The ninth and penultimate VLN race had been an emotional roller coaster ride for the team of ROWE RACING. The two SLS AMG GT3 of the lubricant manufacturer based at Bubenheim/ Germany again showed their fantastic potential at the turbulent 35th DMV 250-Meilen Race which was stopped and interrupted for more than one hour after a series of accidents. It was in particular the gullwing race car with start number 15 which showed a brilliant performance at the penultimate VLN race of the season. The GT3 driven by Alexander Roloff (Berlin), Marco Schelp (Berlin) and Hubert Haupt (Munich) was classified amongst the fastest teams of the 161 cars which had taken the start and finished in an excellent 13th position overall. The sister car, too, with start driver Michael Zehe (Flörsheim-Dalsheim/ Germany) who was supported by Klaus Rader (Munich) and Joachim Thyssen (Munich) had a very good race in the first part before they had to retire due to an accident at the beginning of the second stint.
ROWE RACING team manager Hans-Peter Naundorf: “Our performance in qualifying was as good as it usually is. Just like in the events before, we were again able to finish amongst the top teams with places six (no. 15) and sixteen (no. 13). We then had a good race start which was better than for most of the other teams. Everything was running according to schedule until the race was stopped after a little more than one hour. The race interruption spoiled our rather aggressive strategy for car number 15. We dropped back and had to rejoin the race from position eleven. Hubert Haupt who followed Alexander Roloff as second driver did a brilliant job and moved up back into place five. We then lost places again during the last stint of Marco Schelp. The retirement of our second car is of course also a pity for Achim Thyssen who was not even able to complete two full laps at his debut for ROWE RACING. We are nevertheless full of expectations looking forward to the next round.”
The next and final race of the VLN season 2011, the 36th DMV Münsterlandpokal race, will take place on 29th October 2011.
