Braams and Huisman win first race of the Competition102 GT4 European Series

Dutch drivers Luc Braams and Duncan Huisman have won the first race of the Competition102 GT4 European Series in 2015. Both Chevrolet Camaro GT4 drivers made a strong appearance at the French Nogaro race track after starting from position eight. Fellow countrymen Marcel Nooren / Jelle Beelen came home second after leading the final part of the race. Despite a collision with only one lap to go, Jörg Viebahn (GER) finished in third. Liesette Braams (NED) won in the AM division after she held off both Lotus Evora GT4 drivers.

Hendrik Still (GER) had positioned himself at the front row of the grid with the newly built Sin R1 GT4. The Bulgarian driver kept the lead when the lights went out, defending successfully against Viebahn in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Still was able to pull a small gap, but it wasn’t sufficient to ensure the leading position after the mandatory pit stop. “I braked very late when I entered the pit lane and closed the gap to Still. My team mate Jelle overtook him during the pit stop,” said Nooren who had overtaken Viebahn earlier.

Meanwhile Viebahn was the only driver to complete his pit stop and that strategy worked out well as he came out the pits just ahead of Still. The two battled for position and with just a few minutes left, there was a collision to report.

“Hendrik never had a chance to overtake me because I watched him in the mirrors all the time,” said Viebahn. “I was on the inside of the corner when he hit me. As a result, the car leaked oil and I just made it to cross the finish line. The car broke down afterwards.”

“It was my fault,” admitted Still. “I was a bit quicker and tried a to overtake him a few times. It was a fair fight for a podium position, but it was my mistake when I tried to overtake at a part of the track where it isn’t possible to gain a position. I’m really sorry for what has happened.”

Beelen was in leading position when Huisman showed up in his mirrors. “I struggled with the rear tyres and I was drifting all the way,” noticed Beelen. “Duncan came very close and passed me in the end, but I’m extremely happy with the result.” Huisman added: “He was performing really well and I could overtake him when he made a small mistake due to oil at the track. It will be a tough season competing against him.”

Liesette Braams (NED) won in the AM division after she battled with Lotus Evora GT4 drivers Pavel Lefterov (BGR), who finished second, and Daniel Uckermann (GER). Braams: “What a race! Because of the oil, the track conditions were very tricky. I had great fights with both Lotus drivers and it’s great to see that the series is so competitive. And what a great result for the whole family with my husband winning the race.”

Uckermann wasn’t happy with third place as he believed that the race win could be his. “I thought there was something wrong with my car so I came into the pits for a quick check,” he said. “Thankfully everything was okay, but I lost the victory.”
Braams and Huisman win first race of the Competition102 GT4 European Series at Nogaro
April 5, 2015

Dutch drivers Luc Braams and Duncan Huisman have won the first race of the Competition102 GT4 European Series in 2015. Both Chevrolet Camaro GT4 drivers made a strong appearance at the French Nogaro race track after starting from position eight. Fellow countrymen Marcel Nooren / Jelle Beelen came home second after leading the final part of the race. Despite a collision with only one lap to go, Jörg Viebahn (GER) finished in third. Liesette Braams (NED) won in the AM division after she held off both Lotus Evora GT4 drivers.

Hendrik Still (GER) had positioned himself at the front row of the grid with the newly built Sin R1 GT4. The Bulgarian driver kept the lead when the lights went out, defending successfully against Viebahn in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Still was able to pull a small gap, but it wasn’t sufficient to ensure the leading position after the mandatory pit stop. “I braked very late when I entered the pit lane and closed the gap to Still. My team mate Jelle overtook him during the pit stop,” said Nooren who had overtaken Viebahn earlier.

Meanwhile Viebahn was the only driver to complete his pit stop and that strategy worked out well as he came out the pits just ahead of Still. The two battled for position and with just a few minutes left, there was a collision to report.

“Hendrik never had a chance to overtake me because I watched him in the mirrors all the time,” said Viebahn. “I was on the inside of the corner when he hit me. As a result, the car leaked oil and I just made it to cross the finish line. The car broke down afterwards.”

“It was my fault,” admitted Still. “I was a bit quicker and tried a to overtake him a few times. It was a fair fight for a podium position, but it was my mistake when I tried to overtake at a part of the track where it isn’t possible to gain a position. I’m really sorry for what has happened.”

Beelen was in leading position when Huisman showed up in his mirrors. “I struggled with the rear tyres and I was drifting all the way,” noticed Beelen. “Duncan came very close and passed me in the end, but I’m extremely happy with the result.” Huisman added: “He was performing really well and I could overtake him when he made a small mistake due to oil at the track. It will be a tough season competing against him.”

Liesette Braams (NED) won in the AM division after she battled with Lotus Evora GT4 drivers Pavel Lefterov (BGR), who finished second, and Daniel Uckermann (GER). Braams: “What a race! Because of the oil, the track conditions were very tricky. I had great fights with both Lotus drivers and it’s great to see that the series is so competitive. And what a great result for the whole family with my husband winning the race.”

Uckermann wasn’t happy with third place as he believed that the race win could be his. “I thought there was something wrong with my car so I came into the pits for a quick check,” he said. “Thankfully everything was okay, but I lost the victory.”

The second race of the Competition102 GT4 European Series at Nogaro takes place on Monday 6 April at 11:05 hr (CET). It can be watched live at www.gt4series.com/live

COUPES DE PÂGUES – CIRCUIT PAUL ARMAGNAC – NOGARO – 4 – 6 APRIL

Results race 1: 1. Luc Braams / Duncan Huisman, Chevrolet Camaro, 31 laps in 52:58,701 minutes (127,7 km/h), 2. Marcel Nooren / Jelle Beelen, Chevrolet Camaro, at 5,461 seconds, 3. Jörg Viebahn, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, at 17,486, 4. Rob Severs / Simon Knap, BMW M3 GT4, at 19,772, 5. Thomas Krebs / A. Klasen, Porsche Cayman 981 SP, at 58,810, 6. Hendrik Still, Sin R1 GT4, at 1:15,867, 7. Liesette Braams, BMW M3 GT4, at 1:17,225 (1st am), 8. Pavel Lefterov, Lotus Evora GT4, at 1:23,069 (2nd am), 9. Daniel Uckermann, Lotus Evora GT4, at 1 lap (3th am).

Not classified: Grigor Grigorov / I. Tzonev, Sin R1 GT4 at 18 laps, André Grammatico, BMW M3 GT4, at 25 laps, Bernhard van Oranje / Ricardo van der Ende, Ford Mustang FR500C, at 27 laps.