The Team Kappeler Motorsport from Bad Saulgau/ Germany has meanwhile become one of the teams really used to success in the Nürburgring endurance racing championship (VLN). The team finishes on the podium as winner in class SP5 at almost each race. This would neither change for the 8th championship round.
The total of four practice laps were enough for the three drivers Harald Hennes (Eschweiler/ Germany), Thomas Kappeler (Bad Saulgau/ Germany) and Thomas Gerling (Uchte/ Germany) to achieve first grid position at the 8th VLN race. Almost 180 cars participated in practice and Kappeler Motorsport was found in 26th overall position with their fastest lap time. With the support of a perfect pit crew, the driver trio thus completed a perfect session and under perfect weather conditions. Both participants and spectators experienced sun shine and mild temperatures throughout the whole event. Thomas Kappeler took the start in the WTCC BMW M3 after race control had given the start signal at 12 o’clock. After only one lap he had already gained a considerable advance in the lead and dominated all the competitors in the class. In lap two already and under perfect conditions, he set the fantastic time of 8:59 minutes which was also the fastest time in the team. Kappeler completed three further fast laps in order to increase their advance but took it easy then in order to prevent and possible damage on the car. He was easily able to react on each situation of the competition in class SP5 and to keep the leading position without any pressure. He came to the pits in the 12th lap to change the car to Harald Hennes.
Two happy team mates
The advance gained by Kappeler was much appreciated by Hennes and he, too, was able to complete his laps quite easily. He refrained from getting involved in any close fights, managed to pass all sites of accidents and oily spots perfectly and tried to save the car as much as possible. After ten perfect laps, Harald Hennes came to the pits to change the BMW to Thomas Gerling who was supposed to finish the race. Due to the really big advance which the team had meanwhile gained, he, too, was able to race without any big pressure whilst many competitors suffered technical problems which made it impossible for them to catch up with the BMW of the Team Kappeler Motorsport or to even pass it. Gerling completed one perfect lap after the next when he took the chequered flag displayed by race control after 26 laps. After the four hours race distance, the fast driver trio of Kappeler – Hennes – Gerling won their class, finished into 14th position overall and scored further important championship points. With 70.95 points, the Team Kappeler Motorsport is now classified first amongst more then 1,000 drivers on the list. Their advance nevertheless is only 0.58 points. Everything must continue to run perfectly in the remaining races of the season for Thomas Kappeler and his crew if they want to maintain their chances for gaining the title.
The next race is scheduled for 15th of October 2011 and will run over four hours.
