The Nürburgring Nordschleife will be an integral part of Car Collection’s racing calendar again this year. In the 2022 season, the squad around Team Principal Peter Schmidt will compete with two cars in the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
Last year, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Lionspeed by Car Collection was very successful in conquering the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Drivers Patrick Kolb and Lorenzo Rocco crowned themselves with the championship title in the SP9 ProAm class at the end of a thrilling season. Patrick Kolb will again pilot one of the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II cars in the eye-catching Lionspeed design this year. His partners at the wheel of the #24 are Dennis Fetzer and Audi Sport driver Patric Niederhauser. Together, they now want to attack in the Pro classification of the SP9 class – the highest category of the NLS – after Patrick Kolb already successfully contested a race in this class at the eighth round of last season together with Audi Sport drivers Nico Müller and Patric Niederhauser. “I’m super excited to have the opportunity to race my second season with Audi Sport customer racing and Patric Niederhauser and stepping up into the SP9 Pro category,” says Patrick Kolb, who also immediately issues the marching orders: “Our goal is to compete for overall podium positions and wins this year.”
The sister car with the #23 will be driven by Patrick Kolb’s partner from last year, Lorenzo Rocco, who would like to defend his title in the ProAm classification. He will be assisted by Jörg Viebahn, an extremely experienced driver who has been racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife for many years. Viebahn joined the Car Collection Motorsport team after last year’s ADAC Total 24H race and is ready to go: “I’m looking forward to the season with Car Collection. After 10 years in the GT4 European Championship, I was able to quickly get used to the aero and speed of a GT3 racer again,” described the Nordschleife connoisseur. “With my teammates I have great partners, so we should also achieve good results as a team.” The two drivers will be supported by long-time regular driver Klaus Koch at the first round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
Team boss Peter Schmidt is confident that Car Collection will also be successful on the Nordschleife in 2022: “In 2021 we started a successful collaboration with team Lionspeed GP and the drivers Lorenzo Rocco and Patrick Kolb which was crowned by the SP9 ProAm championship. Together with Lionspeed we developed a program, in which the drivers and team can continue to grow. The vast experience gained from the Audi Sport entries at the Nürburgring have set a strong basis with which we are able to lead Lionspeed’s step into the Pro category. We approach this new opportunity with full commitment and engagement.”
The 2022 season of the Nürburgring Endurance Series starts as early as March 26. While qualifying will start at 8:30 in the morning, the starting signal for the four-hour race will be given at 12 noon. As things stand, spectators will again be allowed on the track this year.
