The Car Collection Motorsport team competed in the 8 Hours Indianapolis for the first time. In the eight-hour race, which is part of the International GT Challenge and its season finale, the three drivers ‘Hash’, Alex Fontana and Yannick Mettler were able to achieve an excellent fifth place in the Pro-Am class in a tough race despite some difficulties.
In recent years, the Car Collection Motorsport team has repeatedly made guest appearances in the IGTC. This time, however, the 8-hour race on the famous Indianapolis circuit was on the schedule for the first time. The team’s black Porsche 911 GT3 R was driven by the American ‘Hash’, for whom it was his first start in this high-class championship, and the two experienced Swiss drivers Alex Fontana and Yannick Mettler.
Over the course of the various practice sessions, the team was able to fine-tune the #21 Porsche to the new track. The reward for their efforts was fifth place in pre-qualifying directly before the actual qualifying session. In the combined qualifying session, in which the times of all three drivers are added together, the team finished 10th in class and 20th overall.
All three drivers worked their way forwards from this position. Early on, however, there was contact with an opponent, whereupon the Car Collection Porsche received a drive-through penalty. In addition, the power steering was slightly damaged, which made work at the wheel literally tough. However, none of this stopped the trio of drivers from making their way through the field.
Not least thanks to a successful strategy, the drivers managed to bring the Porsche 911 GT3 R home in fifth place in class despite tough duels. Twelfth place overall is also a success in view of the extremely high-class field.
Car Collection Motorsport is now concentrating on the finale of the International GT Open Championship, which will be held on 19 and 20 October.
Peter Schmidt, Team Principal: ‘The International GT Challenge is one of the best GT3 series in the world. The fact that we have done so well here again makes me very proud. Indianapolis is a track steeped in tradition and we have now left our fingerprint here too. Kudos to the whole team and the three drivers for their hard work!’
