Busy weekend for Team WRT at the Nürburgring

The Nürburgring will be highlighted this weekend as the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA ​​GT1 World will compete on the legendary German track. This clash of dates does not frighten the organizers but complicates the weekend for certain teams represented in the two Championships. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT will have a lot to do as it fights for the title in both disciplines with Stéphane Ortelli and Laurens Vanthoor entered in both categories, the two drivers having even returned to the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship after their victory in the qualifying race in Moscow.

If logistics represent a certain challenge for Team WRT, management ensures the efficiency of its staff who will be present in significant numbers to ensure the chances of its drivers in both disciplines. “We are competitors and we never give up as long as we have a mathematical chance of winning the title”, assures Vincent Vosse, the Team Principal of the Belgian team. “Even if we are not in an ideal position in the FIA ​​GT1 Championship (Laurens Vanthoor and Stéphane Ortelli are 37 points behind leaders Michael Bartels and Yelmer Buurman), we still have 66 units to win and we will continue to fight. » Furthermore, Pierre Deudonné, the sporting director of Team WRT, is optimistic about the competitiveness of his R8s. “The Nürburgring theoretically only offers one big braking event, at the hairpin along the pit straight, and that should suit us. We will have different cars for the FIA ​​GT1 World and Blancpain and we have different teams of engineers and mechanics for the two disciplines. 43 people in total will be present. »

Stéphane Ortelli will be entered with Christopher Haase and Christopher Mies in the R8 LMS ultra for the Blancpain Endurances Series, where the crew will attempt to reduce the 15-point gap that separates it from the Marc VDS Racing trio, Maxime Martin, Bas Leinders and Markus Palttala, leaders of the discipline at two meetings at the end of the season. Laurens Vanthoor will drive in the second Audi alongside Marco Bonanomi and Edward Sandström. The Belgian is confident in his abilities on the Nürburgring, a track where he is confident. “There will be a lot of work but it will be fine, Team WRT is a very professional team. I know the Ring well, I love this circuit and I have memorable memories of it. This is where I won the title F3 Germany (in 2009) and I can't wait to return to the Green Hell. »