The die is cast: With a second place in the last race of the VLN endurance racing championship season at the Nürburgring, Dominik Brinkmann and Stephan Epp won the Renault Sport Speed Trophy 2011. Furthermore, the two drivers of the team Sesterheim Racing have also become VLN vice-champions. The race win in the Renault Clio classification could be celebrated by Jürgen Peter and „Rennsemmel“ of the team Roadrunner Racing.
The tension prevailing in the pits of Sesterheim Racing during the tenth round of the VLN series is difficult to express in mere words. The mechanics of the team from the Eifel region shared the stress of the drivers out on the track in their hope for the desired success. When Stephan Epp then crossed the finish line into second place in class Cup3, the whole team was overjoyed. “A fantastic success”, said team manager Reinhard Sesterheim happily. „We created our team in this constellation at the second race of the season only. It is unbelievable that we now even made it up into second place in the VLN. We have thus stood up to many stronger and great competitors.” Dominik Brinkmann added: „Even though we have achieved only one class win during the year, we nevertheless finally made it due to our constant performance.” Stephan Epp, too, was really happy: “That was a super season. Many thanks to all who have contributed to this success.”
Into second place of the Renault Sport Speed Trophy 2011 finished Elmar Jurek and Jannik Olivo of the team TKS-Motorsport. Whilst the two race drivers from Berlin temporarily were even on target for the title in the VLN, they were unlucky recently on some occasions and had also to retire again in the season finale after an accident. “A second place after such a nerve-racking season is nevertheless quite a comfortable result”, said Elmar Jurek. Third in this championship classification became Jean-Jacques Meyer and Uwe Kleen of the team Ring Racing.
Together with their team, Jürgen Peter and “Rennsemmel” were able to celebrate their second race win in a row. “It was not really easy today to move up in the traffic out on the track”, informed Jürgen Peter. “This is a really great success for our whole team. It may well continue that way next year.” Behind Dominik Brinkmann and Stephan Epp in second place, the podium was completed by Knut Wolf and Michele Di Martino of Fleper Motorsport who finished third.
During the final race, the Renault teams caused some attraction due to a fantastic action. All the Renault drivers came together in the Nürburgring paddocks for a group photo to be presented to the team of Renault MotorSport in recognition of their engagement in the last years. Just before the VLN prizegiving ceremony, each participant in the Renault Sport Speed Trophy 2011 was in return awarded a trophy. All the successful drivers may now look forward to receiving the final cups during the annual prizegiving ceremony at the Dorint Hotel Nürburgring on 10th December.
