Last weekend, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the final round of the European season of the 24H GT Series took place. On the traditional course in the Belgian Ardennes Car Collection Motorsport started with two Audi R8 LMS. The car with #34, piloted by Dr. Johannes Kirchhoff, Max Edelhoff, Elmar Grimm and Ingo Vogler lays on 2nd place in the team classification before the weekend. Even in the drivers‘ standings, they still fought for the title. Max Edelhoff, won the rookie title in the past two years, also led the standings of the juniors. In sister car #33 Stefan Aust, Christian Bollrath, Toni Forné and Peter Schmidt shared the work in the cockpit.
Much more drama could hardly offer a 12-hour race and a title decision. It started at the start, as the championship leader Mercedes-AMG GT3 of ProSport Performance spun in the first corner and slipped to the end of the field. The chance for the Audi R8 LMS #34 to get the title. The goal had to be to finish the race at least in second place and to have at least one vehicle between himself and the ProSport car.
„The first lap was really good,“ said a delighted Max Edelhoff. „I instinctively did everything right and made it to the top group. For me it was the first start in Spa and I have closed this track directly in my heart. Curves like Eau Rouge and Blanchimont are just amazing, unique in the world.“
Both cars of the team from Walluf showed an impressive performance throughout the race. Although they were the only GT3 cars without a professional driver on board, the two Audi R8 LMS always kept up in the lead group. Thanks to a perfect strategy and fast pit stops, it was even possible to temporarily lead the race with both cars. The beginning of this was the #33, until at a pit stop a Seat TCR car drove into the side of the Audi.
Peter Schmidt: „That was really unnecessary. Our car was in the fast lane to get to our pit. The Seat TCR car started far too early and then drove us in the side. The impact was so great that our Audi R8 LMS has shifted properly. It is lucky that no one was there. That was really dangerous!“
The damage had to be repaired and thus lost valuable time. At half-time, the Audi R8 LMS #34 took third place in the overall standings and second in the A6-AM class. The championship leader the Mercedes of ProSport Performance was at this time in 5th place in the class A6-AM. Such means an outcome of the race would have earned the title of Dr. Johannes Kirchhoff, Max Edelhoff, Elmar Grimm and Ingo Vogler. Then the Audi R8 LMS #33 with Toni Forné had to return to the pits for a repair. They could do this in a Code-60-period, but they still lost a position to the Mercedes. Even at this time they coulld have won the title.
„It was a twelve-hour sprint race, the smallest mistake decided victory or defeat, „said Johannes Kirchhoff. „The Car Collection team had prepared our Audi well, the pit stops were perfect, our tactics were good, and we as drivers also did our part. It could not have gone better.“
In the ninth race hour the Porsche of Herberth Motorsport had to go for a pitstop with a tyre puncture. Thus, the AMG GT3 of ProSport Performance was back in 3rd place and they took back the championship lead. In the final sprint and the last pit stops, the Mercedes of SPS-Performance could be overtaken and Max Edelhoff went as the leader of the class and renewed championship leader in the last hour of the race.
„Due to the very long pit lane, we have used many of these code 60 laps for driver changes and refueling. That was one of the keys to success,“ said Elmar Grimm, who had the most experience at Spa from the PoLe quartet. „This track is a lot of fun. It’s a natural track like the old Nürburgring, a real driver’s track.“
In the final sprint the SPS performance Mercedes prevailed. Max Edelhoff bravely defended himself against Lance David Arnold, but also did not want to risk too much. When the chequered flag fell, the quintet was happy to see Dr. Johannes Kirchhoff, Max Edelhoff, Elmar Grimm, Ingo Vogler and Gustav Edelhoff, who renounced a start in this race, about the 3rd place in the overall classification, 2nd place in the class A6-AM and the runner-up in the team – as well as the drivers classification in the „24H GT SERIES EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP“. Max Edelhoff crowned himself the most successful junior driver for the third time in a row.
„ It was incredible,“ said Ingo Vogler about the last stint of Max Edelhoff. „We stood in the pits and watched the race. The last 90 minutes were in the dark, so you did not see much. We fevered with it, it was cold and warm. Whenever the overtaking was over, the tension increased even more. Max did a fantastic job. And when he crossed the finish line, we fell into each other’s arms. We all had wet eyes and were so proud of this result in this strong field.“
Already on Wednesday, the car and equipment goes on the ship towards the USA. At the HANKOOK 24H COTA, the troupe is still fighting for the title „CHAMPION OF THE CONTINENTS“. They will travel to the United States from 16th to 18th of November as the leader.
