A few days only remain until the start of the 2011 season of the Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring (VLN) which will be the fifth year of participation for the small, nice team of Rank Motorsport based in Waldbröhl/ Germany.
Basically, there are not many changes in the team of Rank Motorsport: In addition to the changes in the sponsorship which are normal in racing at the beginning of a season, the greatest changes in the team around Rudi Rank shall be applied regarding the drivers. As in 2010, Stefan Rank (Waldbröhl/ Germany) will be one of the drivers in the Opel Corsa to compete in the first race of the season to take place on 2nd April.
For the races of up to six hours race duration, he will however no longer be assisted by Jürgen Meyer from Westerkappeln/ Germany as second driver. Team manager Rudi Rank explains: “At the beginning of the 2010 season already, Jürgen Meyer informed me about his withdrawal from active motor sport after the end of the season. Jürgen was much more than just a driver: He has over the years become a friend and member of the family. We all regret very much that he is no longer available as driver – he nevertheless is and will remain part of our team. And should he change his mind, he can rejoin us any time.” A true rookie will join the team of Stefan Rank for the complete season: Joel Lehnen from Finnentrop/ Germany will start his first complete motor sport season on 2nd April. The skilled road builder and future master road builder knows the Nordschleife well due to many laps completed at the circuit in touristic traffic, but he has no experience so far in driving with slick tyres, with the heat in the cockpit and with close racing battles. Team manager Rank knows about the risk but he is nevertheless very confident: “It is a great risk for Joel as well as for us as team to send this young driver into the hard VLN world of racing. We will however prepare him as well and carefully as possible. As high as the risk may be is my belief that he will very quickly adapt himself to the circumstances. I am also aware that he will not set top times right at his first race but I think he will very soon get close to the times of Stefan Rank.” And what is the statement of the 20 years old newcomer regarding the situation: “I have got my licence this spring and I am already very excited to see what will be going on. My father had competed in the VLN and Jürgen Meyer is a good friend of us, so I know the VLN scene quite well. It is however totally different to stay at the pit wall and watch the drivers racing than to be oneself seated behind the steering wheel. I will approach things with great respect, I do not expect to set fastest times and I am aware that I will not gain many cups in my first year. I consider this to be a year of learning and my concern is to finish the races without any damage on the car.”
Clear, exciting, fair
As the main sponsor of Rank Motorsport has stopped his engagement, team manager Rudi Rank has been negotiating with may potential main sponsors and opened some doors. “No one has so far declared his final commitment but our project is however not standing on a weak basis. I think that a decision will be taken still before the start of the first race.” Rank Motorsport will again compete in class V2 and enter the Opel Corsa again which had been successful last year already. The class is open for standard production cars with an engine performance of up to 104 kW and a cylinder capacity between 1.600 and 1.800 cc. The most serious competitors for the Rank-Corsa will this year be the 3 series BMW again. “These cars have a little more power but their weight is also higher and they must furthermore partly cope with a smaller fuel tank capacity. We have realistic chances for good positions this year again”, comments team manager Rudi Rank their chances. His explanation on why Rank Motorsport continues in VLN for another year and does not switch over to another series is: “VLN offers the possibility to exercise motor sport at highest level but at reasonable costs. All the costs for the season are clear and calculable for small private teams. It is furthermore always great fun to race for a true and still growing group of fans.”
