotek Racing under the application of VLN partner MSC Adenau. They will not have a say in the overall victory, rather the aim is to continue shooting optimally at the Nordschleife. So far, both pilots have prepared conscientiously and hope for a head start for the two WTCC races in May. Then, by the way, Sabine Schmitz (Barweiler), VLN champion from 1998, will make a guest start and try to stand up to the otherwise exclusively male competitors in the World Cup and use her track knowledge to her advantage.
Even if the endurance championship does not have the status of a world championship: the internationality of the field would be worthy of a world championship. Drivers from Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the USA and the United Arab Emirates are represented as well as pilots from all over Europe. Statistically summarized: About 480 drivers - including 14 drivers - from 31 nations form the colorful mix of 22 with vehicles from 40 from different automobile manufacturers. DMV 4 hour race. This is unique in the world.
In addition to the fight for overall victory, thrilling motorsport is offered across the board in the VLN endurance championship. The BMW M235i Racing Cup stands out from the Cup classes this year. More than 20 compact athletes from Bavaria start in the Cup 1 class, in which experienced long-distance specialists have come together to choose the best among themselves. The class of VLN specials up to 2.000 ccm displacement (SP3) is currently experiencing a renaissance. After lean years with only a few starters, the master class of 2010 - back then Mario Merten and 'Wolf Silvester' won the race - is again the strongest today. With 13 vehicles in the provisional nominal result, there are many points for the VLN participants in the Opel Astra OPC Cup class as well as in the VLN production vehicles up to 2.500 ccm displacement (V4). In the latter class, the reigning champions Rolf Derscheid (Much) and Michael Flehmer (Overath) are at home, who proudly present the number one on their BMW 325i 2015.
