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Rennbericht 2003 / 05 Nürburgring


Cup leader had the whip hand

 

In the total of both FIA-GTC races at the 31. AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix Nürburgring the Cup leader Bo Warmenius (S) in the Lotus Elan S2 (1965) dominated the fifth round like in all races of this season. With „the best British sportscar of the 60‘s“ (F1 designer Gordon Murray) Super-Bo scored the maximum points for his class victories in both races and won the inofficial addition of both heats.

 

The first race was won by Allen Lloyd (GB) in his fantastic Ford GT40 (1965) ahead of Alex van der Lof (NL) in the Bizzarrini 5300GT Stradale (1965) and Warmenius, who struggled for the class lead with Thomas Henrysson (S) in his Elan (1964). Peter Kroeber (D), who lives near the Nürburgring, and Claus Damgaard (DK) didn’t show the strong performance, like expected after the FIA-GTC rounds especially in Zolder (B) and at the A1-Ring (A).

 

Duel of Porsche 914/6

 

The second fastest in the class over 2500 cc was Uli Berberich-Martini (D) in his beautiful Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1965), an original racing car and former FIA-GTC winning machine, ahead of Hans-Jürgen Malsbenden (D) in the open Corvette Sting Ray (1963) of the Total Performance Team and Marcus Graf von Oeynhausen (D) in the fastest Jag E-Type (1962) of Gotcha Historic Racing.

 

A thrilling struggle broke out between the two Porsche 914/6 drivers Oliver Matthai (D), a former Porsche Cup competitor, and „Ferdinand Schreckensteiner“ (D). After the 30-minutes-run „Schreckensteiner“ saw the chequer only 1,3 seconds ahead of Matthai. The unlucky Paul Singer (D) in the third middle-engined Porsche retired five laps before the end.

 

In the 2.5 litres-class the duel between Dr. Armin Zumtobel (A) in the Porsche 911 (1965) and the British Marcos 1800GT (1964/65). Zumtobel, the runner-up in the FIA-GTC, in practice only did the sixth fastest lap time behind five Marcos. Stuart Tizzard und Peter Dunn (GB) took the fourth and fifth position overall ! In the first heat Zumtobel took the benefit out of the reliable 911, that is prepared by Jens Staben. He became third in the class behind Peter Dunn and Richard Styles (GB).

 

Success for Oliver Heschl-Gillespie

 

In the classement of the period E for pre‘62 cars Oliver Heschl-Gillespie (A) won ahead of Michel Reitz (F) in the Big Healey (1961) and Dr. Alexander Kolb / Thomas Sobietzki (D), who performed the fastest lap of the period. In the class up to 1150 cc of period E Ad Vermeulen (NL) in his rare Alpine A108 (1961) had to take the second position only 1.2 seconds behind Heinz-Peter Müller (D) in his Frogeye Healey (1959), although he scored the fastest lap of the class.

 

The class up to 1300 cc of period E was won by Adam Kurzeja (D) in his Lotus Elite S2 (1960) and Fred Corporaal (NL), because the former FIA-GTC winner Peter Stöhrmann (D) had to retire in his Elite (1959).

 

 

Bill Shepherd in superior style

 

The second race started with a shock, because Jörg Bratke (D) with his Shelby GT-350 (1965) could not avoid a collision with the Lotus Elan of „Peter Herrmann“ (D), who was not able to leave his place in the grid. The Elan driver was rescued with greatest care, following the FiA standard. Everybody was happy that he only suffered bruisings. The race was restarted over the complete time of 30 minutes.

 

Allen Lloyd (engine trouble) and Alex van der Lof (driver indisposed), the first two competitors of heat 1, were missing. After the stop of the race caused by the accident, Stefano Rosina (MC) had to retire with his rare Elva GT160-Buick (1964). Bo Warmenius tried to defend the first place ahead of Thomas Henrysson. But from the back of the FIA-GTC field Bill Shepherd (GB) raced his AC Cobra Le Mans in superior manner.

 

 

Season ends in Estoril instead of Imola

 

It was no surprise, that Bill passed Warmenius and won 11 seconds ahead of the FIA-GTC leader and Henrysson. The fourth overall Oliver Matthai in his Porsche 914/6 was the fastest driver in a period G car. In period E Oliver Heschl-Gillespie in E-Type won again ahead of Michel Reitz in the Big Healey, followed by Fred Corporaal in the Lotus Elite S2 (1960) and Niels Nordendorff (DK) in the fastest Porsche 365B (1961).

 

With 67 GT cars in practice and 60 in the first race the FIA-GTC had the biggest grid of the 31. AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix. The Cup presented a range of fascinating categories from Abarth to Triumph, from the Alpine A108 or the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider to the Ford GT40. After another highlight in September at the Grand Prix track of Spa-Francorchamps (B) the final of the season will take place in Estoril (P) instead of the cancelled Imola.

 

 

 

Dirk Johae


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