after rollercoaster weekend at NürburgringKeilwitz/Gounon keep lead in drivers’ standings despite one DNFFantastic comeback by Assenheimer/Schwager to finish in the Top-10
With last weekend´s ADAC GT Masters round at the Nürburgring, Callaway Competition has entered the all-important decisive phase in the final part of the season. The team based in Leingarten remained title contender despite a rollercoaster ride weekend in the GT Championship.
The first free practice sessions showed that the 3,2 shortened Nürburgring was not a layout suitable for the Corvette C7 GT3-R. In addition, the Balance of Performance asked for a further penalty of 15 kg. However, Jules Gounon (F) and Daniel Keilwitz (GER) qualified the #77 Roller/Valvoline Corvette in a fantastic sixth place for the first race. The fifth place finish in the race was therefore a great achievement and the duo was able to extend their lead in the drivers’ championship.
The sister Corvette driven by Patrick Assenheimer (GER) and Dominik Schwager (GER) displayed a fantastic charge through the field in Saturday´s race. After a disappointing qualifying, which saw the #69 AutoArena Corvette down in 21st place, the two drivers fought their way back up to finish in P10, securing once more a great Top-10 finish.
The second race on Sunday was a disappointment for Callaway Competition. After the starting positions 14 (#69 AutoArena) and 18 (#77 Roller/Valvoline), the drivers pairing Assenheimer/Schwager were running in eighth place, but an overtaking move past a Lamborghini ended in a collision and the retirement for the #69 car. The leaders in the drivers’ championship did not take home any points on Sunday after contact in the opening lap for the #77 Corvette of Gounon and Keilwitz.
“The weekend did not go as planned, but we are pleased to have kept the lead in both championship standings”, say Giovanni Ciccone and Ernst Wöhr, Team Principals Callaway Competition. There are two very interesting and challenging tracks coming up with Zandvoort and Hockenheim, but we are positive to be competitive in the next race and to extend our points lead. It was once again a great performance by Patrick Assenheimer and Dominik Schwager this weekend.”
The next ADAC GT Master race will take place from 19th to 21st August 2016 in Zandvoort (Holland). For more information, please visit http://www.callaway-competition.de.
Driver Quotes:
Daniel Keilwitz - #77 Roller/Valvoline Corvette C7 GT3-R:“We knew that it would be a hard race given the 30kg Ballast of Performance. It played in our hands that the other teams were fighting each other. It went well, we have kept the lead and extended it after the first race, which was our goal. We were not able to win at Nürburgring, but we took home the points we were given.”
Jules Gounon - #77 Roller/Valvoline Corvette C7 GT3-R:"I knew the track that was not the issue. But our Corvette did not run as well as it did at the Red Bull Ring. It did not look too good on Friday, but the team prepared the car great for qualifying. We finished in P5 coming from six. We missed the podium but we kept the leading in the championship. Therefore we are happy with the weekend.”
Patrick Assenheimer - #69 AutoArena Corvette C7 GT3-R:„We did not have an easy weekend, but the race on Saturday proofed the potential of the new Corvette. We started from a weak 21st place on the grid to finish in 10th, which was a great result for the whole team. Unfortunately, we were not able to repeat this on Sunday as I am sure another Top-10 result could have been able.”
Dominik Schwager - #69 AutoArena Corvette C7 GT3-R:"This was an up and down weekend. The tenth position on Saturday was a strong performance by Patrick and myself and the whole team. We could have improved on that on Sunday. We are all looking ahead to the remaining rounds now. Zandvoort and Hockenheim should be good tracks for us and we will do everything to help the team win the title this year.”
