“The 192 starters and the unstable weather conditions prevailing in the Eifel region represented a perfect rehearsal for us. After this great experience at the 6 Hour Race we are now very confident and well prepared for the 24 Hour Race end of June”, was the summary of Ralf Schmid, principal shareholder and CEO of UNIWHEELS Holding. The positive spirit is not without reason as the Team ATS Motorsport has scored an excellent result, also taking into account the great number of strong competitors. At the first of the two 6 Hour Races, the most celebrity drivers in the endurance racing championship were on the grid. And right in the middle was the experienced driver quartet of ATS Motorsport starting in class SP3 in a Honda S2000.
“Our participation was purely scheduled as preparation for the next 24 Hour Race. You must know that we want to defend our class win scored in the 2010 24 Hour Race of course and we are very confident now after this result even though a lot of things can happen during a 24 Hour Race. Our team this year again consists of the same drivers, the very strong and reliable Honda S2000 and the experienced service team of Mäder Motorsport, just like in 2010”, informs Harald Jacksties, Marketing and Motorsport Director of UNIWHEELS Holding, looking back onto the last race weekend and forward to the coming 24 hour highlight of the season.
Team, car and drivers form a homogenous unit. All the drivers as well as the team have a wide experience in racing at the Nordschleife and in the 24 Hour Race which is clearly confirmed by various class wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race and by 3 successive class victories at the Dubai 24 Hour Race, all with the Honda S2000. Ralf Schmid, Harald Jacksties, Frank Lorenzo and Friedhelm Mihm, they all complete the laps around the challenging Nordschleife quickly and professionally.
“The car running like clockwork”, said the fast Nordschleife expert Frank Lorenzo and confirmed the first-class performance of the rear wheel driven race car. The remaining three drivers, too, straightaway felt very comfortable in the car. “The car was perfect and you gain maximum confidence right after the first few corners. We were a little unlucky with our tyre choice due to the unstable weather conditions, otherwise we could have done even better”, stated Friedhelm Mihm at the end of the six hours race duration. All in all, the Team ATS Motorsport was nevertheless more than happy. “Our debut was very promising. So we are ready now for the 24 Hour Race.”
Schirra-Motoring, too, is ready for the 24h Race. The Schirra-Mini which is also equipped with ATS motor sport wheels and driven by Friedrich von Bohlen, Markus Oestreich and Peter Scharmach scored a superior victory in class SP2T.
