FIA GT4 Cup, Oschersleben – Race Reports

A Good Weekend For RJN

With apologies for the late posting

While grids are not yet at healthy levels, the momentum in GT4 is starting to build slowly and Oschersleben saw both the return of RJN to the fold and the debut of the Lotus 2-Eleven in the Sports Light class (although the hoped-for GT4 Gillet Vertigo didn’t put in an appearance.)

As usual, the weekend would see three races – a 50 minute enduro, with rolling start and pit stop, and two sprint races.

Michael Mallock, in the #32 RS Williams Aston N24, took pole for all three races in the two qualifying sessions, with the second session setting the grid for the Saturday enduro race. “I’ve not driven here before, but I’ve been watching on-board footage to get to know my way round,” he began. “It’s close at the front; a bit too close in fact, with the Nissan only a tenth behind. I had a breather pipe blow off, which was a bit of a worry, but made it home and the boys tank-taped it up again.”

Gavan Kershaw and the other three Lotus employees who made up the 2-Eleven team, were to be found studying the opposition at the bottom end of the paddock, the Lotus van and trailer being on a slightly less grand scale that the Reiter KTM X-Bow marquee across the way from them. “It’s very much a toe in the water exercise for us,” said Kershaw. “We’re on the full tread tyre and this is our first time out, but we’d love to beat them!”

The Lotus received a boost when the X-Bow of Christopher Haase and Dennis Retera received a 50kg weight penalty and a ride-height increase after qualifying.

The first race on Saturday afternoon saw plenty of action, starting with Alex Buncombe taking the lead from Mallock in the RJN Nissan 350Z. Mallock fought back and took the lead on lap two. Kershaw was hit by the Mustang of van der Stratten and spun on the first lap, but was soon making progress through the field. Haase, meanwhile, spun out on lap five.

The pit window opened on lap 12 and Mallock was the first to pit, but he went straight to the end of the pitlane with smoking, and then flaming, brakes. A marshal gave the flames a quick blast of extinguishant and then the car was sent out again. Just one lap later, however, Mallock had a huge crash at the end of the pit straight; hitting the Turn One tyres at speed after brake failure. The driver was able to get out of the wrecked car, but was clearly dazed. He was taken to hospital for checks, but later released.

As this was happening, Klaus Engelhorn had got past Alex Buncombe after a good scrap and now led in the Jetalliance N24, with Eric De Doncker in third. But, almost immediately, the safety car was summoned and shortly after that the race was red flagged.

Catharina Felser took Sports Light honours for KTM with Gavan Kershaw second.

The first of the sprint races started dramatically, with Kershaw and Retera having a dispute for the same patch of ground at Turn One. Kershaw won, with Retera stuck in the gravel with a broken car.

Guino Kenis was walking away with the race in his BMW Z4, but on lap seven he pitted with a problem and was out. This left Buncombe in the lead in the Nissan. Engelhorn and De Doncker were fighting for third before the Mustang’s suspension broke, but was unable to catch the Nissan.

Race three began as the Jetalliance team was celebrating a one-two in the FIA GT race, but a start-line shunt saw their N24 hit the concrete wall hard, causing significant damage.

The race continued, though, and Alex Buncombe went on to claim his and RJN’s second win of the weekend. Highlight of the race, however, was Gavan Kershaw’s drive through the field in the Lotus 2-Eleven; to win the class and claim fourth overall.

The GT4 category still has much work to do to prove itself, but with a few more cars it could yet get there. The series will next be seen at Spa in early August.