ADAC GT4: Big step forward for Wohlwend and Martin despite misfortune at the Nürburgring

Fabienne Wohlwend and Célia Martin crucially unlocked potential from their ProSport Aston Martin GT4 during the third round of the ADAC GT4 Germany at the Nürburgring, as the all-female duo battled for the Top-10 in both races, albeit they couldn't capitalize on their pace due to misfortunes.

Photo credits: Axel Weichert - 100octane.de

Fabienne Wohlwend and Célia Martin enjoyed a breakthrough weekend in ADAC GT4 Germany at the Nürburgring, where the ProSport Racing drivers crucially unlocked pace from their #13 Aston Martin which resulted in a significant performance gain over the third round of the championship.

Wohlwend and Martin started their rookie season in one of the most competitive GT4 championships in Europe at Oschersleben, before breaking in the top-20 for the first time at Zandvoort, where the all-female duo gained several positions and battled in the pack.

It would be at the 3.629 km Sprint circuit layout of the Nürburgring that Fabienne and Célia showed potential to battle for the top ten for the first time this year, albeit misfortunes in both races eventually prevented them from collecting the results they would have deserved.

The pre-test day on Thursday had already highlighted a big step for the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 driven by the only female drivers in the series; they would finish P14, P19 and P12 in the two test sessions, in a strong 29 car field that includes some of the best teams and drivers in the continental GT4 competitions.

More improvements arrived in the official practice sessions - with Wohlwend again on the doorsteps of the top-ten in FP2.

Célia Martin continued the team's progression with a positive first qualifying session of the weekend - as the Frenchwoman qualified in 20th place out of the almost 30-cars in the Saturday morning's session. Martin set her first representative lap in the closing minutes, slotting into P21, then further improved with a 1:33.758 lap that put the #13 Aston Martin into the top-20 for the start of race 1.

In typical Nürburgring weather, rain came just before the start of the first race on Saturday afternoon and the safety car led the pack for the first couple of laps.

"On the starting grid, it started pouring rain, so we switched to rain tires", Fabienne explained. "After 2 laps behind the safety car, the race was released, and Celia was able to keep up well in the difficult weather conditions and slowly move forward."

Photo credits: Axel Weichert - 100octane.de

Hugo Sasse's #1 Aston Martin retained the lead once the green flag waved, in a clean start despite the slippery conditions. From P20, Célia Martin had a solid start and climbed to P17 when an accident between Alex Connor (#18 BWT Mucke Mercedes) and Max Kronberg (#30 AVIA W&S Motorsport Porsche) brought out the red flag on lap 6; Connor slipped on the wet kerb between turn 11 and 12, causing damage to the tyre barrier.

The clock restarted with 48 minutes to go; Martin survived the first incident-filled laps after the restart, but dropped to P21 behind a train of BMW M4 GT4 and the #26 Allied Porsche after contact with the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW driven by Nico Hantke at the chicane. Célia regained the position on Hantke a few laps later, re-claiming a spot in the top-20 as the pit window approached.

A one-lap safety car was deployed when Jahn was sent into a spin by Bulatov, damaging the #31 Porsche's right rear. Several cars jumped on the opportunity to pit under caution, while Célia Martin stayed out when the race went back to green. Martin climbed the order during the pit cycle and ran as high as sixth before handing over to Fabienne Wohlwend with 25 minutes to go.

The rain was also picking up and several drivers made mistakes, going off after having bolted on slicks at the pit stop.

By staying out until late in the pit window, the #13 ProSport Aston Martin stayed on wets and Fabienne Wohlwend rejoined in tenth place, in a truly action packed phase of the race that saw the Liechtenstein driver thriving.

When a top 10 was on the table, Wohlwend saw her chances fading on lap 22, when a left rear puncture forced her to pit and took her out of contention for what has been their best race in the series to date. The very unfortunate development dropped the ProSport Aston Martin to P23 - also having to deal with the traffic of the leaders now one lap ahead.

A superb battle for second overall in the final 10 minutes of the race saw Ortmann surviving the attacks of Nouet - while Simon Connor Primm took victory for CV Performance when Lenerz/Bulatov - who had snatched first place just before the pit stops, received a penalty for unsafe release that dropped them to fourth.

The puncture proved to be costly for Célia Martin and Fabienne Wohlwend, who crossed the finish line in P23 - having nevertheless made a noticeable step forward compared to the previous rounds.

"Thanks to a good strategy during the pit stop and an optimal driver change, I took over the car at halftime and managed to hold onto 10th place", Wohlwend continued. "18 minutes before the end, I experienced an unexpected tire failure. I managed to get back to the pits, and we were able to finish the race, although a good result was no longer possible."

Photo credits: Axel Weichert - 100octane.de

On a wet track on Sunday morning, it was then Fabienne Wohlwend's time to qualify in Q2. The most successful racing driver in Liechtenstein's history soon placed the #13 Aston Martin in the top 20 early in the session, then continued to set personal bests as the track improved - moving to P13 with 6 minutes to go. Wohlwend clocked a 1:45.000 lap in the final minute that gained the ProSport duo their best starting position of the season in 13th place.

"On Sunday morning, my qualifying took place again in pouring rain. I set good lap times and achieved 13th place, our best starting position this season", Fabienne said.

Yet another heavy rain shower before lights out resulted in a safety car start, and the #24 Wimmer Werk Porsche of Leo Pichler accelerated away on lap 2. Ortmann's #1 ProSport Aston Martin fired into the lead after the first sector, followed by Simon Connor Primm's CV Performance Mercedes.

"The weather conditions did not improve in the afternoon either", Wohlwend recalled. "The race was started behind the safety car in heavy rain. I slowly fought my way forward and impressed with good lap times."

Fabienne Wohlwend had a good start and held P13, putting pressure on a group of cars battling for the top ten. The safety car was deployed once again shortly after, when the #18 BWT Mucke Motorsport Mercedes driven by Emil Gjerdrum went off at turn 5.

Once back underway, Fabienne chased the #6 Porsche of Ekelchik; she would gain a position after a spin for Erger. Right behind her, Gabriele Piana and Jannes Fittje were charging up the field but Fabienne kept her cool and moved into P10 once the pit window opened.

Wohlwend handed over to Célia Martin on lap 18, bringing in the #13 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 from tenth place.

After the pit cycle was completed, Martin found herself in P21 - but was on the move and managed to gain several positions capitalizing on the extremely tricky conditions.

Ahead, the #1 Aston Martin had lost the lead after the round of pit stops, but Hugo Sasse fought back and engaged in a spectacular fight for the win with Jan Philipp Springbob's #85 CV Performance Mercedes.

Martin was unfortunately hit by the #19 Aston Martin - which was rejoining from a penalty lap - on lap 25, ending its race in the run off of turn 2.

"In 10th place, we decided to make a late pit stop, but unfortunately, shortly after, Celia was hit by a competitor, and we were forced to retire the car", Wohlwend said.

"Tough weekend and disappointed not to take away the results we showed the potential for", Célia Martin summarized. "Running in 10th after the pitstop in race 1 and then getting a puncture denied us our first points finish and the contact in race two was more bad luck as we had good pace and were easily in the midfield", she continued.

"We had a lot of bad luck and it's a shame that we couldn't bring good results home after our promising pace", Wohlwend echoed. "Nevertheless, I am very satisfied with our performance and improvement."

"Positive take away is that as a team we have shown improved pace in what is a really competitive GT4 field," Célia agreed.

While the results certainly did not reflect their true potential, Fabienne Wohlwend and Célia Martin's step forward at the Nürburgring is by far the most important take away point from the weekend in the Eifel, as they now turn their focus on the next race meeting at Lausitzring, in two weeks' time, on 19-20 August.