23.04.08 Successful start to the season

The 2008 FIA-GT season started with a victory in the Citation Cup for Wolfgang Kaufmann at Silverstone, the “home of British motorsport”.

Wolfgang Kaufmann - AT Racing Corvette CR 5

Wolfgang Kaufmann and Alexander Talkanitsa on the Podium

Kaufmann supported Alexander Talkanitsa from Belarus who entered a Corvette C5-R. The racing weekend started in typically British weather; Kaufmann took to the track first to work out a suitable set-upfor the 5140m track.

Afterwards, Talkanitsa took the chance to acquaint himself with the track: “Alexander has only been here once before, with a Cup Porsche. So it was important for him to get as much practice time here as possible.”

Until the second Saturday practice session, Kaufmann/Talkanitsa were able to improve their times by over 2 seconds, and they were optimistic for the qualifying session. In the 15 short minutes of qualifying, the teams have only one chance to achieve a good starting position. Just as the lights at the end of pit lane changed to green, the British weather lives up to its reputation. Rain and fog led to an unusual starting order:

“We managed fourth spot on the grid; unfortunately, it was fourth from the back”, Kaufmann summed up his qualifying session, “just as half the field, we waited a minute too long, and had no dry track anymore. The rules prohibit the use of intermediate tyres on Citation Cup cars. For slicks, it was too wet; for rain tyres, it was too dry.”

On Sunday, car owner Talkanitsa too tke start and finished his stint under difficult conditions. An unfortunate collision with an Aston Martin led to an additional pit stop. At the half way point, Kaufmann took the Corvette over and on the drying track was able to move further up the order – and cross the line as Citaiton Cup winner in the end.

“The crew of Sepp Renauer, who handles technical matters for AT Racing, and Alexander in his first international race all have done a superb job. First race, first win - that's a perfect start to the season. Now we want to repeat this success in Monza.”