The Hamburg Racing Team (HRT Performance) uses the VLN endurance racing championship as an opportunity to get perfectly prepared for the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring. Nobody could however have expected that this first round already would turn out to be the first tough test regarding weather conditions in the Eifel region. The two professional race drivers José Manuel Balbiani and Juan Manuel Silva from Argentina straightaway got the full programme which is so characteristic for the Nürburgring.
Rain, cold wind and fog were the components for a very difficult race at the Nordschleife. The Argentinean driver duo nevertheless managed to show a good performance in their Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4. “It was definitely not easy but they both have done a brilliant job”, said team manager Michael Budde full of praise. In practice already, the two drivers experienced in an impressive way how it feels when the track gets faster and faster towards the end of the session. Whilst the track was still wet in the morning due to the rain in the night, the fastest lap times were set in the last minutes of the timed practice session.
The team of HRT Performance was nevertheless aware that the starting position would play a minor part only at the 4 Hour Race. It was much more important that the two drivers would complete constant lap times and refrain from getting involved into too close battles. As they succeeded in both points, the team was rewarded with position five in their class. “I am really happy with this start, especially as our second car finished in a good class position, too”, said Budde.
He was talking of the second Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 driven by Kim Hauschild, Karl Pflanz and Frank Borkowsky. Juan Manuel Silva, too, was racing in this car in order to gain more experience. The driver quartet was not unhappy with their ninth class position, also considering that Kim Hauschild lost almost one lap when he had to complete almost half a lap on three wheels to come to the pits after a damaged tyre. “It is only a pity that could not complete the full race distance,” said Budde as the race was stopped upon instruction of Race Control after about two and a half hours. The visibility at the section ‘Döttinger Höhe’ had become so bad due to extremely heavy fog. In combination with the rain and the resulting strong spray, the situation had become too dangerous for all involved.
“I hope that we will have a considerably better weather after Easter so that we can further pursue our aims”, said Budde. The second round of the VLN endurance racing championship will start on 14th April already. HRT Performance considers participating there with one Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 and with one Porsche 997 GT4.
