Glory day for Garage 59 as Kirchhöfer-Fleming take win in Race 1 and Sansom-West are first in Am

It was a « veni, vidi, vici » day for Marvin Kirchhöfer and Tom Fleming, who took pole and an impressive win in the Garage 59 McLaren 720S in Race 1 at the Hockenheimring. The duo was formed last-minute, as the British squad had to reshuffle the line-ups of its two cars after Miguel Ramos fell ill. The Portuguese was replaced by Alexander West along Mark Sansom, while Kirchhöfer was called last-minute to pair with Tom Fleming, initially foreseen with West. Very compeyitive throughout the weekend, the duo mastered all events, including the chaotic phase of a safety car before the end of the pit stops.

Eventually, it all worked out better than in a dream for Garage 59 as the British squad also netted the win in Am with Sansom-West.

Second overall were again (for the third time) Simon Reicher-Christopher Haase in the Eastalent Audi (reducing their disadvantage in the standings to 11 points with respect to Levente Révész, today sixth), with the Elite Ferrari of Tom Lebbon-Tom Emson taking a second podium finish.

In Pro-Am, second consecutive success for Steve Jans-Aaron Walker (SPS Mercedes) ahead of the SPS sister cars of Valentin Baumann-Dominik Baumann and Dexter Müller-Yannick Mettler.

In Am, behind Sansom-West, Gino Forgione and Michele Rugolo took second in the AF Corse Ferrari and Petr Fulín-Jiri Navrátil an excellent third in their debut, at the wheel of the Fullin Race Audi.

THE RACE – A last-minute addition to Garage 59, Marvin Kirchhöfer is in pole after dominating qualifying and takes a perfect start ahead of Schiller, Baumann, McDonald, Paverud, Lebbon, Ludwig, Revesz and Petrov. There are plenty of contacts in the initial pahses, notably between De Meeus and Hernandez, Bennett and Paverud, and Walker and Rogalski. De Meeus (5 seconds) and Bennett (10) get sanctioned.

By lap 10, Kirchhöfer has a 2.5 lead on Schiller, followed by the trio Baumann / Ludwig / Lebbon, then Macdonald, Bennett, Revesz, Petrov, Meakin and Korzzniowski, first in Am. The window for driver changes opens at the end of lap 16, when Kirchhöfer has a 4-second advantage (but has to serve the 10-second handicap for first participation).

The turn of the tide occurs during the pit stop as a storm breaks out upon the Motodrom and Korzeniowski and Dörrbecker remain stuck in the gravel. Also Schiller is caught by surprise but can rejoin the track. The safety car has to intervene in lap 22 while a few cars still have to make the mandatory pit-stop. It takes four laps to allow all driver changes and re-order the group.

At the restart, Bartone leads ahead of Fleming but there are five lapped cars in-between the two and a big battle in the compact group starts. Basz unlaps himself but will later stop along the track. It will take a few laps to Fleming to pass all the lapped cars before overtaking Bartone, who later spins as he gets under pressure from the others. In the meantime, there are several contacts, including one between Bonduel and Visoiu (the latter will get a 10-second penalty), while Ugran has an off in the grass. Kell is also forced to retire.

Fleming secures the win ahead of Haase, Emson, porter and Aron, while Jans takes the win in Pro-Am ahead of Pierburg and Mettler, and Sansom takes Am ahead of Forgione and Navratil.