Before the cars hit the track for the first time, DSC went down to the paddock to get a few more news snippets.
Motivated Marco
It’s a great year to compete at the ‘Ring 24 in SP9 this year, especially if you’re German. DSC spoke with Marco Seefried, who is driving the #29 HTP AMG GT3 this weekend (the #16 in this year’s VLN) about his chances in the race.
“I think we have a great chance. It’s my 10th try at this race, and so far my best result is a second. it would mean so much to mean to win this, you have no idea.”
When discussing the other manufacturers in the race, Seefried is also confident about Mercedes chances over the rest.
“Obviously the BoP will be big, as the main teams are all probably holding back because it can change right before the race. There’s a lot of discussions who has been hit and who has gotten a break since the last VLN round. BMW I don’t think will be that bad, while Porsche with the restrictor break will have better traction and should be great in the rain. We have the top speed, but through the corners lose time, like the Nissans.
“I’m not concerned about the AMG’s reliability, in fact the BMW, which is faster than the AMG, is more likely to hit trouble in my opinion.”
Serviceability is key, especially in a race that’s as hard on the cars as the N24. In light of that, Seefried also discussed the importance of brake changes during the 24 hours.
“If it’s hot, then we will have to all change the brakes once during the race; it will be mandatory. If it’s wet, then we might be able to get away with just changing the pads.”
Tyre war
With open tyre regs, the N24 is always a race featuring multiple tyre brands. This year, DSC counts ten: Michelin, Dunlop, Yokohama, Falken, Hankook, Toyo, Pirelli, Bridgstone, Nexen and Kumho.
In SP9, most of the runners are using Michelin, though one Phoenix Audi is running Dunlops, along with the Walkenhorst and Aston Martin Racing entries. Team Zakspeed is using Pirellis on the Mercedes, and Michelin on the Nissan; the only top team running two tyre brands on two cars. The Falken Porsche meanwhile, is of course using it’s own compounds.
Konrad drivers
After confirming that Dominik Farnbacher and Lucas Stölz would join team owner Franz Konrad and Chris Zöchling in the #25 Lamborghini Huracan, there were rumours that Konrad himself would be unable to compete this weekend.
After speaking to DSC though, Farnbacher confirmed that he is due to drive the car today, despite having a bad shoulder, and that the plan is for him to complete his two mandatory qualifying laps.
“Aside from that,” Farnbacher also said to DSC. “We’re looking forward to seeing what the Huracan can do. It’s running confidential Michelin tyres, different to the other runners in SP9. I hope it rains, I’d love for that. I also think the car would run well too.”
Double duty
Aside from a few drivers racing in two cars this weekend in the N24, four drivers from the WTCC support bill are present in the race too.
Sabine Schmitz will drive the Münnich Motorsport Chevy Cruze and Frikadelli Porsche, Nicky Catsbury will drive a Lada Vesta and a ROWE BMW, Rob Huff will pilot a WTCC Honda Civic and an AMG GT3 for Black Falcon and Tom Coronel is competing in a ROAL Motorsport Cruze and Zakspeed Nissan.
Jonny Adam is also doing double duty, but at two events, the N24 and British GT at Oulton Park.
“It’s not too bad schedule wise,” he told DSC. “I fly straight to the UK after N24 qualifying, come back for the race, then fly back again for the bank holiday Monday to compete in Brit GT again.”
Adam also commented on the Aston’s chances.
“I think we have a good chance of both cars finishing, and in the top five. The Vantage is proven and we have done a lot of work on extracting performance from it since VLN 2. The Dunlops should be good i the wet and on intermediate tyres too, so there’s a lot for us to be confident about.
“It’s great to see so many new cars come here with the German brands, but our car is good over long distances, so I’m eager to see how it stacks up and what the reliability will be like.”
