Actually, the use of the new AMG GT is just a "test". But this test showed just once the capabilities of the new AMG GT. Even before the AMG GT is offered as a customer sport vehicle next year, it has already earned its first spurs. The pole position for the "Test Team" shows what we have to expect next year. If the GT3 then still be allowed to compete on the Nordschleife.
VLN 8 - The sun is shining in the Eifel
1a presentation of AMG and ..
With an "obvious early start" by Hubert Haupt in the Black Falcon AMG SLS GT3, the first starting group flew over the starting line. Already at the "Grid sign" in the area of the Hohenrain chicane was the dark green SLS with a nose length in the lead. After the first round, the topic was then done again. The new AMG GT came back as leader to the Grand Prix circuit. Jan Seyffarth said in an interview that he was "tricked" by Hubert Haupt.
But also a spectacular start for the Farnbacher Lexus RC-F GT3 # 55 - while still on the Grand Prix track, still in the introductory lap, the autumn sun was circled around the car. But it was probably just the cold tires - you could still tackle the race!
In the second starting group, it was once again an Audi TT-RS that was able to secure pole position - but not the LMS-TTRS2 with start number # 303 (with Daniela Schmid at the wheel) that was used to victory, but the TT-RS 2.0 with starting number # 334 and the Norwegian troop: Hakon, Atle, Kenneth.
Not until the start line, the Ferrari F458, which had a gearbox problem during training, ignited the oil on the exhaust and both fire and transmission problems made the launch impossible.
The fastest BMW M235i after training for the eighth VLN race was the Bonk Motorsport M235i with start number #692. On the vehicle Alexander Mies, Kiki Sak Nana and Jens Moetefindt share the steering wheel.
In the first laps, the race was characterized by a tough duel between the Hummel-Mercedes, the Twinbusch-Audi, the Haribo-Mercedes and the powered by Dunlop Walkenhorst Z4. Dennis Busch at the wheel of the # 44 Audi R8 was able to stage himself excellently. Dennis Busch was able to withstand the pressure from the strongly pushing Uwe Alzen for a long time, only the early pit stop of the # 44 Audi dissolved this strong fight.
In the BMW M235i Cup there was a heavy departure from the #669. The damage in the Hohenrain chicane was so fierce that only once a code 60 had to be set up there for a long time.
Not so great was the eighth race for the team of Falken Motorsports. After a long repair stop, they were back in the race three laps behind 14. It was started by 11, after the exchange of the left drive shaft, it was only once 122 place in the finish at least 59 place. In the end, a disappointing result. Especially since this VLN race for the Falken-Porsche 997 was the last race in his racing career.
Dramatic was the third pit stop of the Frikadelli Porsches. On the Döttinger Höhe Sabine Schmitz went out during her stint of fuel, in the pit lane the Porsche rolled only. The mechanics hurried to push the fastest meatball in the world to the pits.
The entire day of the race was characterized by excellent weather at the ring. An hour before the end of the race, the exciting competition on the track still matched the bright sunshine. In the last hour of the race, the TwinBusch Audi and the Black Falcon SLS were close behind each other, with a slight advantage for the gullwing. Behind the team around Klaus Abbelen. The top 1 were not even separated by a second!
20 minutes before the end of the race, the lead changed hands, the AMG GT not only grabbed the Black Falcon SLS, but also the TwinBusch Audi R8 - but a time penalty of 80 seconds for “overtaking under yellow”, which was imposed almost at the same time, was still waiting! The pure speed of the Mercedes-AMG GT remains unaffected. With a time of 8:07.057, the new AMG GT3 was by far the fastest racing car on the Eifel asphalt strip. The finish line also showed the AMG GT3 as the leader - but when adjusted on the time monitor, the picture was different.
TwinBusch wins the eighth VLN race!
In the end, a team that deserved it for a long time wins the eighth VLN round. The brothers Dennis and Marc Busch win the eighth VLN race and thus secure their second VLN victory! In second place is the Mercedes-AMG with its time penalty, in third place is the “powered by Dunlop” Walkenhorst BMW Z2 GT3.
All photos: SB-Medien / Stefan Baldauf