The Frikadelli Racing Team had a very successful start into the new season of the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft 2009, finishing into an excellent fifth place in a starting field of very high quality.
In the timed practice session already, the quick team composed of drivers Sabine Schmitz, Klaus Abbelen (both from Barweiler) and Dr. Edgar Althoff (Dülken) finished on a top position. Sabine Schmitz set a time of 8:30.773 minutes in the Porsche 997 and achieved eighth position on the starting grid, ahead of the Audi A8 of Stuck, Biela and Pirro and the Alpina B6 of Hürtgen, Wirth and Bovensiepen.
They also had a brilliant race start then at the first round of the season. The Porsche could not only defend its position during the first laps but was shown into sixth place later on due to retirements and problems of their rivals.
It was in particular the extensive preparatory work as for example the suspension and tyre tests carried out in Vallelunga which was decisive for the excellent performance. Sabine Schmitz explains: “The results of the test were confirmed here at the first round of the season. A great thank you to our partners without whom we would not have been able to score today’s result. Another thank you goes to the whole team as the light in our garage at Barweiler hardly went out during winter time!”
With constant fast lap times of less than nine minutes the crew made it up to fifth position finally after four hours driving time, a position onto which the Team Frikadelli Racing is well entitled to be proud considering the strong competitors.
The second Frikadelli Racing competition car, the Porsche 997 GT3 Cup with drivers Norbert Pauels (Grevenbroich), Sabine Schmitz and Klaus Abbelen at the steering wheel, could achieve fast lap times of below nine minutes in the race after they had taken the start from 31st position on the grid but then had to stop the race in lap 14 with transmission problems.
The whole team and many friends from amongst the drivers and mechanics celebrated the brilliant top 5 result at the Frikadelli truck in the paddocks after the race. Frikadelli Racing is a good example of what characterizes the very special atmosphere of the endurance racing championship at the Nürburgring – closeness to the fans and much fun in motorsport at the most beautiful circuit of the world.
