With a second place overall in the first race of the International GT Open Championship in Spielberg in challenging weather conditions, the Car Collection Motorsport team achieved another top result for the #15 Porsche driven by Gustav Bergström and Nico Menzel. The other two Car Collection Porsches, which competed in the Pro-AM class, also finished in the points with strong performances.
The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, where the sixth event of the GT Open Championship was held, had very challenging weather conditions in store for everyone involved. Heavy rain, wind and a slippery track surface made things difficult for drivers and engineers alike. Team Car Collection once again competed with the three familiar Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.
In the number 15 car, Swede Gustav Bergström and German Porsche driver Nico Menzel once again took turns at the wheel. In the first qualifying session, Menzel placed the Porsche in a good sixth place on the grid. After the start of the race, the experienced GT3 driver was able to drive up to second place with a strong performance and handed over to Gustav Bergstöm in this position. The latter subsequently made up a lot of time on the leader with fast lap times, but was unable to close the gap until the end of the race. Bergström crossed the finish line in second place overall and secured the third podium result for Car Collection this season.
The heavily rained-out Sunday qualifying was interrupted by several red flags, meaning that not all drivers were able to complete their fast laps in the best conditions. Gustav Bergström qualified in 21st place in the most difficult conditions. In the race, the Swede was able to overtake many opponents after the start on a drying track and sent his partner Nico Menzel back onto the track in 15th place after the driver changeover. The latter made up further positions and crossed the finish line in seventh place.
The #7 Porsche was again shared by Bashar Mardini and Tijmen van der Helm. The duo drove a good race on Saturday after qualifying fifth in the Pro-Am class. However, a penalty for a short pit stop and additional problems with the refuelling system then set the #7 back hopelessly. On Sunday, the drivers also had difficulties in the rainy qualifying session and only finished 15th on the grid in the Pro-AM class. In the race, Mardini and van der Helm managed to make significant improvements and move up to sixth place and thus into the points.
The two regular drivers, ‘Hash’ and Alex Fontana, were also in the number 12 Porsche. The American ‘Hash’ started the race from 17th on Saturday, but was spun round by a competitor in the early stages and dropped to the back of the field. From there, he started a remarkable race to catch up. His experienced partner Fontana took over the Porsche in the middle of the race and made up further places in the rain to finish eighth in class, another points-scoring result.
Alex Fontana also proved his qualities in the rain on Sunday, finishing fifth in class. After a good start, the Swiss even moved up to third place. After the driver changeover, ‘Hash’ put up a brave fight against his experienced rivals in his first GT3 season and crossed the finish line in third place. Unfortunately, there was also a penalty here due to an offence during the pit stop, which dropped the #12 down to eighth place in class, but it still scored points again.
The Car Collection Motorsport team is now fully focused on the next GT Open event on 28/29 September 2024, where the next challenging Formula 1 circuit awaits the drivers in Barcelona.
Peter Schmidt, Team Principal: ‘The conditions here in Spielberg were really difficult. That’s why I’m all the more pleased that Gustav and Nico were able to finish on the podium again. Even if it didn’t quite work out this time with the first victory, we have shown once again that we can compete at the front. Our other drivers also all performed very well in these conditions. Many thanks to the whole team for their hard work this weekend!’
Peter Schmidt, Team Principal: ‘First of all, of course, we would like to express our condolences and best wishes for a speedy recovery to everyone involved in this terrible incident. From a sporting point of view, I am very pleased that we were able to finish on the class podium at our comeback on the Nordschleife at the first attempt. In the very difficult conditions, the drivers and the whole team did a very good job, which we can be proud of!’
