Three female drivers started the NLS7, all with winning ambitions in their respective classes: Carrie Schreiner finished on the class podium and P4 overall, while Chantal Prinz won in H4. Gabriela Jilkóvá returned to racing with a strong performance, finishing close to the podium with ProSport Racing.
The sixth event of the current season of the Nordschleife-based NLS season took place last weekend, with four hours of full speed through the Green Hell. Among the 120 starting teams, three female drivers took the start in four different cars: Carrie Schreiner shared the Schnitzelalm Mercedes AMG GT3 with Peter Terting in the SP9-Pro class, as the strong duo was once again a front-runner in the top class; Chantal Prinz was in the driving seat of both the two cars in H4 class; Gabriela Jilkóvá returned to racing after she dropped out of the ADAC GT4 Germany and GT4 European programs earlier this year.
The overall race
The #5 duo of Kolb and Stippler scored pole position in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II followed by the #25 Huber Motorsport Porsche of Jacob Schell/Rader/Menzel and the #16 Phoenix Audi driven by Giermaziak/Schramm/Engstler. Carrie Schreiner followed in fourth place, as she was the elected driver for qualifying.
Chantal Prinz qualified first and second in class, while Gabriela Jilkóvá was fifth fastest in V5 - but the team was forced to start from the pitlane as one of her teammates failed to slow down in a Code 60 zone and received a penalty.
At the start, the #25 Huber Porsche took over the lead after turn 1, while the #5 Phoenix Audi was able to defend second place. As all the start groups were on track, some came directly to the pits to change tyres as the track was still wet in many parts. The tyre gamble, though, was not successful for all of the teams across the field.
While the #5 Audi was back in the lead, Peter Terting had some troubles on slicks and lost four positions on the wet parts of the track, but he remained in the leading group. After lap 3, though, the cars with slicks started to be faster and the track dried up quickly.
After one and a half hour, the leading #5 Audi had a gap of over 25 seconds from the second placed #25 Porsche; at that moment, the rain started to pour down again, shrinking the gap to 4,6 seconds.
The #16 Audi (Giermaziak / Schramm / Engstler) took over the lead with a bit more than an half hour to go, passing the #5 sister car and took the race win of the sixth NLS round, preceding Kolb/Stippler and the #911 Manthey Racing Porsche of Andlauer/Makowiecki.
The #55 Landgraf motorsport Mercedes (Trefz / Apothéloz / Stevenson) finished fourth, ahead of Carrie Schreiner and Peter Terting - but were disqualified, which promoted Carrie and her teammate to P4 overall and third in SP9 Pro.
SP9-Pro (Carrie Schreiner)
Carrie Schreiner and Peter Terting (Schnitzelalm Racing) started from P4 with their Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the SP9 Pro class and finished on the class podium in the top category.
They started the race on slicks and Peter Terting had to give up some positions at the beginning of the race, but battled his way back ahead in very difficult weather conditions on the extremely challenging track.
"Podium with P3 in the GT3 Pro (SP9) class and P4 overall behind the new works Porsche from Manthey Racing!" - said Carrie Schreiner. "Best result for Mercedes-AMG in Qualifying and Race! Very tricky weather conditions on the Nürburgring Nordschleife again." - she added.
H4 (Chantal Prinz)
Chantal Prinz entered a BMW M3 E46 CSL together with Alexander Prinz in the H4 class and won the race in class ahead of the other Hofor Racing BMW. With just two cars it was one of the smallest classes in the entire race.
"Both cars crossed the line and we finished P1 & P2 in class", the team commented. "Really tricky conditions with heavy rain during the race. Thanks to the crew."
V5 (Gabriela Jilkóvá)
'Quick Gabi' was back in a racecar and made her first NLS start together with Niek Hommerson and Hugo Sasse in a Porsche Cayman from PROsport-Racing. The quick Czech driver was dropped from a double ADAC GT4 Germany and GT4 European program earlier in the year and is now working her way to the Nordschleife Permit, starting from the NLS7 last weekend.
Due a Code 60 infringement the team was forced to start from the pitlane, with Gabriela Jilkóvá driving the first stint. The car was allowed out of the pitlane too early so the crew received a further stop and go penalty, dropping them down in class. With fighting spirit, though, the team was up to P4 in class across the finish there.
"P4 in Class! It was once again an amazing experience and I got to know a new car", commented Jilkóvá, who has also tested an Aston Martin GT4 for the team earlier in the week. "I would like to thank PROsport-Racing for this opportunity and a great prepared car." - Gabriela concluded.
The next race will take place on 22nd October at the Green Hell, for the PAGID Racing 46. DMV Münsterlandpokal 4 hour event.