The life of the family Kappeler is marked by motor sport and fast cars: At their place of residence, Bad Saulgau, they run very successfully an independant car repair and tuning shop which, since recently, is also the base of the new racing team Kappeler Motorsport.
The 26 years old Thomas Kappeler can look back onto a large experience in motor sport: At the age of six, he started in his first karting race under the direction of his father, then continued racing in the Lupo, Beetle and Fiesta Cups and moved over the DTC (German Touring Car Challenge). Kappeler participated occasionally in the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring and regularly since 2008. For the endurance raceswhich usually go over the distance of up to six hours, he used to \”rent\” a seat in a race car which he was not familiar with and thus never had the opportunity to really take influence on the performance of the car or of the team. \”That is over now\”, explains Thomas Kappeler in a conversation, \”We have bought our own race car in winter in order to be more independant and to assume more responsibility and also to have more power of decision.\” The term \’we\’ in the new team includes above all father Karl-Heinz, who will assume the function as team manager together with his son, mother Helga who will be in charge of catering and administration together with sister Tanja as well as some volunteers from their own garage to support the team as mechanics.
A lot of experience in the car
Kappeler Motorsport intends to enter the total of ten races of the VLN langstreckenmeisterschaft which will all take place at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The team which is based in Bad Saulgau will hereby revert to well proved and tested technology from Munich and competes in a BMW M3 from the Touting Car World Championship. \”The technical set-up of this car for the Nordschleife was completed several years ago already and it was tested during long distance races in class SP6 of up to 3.5 litres cylinder capacity\”, explains Thomas Kappeler, \”We have revised the car again during winter time in cooperation with the racing sports specialists of KK Automobile and will start with a smaller engine in class SP5 of up to three litres cylinder capacity.\”
The team has well enough reasons to change into a smaller class as Thomas Kappeler adds: More chances to win the class, more participants in the class and more excitement for drivers and fans. In addition, due to the smaller class, the car will not constantly be driven at the limits so that the material is not permanenty under stress and the components will have a longer life. Kappeler has already competed in some races at the Nürburgring and at the Nordschleife with the BMW and thus knows the car perfectly which will be a big advantage in the target to win the class.
The team has now to look for an additional driver to support Thomas Kappeler during the enruance races. The race driver from Bad Saulgau, yet, is not really happy with just anybody but: \”We need a second quick driver who also disposes of the reliability necessary for long distance races. Although we have received some applications – the perfect partner is not amongst them yet.\”
Even though Kappeler Motorsport already now hopes for class wins, the team remains down-to-earth: \”We are new in this class and our primary objective is to gain experience. The better if we hereby finish on the podium one or another time. We will know where we are and where we have to go after the first race on 27 March\”, is Thomas Kappeler\’s position at the start of the season 2010.
