One-two-win, fastest race lap and pole position: The Team Peugeot RCZ Nokia continues to dominate the Diesel class in the VLN endurance racing championship. Man of the day was Bruce Jouanny who, on the day of his 33rd anniversary, even celebrated a double victory as he was driving both race cars. “It couldn’t have been better and I couldn’t have got a better gift than this result.”
After 21 laps on the combination of the Grand Prix Circuit and the Nordschleife, Jouanny and his team mates Michael Bohrer, Stéphane Caillet and Jürgen Nett finished the race in their white Peugeot RCZ 2.0 HDi FAP with an advance of one lap ahead of the black Diesel Sports Coupé which he also drove together with Olivier Perez and Guillaume Roman. The third car in the Diesel class followed with another lap behind. Team manager Timo Frings was very enthusiastic: “All of the drivers performed well today without any mistake or error. Furthermore, all the pit stops were perfect. We are ready now and perfectly prepared for the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race.”
Due to an updated engine management, the top speed of the RCZ could be increased by five km/h – to the great satisfaction of Jürgen Nett. “This again was one of the many small steps with which we improve the performance of the RCZ race by race.” Team mate Michael Bohrer added: “We had to fight quite hard in 2010 to achieve lap times of less than ten minutes. Today, this is the rule and represents no longer a problem for us. I am convinced that we can keep today’s speed without any difficulties over 24 hours, too.”
The fastest time of the Diesel cars in qualifying was achieved by Stéphane Caillet with 9.52,424 minutes and the second black RCZ was following behind into second position. Bohrer experienced a moment of panic just before the end of practice when the white Peugeot stopped at the section Galgenkopf with drive problems. “I realized a problem at the front left side in the area of the Hohe Acht which got worse and worse”, informed Bohrer. “Fortunately, it was nothing but the wheel hub. Our technical staff was able to repair the damage quickly before the race start.”
Early retirement for A.R.E.D. Motorsport
For Ronny and Jürg Tobler as well as Ralf Bettendorf, the race was already over in the second lap. The trio had to stop with their Peugeot 207 RC at the section Klostertal after an accident.
