Clear success for Porsche after an exciting long-distance thriller in the Eifel: the customer team Frikadelli Racing has won the six-hour qualifying race at the Nürburgring. The 911 GT3 R of Dennis Olsen (Norway), Maxime Martin (Belgium) and Patrick Pilet as well as the works driver Frédéric Makowiecki (both France) crossed the finish line first after 41 laps. Second place went to the sister car with the number 30, driven by works drivers Matt Campbell (Australia) and Mathieu Jaminet (France) as well as Nick Tandy (England) and Earl Bamber (New Zealand). The identical racing car from Manthey-Racing was downgraded from second to fifth position due to a yellow flag. For Porsche it is the first victory in the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour season highlight.

The prologue offers the only test opportunity on the 25.378 km long combination of Grand Prix course and Nordschleife before the 24-hour highlight on the Nürburgring. The teams had eleven hours of driving time on the program for the entire route alone. There were also two more hours on the Formula 1 circuit and the top 30 qualifying.

In this individual time trial for the 30 best placed from the combination of first and second timed practice, the customer teams were able to demonstrate the potential of the 911 GT3 R with around 500 hp. Porsche Young Professional Julien Andlauer (France) used the one-lap individual time trial to put the Rutronik Racing racing car on the front row as the second fastest. With Matteo Cairoli (Italy) in the “Grello” from Manthey-Racing and Makowiecki at the wheel of the Frikadelli Racing car with the number 31, two more nine-eleven completed the top five.

Porsche works driver Romain Dumas took over the start for Rutronik. However, the Frenchman was turned around by an opponent while still on the Grand Prix course and fell far behind. His compatriot Makowiecki then moved up to second position. On lap 12, his 911 GT3 R took the lead for the first time. After the driver change to Patrick Pilet, the number 31 came under heavy pressure from Frank Stippler's Audi. However, a misunderstanding during a lapping maneuver cost the pursuer valuable time and gave Pilet a lead of over 20 seconds at halftime. Maxime Martin extended the lead - the Belgian had taken the wheel at the beginning of the fourth hour of the race.

After 30 laps, a differently timed pit stop combined with caution phases on the track brought Manthey-Racing's number 911 to the top again. Final driver Matteo Cairoli used the steep assist to gradually break away from his pursuers with consistently fast laps. A later tank stop by Olsen reversed the order half an hour before the end of the race. Failure to observe a caution period on the track earned the Manthey Racing driver trio Olsen, Cairoli and Lars Kern (Germany) a time penalty of more than one minute and placed fifth. Second place went to the second Frikadelli Racing car. The top result for Porsche was rounded off by the Falken Motorsports nine-eleven with number 44 in sixth place and KCMG in tenth place.

Quotes after the race
Sebastian Golz (Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R):“Our teams did an extremely good job, the processes in the qualifying race were already very good. We made almost no mistakes, and the pit stop times were fine with one small exception. The penalty for the Manthey-Racing team unfortunately cost them second place - but these are things that happen better during preparation than at the 24-hour season highlight at the Nürburgring. In terms of performance, things are looking good for us. First and second places are a strong thing, even if the competition put us under a lot of pressure, especially in the second half of the race. There is not so much homework left to do. We feel well prepared. "

Fred Makowiecki (Porsche 911 GT3 R # 31):“That was another great result for the team and good preparation for the 24-hour race. But we now have a lot to analyze because we were able to try out all tire compounds in warm conditions for the first time. We also have to keep an eye on our competitors because they have come very close to us - that promises to be an interesting fight. ”

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 911 GT3 R # 30):“Like last weekend, we were able to clinch a double victory in the Nürburgring endurance series, only this time in reverse order and with the victory of starting number 31. That was a mega performance by the team and very good preparation for the 24-hour race. Race next month. I'm happy: We started the race from 13th on the grid, were able to fight our way up to third position on the track and are now even second. ”

Lars Kern (Porsche 911 GT3 R # 911):“It wasn't an easy weekend for us, so we would have been happy about second place. We kept changing the set-up between the stints, rode different tire compounds and tried everything to achieve a good result here. Of course, fifth place is a shame and doesn't reflect our pace. But such a mistake - overtaking under yellow - has already happened to me. I think we are well sorted out for the 24-hour race. ”

Result
1. Pilet / Makowiecki / Martin / Olsen (F / F / B / N), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 31, 41 laps
2. Jaminet / Tandy / Bamber / Campbell (F / GB / NZ / AUS), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 30, 41 laps,
5th Cairoli / Kern / Christensen (ITA / D / DK), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 911, 41 laps
6. Bachler / Ragginger / S. Müller / Arnold (AUT / AUT / D / D), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 44, 41 laps
10th Imperatori / Burdon / Liberati / Holzer (CH / AUS / ITA / D), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 18, 41 laps
13. Dumas / Andlauer / T. Müller / Viidas (F / F / D / EST), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 3, 41 laps
20. Bachler / Werner / Preining / Picariello (AUT / D / AUT / B), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 33, 41 laps
22. Neuffer / Aust / Menzel / Seefried (D / D / D / D), Porsche 911 GT3 R # 23, 41 laps

The 24-hour classic on the Nürburgring will take place on June 5th and 6th this year. The race begins on Thursday, June 3, with the first qualifying.