11.08.2019The GT Masters-weekend in Zandvoort: Podium and points

Our flexible teams have welcomed the fans of modelcars at the Oldtimer Gran Prix at the Nürburgring and at the same time at the ADAC GT Masters in the Dutch Zandvoort, on this weekend: Thank you for visiting us, many thanks! But in Holland we were also supporting our partners from the KÜS Team75 Bernhard, who achieved the 2nd place at the Saturday race of the league of super sports cars: Timo Bernhard and Klaus Bachler have climbed onto the podium. Congratulations! And the Sunday race? On Sunday, the KÜS Team75 Bernhard brought both nine-elevens into the points: Porsche-factory driver Bernhard and Ex-Porsche junior Klaus Bachler came to the goal with tenth place, Matteo Cairoli and Adrien De Leener made it to place 15. However, since a guest starter was placed ahead, who does not receive any points, at the end it is ninth and 14th place.

Let's look back on Saturday: Timo Bernhard (38) from Bruchmühlbach-Miesau and Klaus Bachler (28) from Austria drove with the Porsche 911 GT3 R with starting number 17 on second place and celebrated the second podium of the season. The crew of the sister car with the number 18 was used with Matteo Cairoli (23) from Italy and Adrien De Leener (30) from Belgium, but the two teammates were just before the end in the points behind lying out after an accident. Porsche factory driver Timo Bernhard had laid the foundation for a top result in a strong qualifying. From second on the grid, the two-time endurance world champion and Le Mans overall winner defended his good position and was able to hand over second place to Ex-Porsche junior Klaus Bachler in spite of two Safetycar phases at the compulsory pit stop.

The likeable Austrian stayed close to the leader. Actually literally: Just 0,365 seconds lead decided the seventh season race of the ADAC GT Masters in Zandvoort -  Klaus Bachler was so close behind the eventual winner, the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo of Mirko Bortolotti (29) and Christian Engelhart (32), who competed for the team Orange1 by GRT Grasser. Is not that motorsport at its best when a race is so tightly decided? And a first-class proof of the efficiency of our friends? One last attack Bachler could not ride only because of the accident of Porsche Young professional Matteo Cairoli in the sister car yellow flags were swung and overtaking ban prevailed.

The Sunday in Zandvoort

Because Matteo was spectacularly involved in a collision in the penultimate lap. He had taken the Porsche with the starting number 18 in 21st place from Adrien and already worked his way up to 13th place. But the deserved reward in the form of championship points, he was denied. "I am very happy with the result. The car was always good from the first day, always fast, Klaus was also great. Second place on the podium feels good, we want to take that momentum into the remaining races", said Timo Bernhard after the Saturday race. In the qualifying, which was interrupted because of a red flag, Klaus had the ninth fastest time in the Porsche 911 GT3 R with starting number 17 on Sunday. In the starting turmoil he lost a position, but held this place until the opening of the pit stop window. Timo brought his stint then without errors and without further positional shift to the finish.

Matteo achieved place ten in qualifying, but got a start penalty because of the collision at the Saturday race and had to start from position 20. Until the stop, he was able to catch up some positions. Adrien took over and saved with also faultless drive the second points profit on the Dutch sand dunes track. The drivers Ricardo Feller (19) and Dries Vanthoor (21) could be happy about the victory of the Sunday race. Timo Bernhard draws his conclusion: "Overall, a positive weekend with place two on Saturday and position ten today. After the Saturday race, we had to load 20 kilograms of placement weight, which we already noticed in the race. The car however was very good. Klaus had a Top-qualifying this morning, without the red flag, he might even have finished in the top three, then maybe it would have been another race. But important is that both cars have collected points with no damage. That also made me happy for our start number 18, a great race. Next week it goes to the Nürburgring. There we can attack again. We know that we have a fast car and a motivated team" We also: Our trailer is again there for you. 

Click here to the modelcars of the Porsche 911 GT3 R from the KÜS Team75 Bernhard