with SCG0003C built by Manifattura Automobili Torino
A total of 24 hours of racing is now complete at the famous Nurburgring and the distinctive SCG003C Macchinadue (702) has finished best in class and 20th overall. Although Macchinaquattro (704) didn’t finish the race, it qualified on pole, winning the Glickenhaus Trophy and becoming one of the stars of the show.
The Glickenhaus Trophy was set up last year and is awarded to the car that sets the best time on the historic Nordschleife during qualifying. SCG003C driver Jeff Westphal was able to bring the trophy home for the coming year thanks to an amazing qualifying time on Friday.
Despite not being able to finish the race, due to an accident on Sunday morning on lap 127, 704 had a very impressive run, leading the race in the early stages and setting the second-best lap time overall on its 91st lap, at an average speed of 182.24kph. It was running just outside the top 10 when the accident happened at the notorious Flugplatz, having seemed set for a strong finish along with its sister car. Earlier, it had been hit by another car during a yellow flag period, and had it not been for the 15 minutes lost in this blameless incident, it would have been challenging for the lead.
The sister 702 car finished best in class and 20th overall, beating many of the well-known manufacturers and their factory teams.
The driver line-up for the race featured Westphal, Andreas Simonsen, Felipe Laser and Franck Mailleux in 704 and Thomas Mutsch and Andrea Piccini as well as Laser and Mailleux (who drove both cars) in 702.
The two SCG003Cs were entered by the Light Speed Racing Team with Swiss motorsport specialist Traum Motorsport running the cars that were built by MAT – Manifattura Automobili Torino – in Italy.
Paolo Garella, the owner of MAT, said: “I’m really proud of the whole team and the work of all the technicians in getting our two SCG003Cs to the toughest race in the world. It’s a shame 704 couldn’t finish the race after showing such promise, but 702 finished very well, showing the speed as well as the strength of the car. This was definitely an opportunity missed to fight for the overall win, for which the car wasn’t to blame in any way, but we are getting ever-closer to our target of victory at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Pole position was a highlight of the weekend, which made headlines all over the world, and really demonstrated the capabilities of our amazing machine.”
Chris Ruud, in charge of the Light Speed Racing Team, added: “It has been a fantastic team effort here, and everyone has worked so hard to bring these cars to the Ring. To finish best in class and ahead of many well-known manufacturers is a great achievement.”
Jeff Westphal said: “It was incredible to take pole in qualifying and bring home the Glickenhaus Trophy. It’s a shame the end result of the race didn’t go our way but it has been a successful weekend in Germany.”
Thomas Mutsch added: “I’m delighted we could finish best in class and 20th overall. It was another fantastic race at the Nurburgring and the team did a great job in getting us to the finish line.”
