8.04.15 Double Duty for Wolfgang Kaufmann

Two races, two Porsches - one current model, one classic car: This was the start into the 2015 season for Wolfgang Kaufmann.

The first round of the Classic Endurance Racing series at Vallelunga brought the professional racing driver from Germany his first podium of the year. First, though, he travelled to the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife where the start of the VLN championship was on the agenda. This time, however, Kaufmann did not get to drive the “big” Porsche 997 KR for Porsche Kremer Racing which was not yet back to race-worthy condition after an accident at a pre-season test. Instead, the team entered a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, also in the SP7 class.

With a series of yellow flag periods, qualifying did not offer many chances for a clear lap; therefore, the team did not focus on fast lap times but rather on preparation for a good 4 hour race. Sadly, the event had to be red-flagged at the end of the first hour due to a severe accident, and was not restarted.

“The Nürburgring Nordschleife – the queen of all racetracks – was, is, and will be the most beautiful, most difficult, and most dangerous racing circuit in the world. We must never forget to treat her with the necessary respect.”

On Saturday evening, Kaufmann boarded a plane for the 1300 kilometer trip to Autodromo Vallelunga, situated to the Northeast of Rome. There, he got behind the wheel of a historic Porsche 911 Carrera RSR at the season opener of the Classic Endurance Racing series. Luckily, another qualifying session was scheduled for Sunday morning, so Kaufmann got a chance to acclimatise to the car and the track. Up against formidable opposition in his class GT1, he knew that his task would not be an easy one. Where his opponents relied on full-spec Group 4 Porsche Carreras, Kaufmann and his team mate Afschin Fatemi had to make do with a narrow-body 911 with the smaller rear wing. But they do not call Kaufmann “Fighter” for nothing!

He lived up to his reputation and together with Fatemi, worked his way up the order throughout the 31 lap race. At the finish, the duo came home in a remarkable 3rd position in the GT1 class – a strong start to Kaufmann's Historic racing programme in 2015!

After only a weekend's rest, he will be back in the driver's seat for the qualifying race for the 24 Hours on the Nürburgring on April 11/12, with Porsche Kremer Racing.