There was great excitement in the pits of the „Team Peugeot RCZ Nokia“ after 4:09 hours race time and 24 laps (= 584.856 km). Stéphane Caillet in the Peugeot RCZ 2.0 HDi FAP crossed the finish line at the first race of the VLN endurance racing series Nürburgring as second fastest Diesel car. Together with is team mates Michael Bohrer and Jürgen Nett, the Frenchman furthermore achieved 67th overall position in the field of 165 starters. Summer weather welcomed the more than 20,000 spectators which had come to the most beautiful and most demanding race track of the world.
“The development work completed in the last months has proved to be very successful”, said Caillet who also set the fastest lap time with 10:00.848 minutes (= 146.008 km/h). “We have lost about 120 kilograms in weight due to carbon doors and roof as well as due to the plastic windows.” And Jürgen Nett adds: “The new braking system, too, is a dream. The late braking now makes overtaking easier.” The first step to this success was provided by start driver Bohrer who achieved fastest time in practice. “A big compliment to our team for the excellent preparation of the Peugeot RCZ. I am really looking forward to a fantastic season.”
Early retirement of the second car after an accident
In the sixth race lap, the race was already finished for Cyrus Ayari, Jonathan Cochet and Olivier Perez driving the second Peugeot. Ayari had got off the track in the section Kallenhard and crashed into the guardrails. “I lost control over the car and went off with the rear first”, explained the Frenchman. “We were racing in a group of cars and I do not now if maybe someone hit me. I am really very sorry for the team as the RCZ was running perfectly and I was into third place.”
207 RC „VLN“: Fourth place for Steidel/Rarbach
Dr. Joachim Steidel and Jens Rarbach of the team Fleper Motorsport finished into place four of the Specials up to 1600 cc with turbo and into overall position 94 with their Peugeot 207 TC.
