Phoenix Racing Press Release
After Niki Mayr-Melnhof (A) and Markus Winkelhock (D) occupied second
place in the qualification race on Easter Sunday and thus started from the
front row in the main race on Easter Monday, Phoenix Racing had high hopes for
a podium finish in the Blancpain Sprint Series (BSS) opener at Nogaro.
But an
unfortunate collision right on the formation lap deprived the team from
Meuspath in the Eifel region of all chances. In the Audi R8 LMS ultra of
Phoenix Racing Marc Basseng (D) and Alessandro Latif (GB) took positions ten
and nine.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t make use of our very good starting base from
the front row. That was a real shame. An unfortunate collision like this is
frustrating but can happen,” commented Team Director Ernst Moser. “That’s why,
in the end, it wasn’t an opener made to measure for us.”
In the #6 Audi R8 LMS ultra Mayr-Melnhof and Winkelhock, with third
place in the first free practice session, had started the BSS weekend at
Nogaro, France, well. This was followed by fourth place in the second free
practice and ultimately the Austrian-German duo captured fifth place in
qualifying. Two places behind them, the #5 Audi R8 LMS ultra with Marc Basseng
and Alessandro Latif, who improved in each session, was entered on the time
sheets.
The qualification race on Sunday was started on a wet track. The former
GT1 World Champion Winkelhock managed to advance to position three and
Mayr-Melnhof, who took over the wheel of the R8 after the mandatory pit stop,
was able to maintain the position and at times even put pressure on the car
running in second place. After one hour the #6 Audi crossed the finish line in
third place. However, as the second-placed car was disqualified due to a
violation of the technical regulations Mayr-Melnhof/Winkelhock advanced to
position two. In the second Phoenix-Audi Basseng/Latif – their pit stop was the
quickest one of all the teams – saw the chequered flag in eleventh place and
were classified in tenth.
During the formation lap for the main race, which was also held for one
hour, the #6 Audi and the car starting from position one unfortunately touched
each other while warming up the tyres. The Phoenix Audi was able to start the
race despite a damaged bonnet but the impaired aerodynamics had an adverse
effect on performance. While running in fourth place Mayr-Melnhof turned the
GT3 sports car over to Winkelhock, who was instructed to head for the pits,
though, after the bonnet had come off completely. With that, the race ended
prematurely for the #6 R8.
In the #5 Audi Alessandro Latif managed a good start in the main race
and was able to make up two positions. Subsequently, the youngster, who had
just turned 18, was a bit too optimistic and briefly left the track, having to
run through the grass, which caused him to lose many positions. Following the
driver change Basseng was able to make up ground lap by lap. In ninth place the
German-British duo still scored two championship points.
Round two of the Blancpain Sprint Series will be held at Le Castellet
in Southern France on June 27/28.
Photo credit: Phoenix Racing
