The brand new KTM X-BOW GT4 cars have finished first in both races of the Competition102 GT4 European Series. At first Daniel Uckermann took the win in the AM category and the German driver also managed to become the overall winner. He took the chequered flag in front of the Dutch PRO drivers Bernhard van Oranje and Ricardo van der Ende (BMW M3 GT4) and Uckermann’s ZaWotec teammates Sascha Halek and Peter Ebner. The two Austrian drivers with the yellow-black KTM X-BOW GT4 scored overall victory in the second race on Sunday with Uckermann taking a well fought win in the AM division. Dutchmen Marcel Nooren / Jelle Beelen finished second in race two with the Chevrolet Camaro GT4 and as a result they are now leading the championship’s standings. V8 Racing colleagues Luc Braams / Duncan Huisman were ranked third.
A victory for race one was also in the cards for Halek and Ebner, but an unfortunate timing of the mandatory pit stop prevented them to take the win and finished in third position. Instead, Van der Ende and Van Oranje took over the lead after the mandatory pit stop. With his dark coloured KTM X-BOW GT4 racer, Uckermann was able to overtake his rivals in the final stage of the race and celebrate his win. Van der Ende and Van Oranje were ranked first in the PRO division, collecting valuable points after crashing out in Nogaro due to mechanical problems.
In the AM division Thomas Krebs (DAN) and Arno Klasen (GER) battled successfully for second place with their Porsche 981 Cayman SP and finished in front of Argentinean drivers Jose Luis Talermann and Jose Manuel Balbiani who debuted in the series with the Sin R1 GT4.
Halek and Ebner did win the second race without much resistance from their competitors. “On Saturday we had to fight hard for third, in the second race it was more or less a bit lonely in front. We are a very happy with to win a race as we missed the first event in Nogaro because the car wasn’t finished,” said Halek. Teammate Ebner added: “I think Zandvoort suits our car very well because of the fast corners. It might be another story at the Red Bull Ring. “
After winning races in Nogaro, the Chevrolet Camaro GT4 drivers aimed for another podium finish during their home race at Circuit Park Zandvoort. Nooren started very well, gaining two positions immediately and moved up to second shortly after. Teammate Beelen managed to hold position after the pit stop despite Huisman was closing in on the youngster. With collecting second place, the V8 Racing drivers Nooren / Beelen are now leading the championship’s standings.
In the AM category Uckermann dropped from second to eight. While defending his positions and being careful with his tyres, the German driver performed well in the end of the race. That resulted in a deserved win in the AM category. “It was a hard race because I did not have not enough power,” Uckermann explained. “I had no chance to overtake. But taking two wins is fine and hopefully we are faster in Austria. I want more.”
Uckermann finished in front of the brothers Yorick and Tristan Boorsma and the Bulgarian driver Pavel Lefterov who was promoted to third in the last lap after the Porsche 981 Cayman SP of Thomas Krebs and Arno Klasen was running slowly towards the chequered flag.
The next two races will take place at the Austrian Red Bull Ring, on 6 – 7 June, 2015.
Pentecost races – Circuit Park Zandvoort – 23-24 May 2015
Competition102 GT4 European Series – race 2:
1. Ebner – Halek, KTM X-BOW GT4, 28 laps in 53:43,407 minutes (134,68 km/h)
2. Beelen – Nooren, Chevrolet Camaro GT4, + 17,110 seconds
3. Braams – Huisman, Chevrolet Camaro GT4, + 17,857
4. Knap – Severs, BMW M3 GT4, + 28,490
5. Joerg Viebahn, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, + 30,098
6. Daniel Uckermann, KTM X-BOW GT4, + 37,285
7. Boorsma – Boorsma, BMW M3 GT4, + 1:04,624
8. Ricknas – Larsen, Porsche 911 GT4, + 1:36,329
9. Pavel Lefterov, Lotus Evora GT4, + 1:39,796
10. Krebs – Klasen, Porsche 981 Cayman SP, + 1:39,842
11. Luis Talermann – Balbiani, Sin R1 GT4, + 1 lap
12. Martinsson – Krüger, BMW M3 GT4, + 1 lap
13. Van Oranje – Van der Ende, BMW M3 GT4, + 2 laps
14. Still – Van Oranje, Sin R1 GT4, + 3 laps
Not classified
Marcus Clutton, Chevron GT4, + 10 laps
Standings after 4 races
Pro class
1. Jelle Beelen – Marcel Nooren, 81 points
2. Luc Braams – Duncan Huisman, 67
3. Joerg Viebahn, 55
Am class
1. Daniel Uckermann, 82
2. Arno Klasen – Thomas Krebs, 50
2. Pavel Lefterov, 50
Team class
1. V8 Racing, 86
2. ZaWotec #sport, 67
3. Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport, 54