Strakka Racing into the 'Ring

Following on from the impressive race-winning pace demonstrated by the Strakka Racing Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S in Portugal, the team heads for Germany this weekend and Round 4 of the 2009 Le Mans Series at the famous Nürburgring.

Bolstered by having set fastest lap times in two out of three Free Practice sessions for the Algarve 1000 Kilometres, and with Danny Watts challenging for the outright lead early in the race, the team and drivers at Strakka have every reason to be feeling optimistic. The team stayed on in Portugal for a few days’ well-earned rest in the sun and so are now raring to get back into action, and the prospects look very promising.

“To be racing at this level, and consistently challenging for the lead, fills the team with enthusiasm, and we’re just looking forward to the chance to complete a successful race,” says Nick Leventis. “We should have the pace again at the Nürburgring, and it would be nice to complement that with reliability. At this stage in the championship we really have nothing to lose points-wise, so although that pressure has been lifted, we’re still hungry to demonstrate the true potential of the Ginetta-Zytek and our own team’s ability.”

The provisional LMP1 entry list for the Nürburgring race includes several changes since the Algarve race, with notable absentees being the two Oreca Matmut AIM cars. Team boss Hugues de Chaunac revealed that the French outfit will be missing the German round in order to compete at Petit le Mans in America in September. Compensating for their absence, Aston Martin has revealed a third Lola coupé for the Nürburgring, but Strakka’s Ginetta-Zytek has proved on several occasions that it has the pace to beat the Lola DBR1-2. The field remains strong, however, with Pescarolo Sport fresh from their win in the Algarve, and the Speedy Team Sebah Lola Aston Martin is also likely to challenge.

The circuit at the Nürburgring is similar in technical content and configuration to the track at Barcelona, where Strakka set pole for Round 1 in April, and not dissimilar to the twisty rollercoaster that is the new Autodromo do Algarve, where the Ginetta-Zytek was clearly a top contender. “Following our strong showing in Portugal, Germany should represent our strongest chance of silverware this season,” suggests Chief Engineer and Team Manager Piers Phillips. “The nature of the circuit will suit the Ginetta-Zytek, as it’s a track that requires good mechanical grip as well as a very efficient aero package. We’ve been able to show that the car is excellent in high-downforce trim, and combined with the gains we’ve made in damper development, I am positive that our mechanical grip will be second to none at the Nürburgring. We really need to put the car well and truly on the front row and then show our pace consistently over the six hours.”

If all goes to plan, the Le Mans Series event will also coincide with the first full weekend of running for another new rollercoaster ride, the awesome ‘ring°racer’. As part of an extensive Formula 1 themed tourist attraction based alongside the Nürburgring’s Grand Prix circuit, the 1212 metre ride will catapult passengers from zero to 135 mph in approximately 2.7 seconds, subjecting them to forces of between +4.5g and –1.2g during the 85 second ride. Destined to be the world’s fastest rollercoaster ride, teething problems with the pneumatic launch system delayed testing last month, but the ‘ring°racer’ is expected to be operational in time for the brave and fearless this weekend. “If I get the chance, I’ll certainly give it a go!” said Strakka’s pole-setter Danny Watts.

The Nürburgring 1000 Kilometres is scheduled to start at 12:30pm (CET) and will run for 195 laps (or six hours). Live television coverage is on Eurosport and is limited to the start and first ninety minutes (starting at 11:30am UK time), but there will be a fifteen-minute round-up starting at 18:30 (UK time) and then highlights on Eurosport 2 from 22:35pm.

Photographic credit John Brooks.

Further information:

For further information please visit the Strakka Racing website.
You may also telephone 01327 351134

For details relating directly to this release, please contact James Turner, Commercial Director at Strakka Racing.

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