The race cars equipped with the ATS motor sport wheels had a brilliant start into the season of the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring, just as if there had never been a winter brake. This refers above all to the Seat Leon of the Inter Racing team which scored a first class victory at the very first championship race despite the strong competition in the class.
The BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft could hardly have had a better start into the new season. Bright sunshine and temperatures of almost 20 degrees Celsius at the start of the race – no one of the participants had ever dared to hope for such perfect conditions after the rainy test session last weekend.
A remarkable field composed of more than 160 cars started last Saturday to the first 4 Hour Race of the 2009 season, and amongst those the Seat Leon of Inter Racing with the well-known quick and reliable drivers Frank Lorenzo/ Harald Jacksties and the equally reliable and light ATS motor sport wheel – the GTR.
However, the team of Inter Racing which is very much used to success started the new endurance racing year with mixed feelings. Due to the largely modified regulations for the new season, the team had to carry out extensive development work on the about 300 HP strong turbo engine of the Seat Leon after the introduction of the power reducing air restrictor for the so-called SP3T class of two litres turbo engines, too. “Before the race, we didn’t know exactly where we are compared to our competitors. Of course, we had worked thoroughly and tried a lot during winter, but the final result and success can only be seen when you are in direct competition with the rivals in your class”, explains team manager and driver Frank Lorenzo the initial uncertainty.
Harald Jacksties adds: “Our Seat was running like clockwork again. We had been competitive from the very beginning and for once more confirmed our fantastic reliability. After the technical problems of the Raeder team and the tyre damage of the strong works VW, we could start to reduce the pressure a little from mid race already.”
There is also a reasonable background for the joy in the team as the team of Inter Racing finished their first race in 2009 as successfully as they did last season in many races: with a class win.
They finished with one lap ahead of the second-placed car in class SP3T, the Audi A3 of Raeder Motorsport which by the way also benefits from the performance of ATS motor sport technology. The light and solid GTR wheel could thus celebrate a perfect start into the season – with a double victory.
An additional top place for ATS achieved the vice champions of last season, the brothers Busch/ Busch in class Cup1. They gained with the remarkable advance of four laps ahead of the second-placed in their class.
With this great success in their mind, the teams equipped with the ATS light-alloy wheels will start the second round of the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft taking place on 18th of April on the more than 20 kilometres long Nordschleife which is extremely demanding both for drivers and material.
