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Racereport 2005/ 01 Hockenheim


Swiss Corvette Captain shows the way


Patrick Gerling mit seiner Chevrolet Corvette
Peter Richrath (D) in seinem Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0
Dr. Armin Zumtobel (A) in seinem Porsche 906 Carrera 6

Patrick Gerling (CH) dominated the race of the FIA-GTC-TC’76-season’s start held during the Jim-Clark Revival in Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. He celebrated a Start-Finishing-line win in his Chevrolet Corvette. Nevertheless in the end his lead had melted down to only a 8,5 second lead.

 

This is because in the endphase of the 30-minute race on the Formula-1 Course, Peter Richrath (D) turned the heat on tremendously with his Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 and drove in the third-last round his fastest round time, which was only one-tenth slower than Gerling’s best time. Dr. Armin Zumtobel (A) attained the 3rd. position with his Porsche 906.



Fractions of seconds decided the Touring Cars Win


Wolfgang Schachinger (A) BMW 3.0 CSL
Dr. Helmut Stein (D) Ford Escort RS

In the meantime the most thrilling duel of the weekend was carried out. Wolfgang Schachinger (A), the FIA-GTC-TC’76-Champion had to start at the end of the field. With his BMW 3,0 CSL, the Austrian put up hot pursuit worth-seeing. He came right up to the 4th. position in the overall class.

 

Dr. Helmut Stein (D) did not allow himself to be beaten that easily. With his Ford Escort RS, a former Jörg Obermoser Touring Car from the Wooding-Team, the Rhinelander fought bravely. After a very narrow finish, he missed the overall Touring Car win only 0,6 seconds short for the season’s start.

 



On Clay Regazzoni’s trail


Thomas Verhoeven (D), Porsche Carrera RSR
Rui Silva Porsche Carrera RSR
Reinhold Gröpper (D) Ex-Werks-Mustang Boss 302

At least Stein could banish Thomas Verhoeven (D), who was the last year’s FIA-GTC’76 Champion, to the fifth overall position with his Porsche Carrera RSR. In another Carrera, the Portuguese Riu Silva crossed the finishing line behind Verhoeven. The Ford-Mustang specialist Reinhold Gröpper (D) achieved with his eighth position a successful debut for the freshly-restored American. He banished Kerry Michael (GB) in his infernal Ford Escort MK I to the fourth position in the Touring Cars class.

 

Dirk Sadlowski (D) achieved the 10th. position with his Porsche 911 ST. He was hereby luckier than his countryman Artur Haas (D) in a Chevrolet Corvette. Haas had to retire with his 400 PS-strong GT on the Starting and Finishing straight just a few metres after starting. Just like Hendrik Lindberg and Claus Damgaard (both DK) with their De Tomaso Panteras. They had to call it a day this weekend after having problems with the gearbox. Therefore they could not follow the steps of Clay Regazzoni. On the same spot in 1973, the Swiss could win the race of the GT-European Championships and therefore stole the march on the favourites - the Porsche Teams.

 

The unlucky Artur Haas could win the Sunday race which unfortunately did not count anymore towards the Championship. Peter Richrath achieved the 2nd. position once again before Dr. Armin Zumtobel. Gunnar Turebrand (S) reached the finishing line with a brave performance in his Mini Marcos 1300 GT which was the weakest car on the field.