Roland Baumann cannot help but laughing a little. “Yes, maybe the TMG GT86 Cup races are just too short for us”, says the head of the Toyota Swiss Racing Team. Anyway, the team which is based in Safenwil at a distance of about 50 kilometres south-east of Basel has won their class V3 at the legendary 24h Race in the ‘Green Hell’ for the fourth successive time with a TMG GT86 CS-V3. “This was most probably the easiest win this year as the competition in our class was this time not as strong as usual”, is Baumann’s conclusion.
After the long regeneration break in the VLN, the focus has however since long been back on the TMG GT86 Cup. The calendar of this popular endurance racing championship at the Nürburgring figures the third race of the season taking place on Saturday 20 June and including the attractive single-make cup organised by Toyota Motorsport GmbH. “It is of course our target to finish in the top teams once again”, Baumann says in fighting spirit. The cup record of the team from Switzerland already includes some second places but they still miss a victory. Considering their third place at the second round of the TMG GT86 Cup in April, Baumann is however confident to be able to fight for a place on the podium again. “Manuel Amweg has competed in formula racing, Thomas Lampert used to participate motorbike races. They both do not have a lot of experience in touring car races nor at the Nordschleife, but both have already been able to improve their lap times considerably throughout the season. To be fair, it must nevertheless also be mentioned that some of the drivers in the TMG GT86 Cup are still a bit faster than our drivers”, explains the head of Technical Training at Toyota AG Switzerland who definitely has the title defenders and current leaders in the Cup, Arne Hoffmeister and Fabian Wrabetz of the Team Dörr Motorsport, in his mind
That is why Bauman has developed a plan B: “With our current points system this year – all the results will count for the final Cup classification – consistency is particularly important. So the primary goal is again to collect as many points as possible in achieving a good result.” The cheerful 49-year-old also addresses a very personal wish to his drivers: “I am still missing this wonderful TMG watch that is awarded to the team manager of the pole setter.”
Nico Ehlert, Principal Engineer Customer Motorsport: “After the five weeks break following the 24h Race, it is now time to go back racing. Eight highly exciting races are still ahead of us. I am pretty sure that our TMG GT86 Cup starters have used this time to get perfectly prepared for the race. No doubt that we will once again see some exciting motorsport action.”
