Better times for Zakspeed ESM AMR at a rain soaked ADAC GT4 Germany visit to the Nurburgring
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Despite Gogollok positing the crews best yet Qualifying position to be only pipped at the post by the reigning series champions, their P2 start saw the race start from behind the Safety Car before being red flagged after just five minutes.
After nearly an hours delay, the race again resumed from behind the Safety Car before being red flagged again (for track conditions) before resuming after another half hour delay with forty-five minutes remaining. Fierce pressure in the opening green flag laps from the Aston eventually earned them the race lead before contact from the #2 BMW behind caused the Aston to spin just ahead of the pit stop window.
Having dropped to P11, the #55 car recovered to P7 on track whilst an elongated Full Course Yellow was used to clean up the track of both debris and water before eventually going back to green with fifteen minutes remaining. The race finally concluded with the #2 BMW passing the #55 Aston Martin again at the end after they too were spun around by another car.
Sunday’s second race was slightly drier with Marschalkowski placing the car on the second row of the grid (just behind the #2 BMW again) for what proved to be a clean start this time. Holding fourth within the opening laps, proceedings were soon cooled as one car ended in the gravel at T1 bringing out the Safety Car.
This time able to hold station behind the championship leaders on race pace, the #55 loses out on the restart as they dropped two places in quick succession despite the possible legality of one of those manoeuvres.
Entering pit lane in P5 for their compulsory stop, Gogollok was able to maintain that position to log their best race weekend of the season so far.
Entering pit lane in P5 for their compulsory stop, Gogollok was able to maintain that position to log their best race weekend of the season so far.
Whatever the Zakspeed Eastside Motorsport team had done over the intervening weeks between rounds since the Norisring have worked to some degree, placing their AMR Vantage Gt4 to the competitive end of the twenty-two strong grid as the series moves onto at the Red Bull Ring at the end of September.
Photo credits – Team / series / social media
Photo credits – Team / series / social media
