Title favourite Christian Engelhart forced to retire after collisionThe young Australian Spike Goddard puts in a great performance
Following the dominating start in Hockenheim two weeks ago, the TECE MRS-Racing Team experienced a disappointing race weekendat Nürburgring. In the second round of the Porsche Carrera Cup, which took place as a support race of the famous 24-hours-race, title favourite Christian Engelhart was forced to park his race car in the box after a collision resulted in a damaged front. Therefore, many important points for both the driver and team championship were lost.
The 24-car-strong grid went onto its formation lap to get the four-lap race around the famous Nordschleife going in dry and good conditions. Christian Engelhart already fought with a disappointing starting position, following a wrong decision during qualifying the day before, which saw the #14-Porsche set the 10th fastest time. Despite a good start, there was chaos into thefirst corner and after a small collision with another car, the Porsche of Engelhart had a minor damage on the front.
But this damage turned out to be worse than expected and from lap one, the #14 Porsche lost water on the track. The result saw Engelhart park his car after lap three with a broken cooler. “The weekend went off with a good start in Free Practice, but we made a mistake with the strategy during qualifying”, said the 28-year-old. “I hoped to improve during the race and make-up some positions, but I got hit by another car going into the second corner and the car just didn´t feel right after that. It is very disappointing for the team and myself having to retire here, but this is the Nordschleife and anything can happen. We are now analysing this weekend and look ahead positively to the next race at the Lausitzring in two weeks.”
The Australian Spike Goddard on the other hand managed a very good race weekend. The young driver showed impressive improvements throughout both the Free Practice and qualifying and underlined this during the race. “I am very pleased with my achievements this weekend”, said the 22-year-old. “I was able to go faster by three seconds during the race than I was in qualifying. But I found the race to be a little scarier, because with the running cars in front of me, it was difficult to see the corner entrances. Still, I am really happy with 13th place in my first-ever race on the Nordschleife and it was an absolute privilege to be able to race here.”
Elia Erhart, who started the race from position 21 in the third MRS-Porsche, managed to improve during the race and finished in 18th.
