9.07.09 Success at the Tuner Grand Prix

For the first time since 2005, Wolfgang Kaufmann took part in the Tuner Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Akrapovic BMW M 3

In this event, launched by German performance car magazine Sport Auto, the best tuners meet every year to match their cars in various categories on the race track.

"In recent years, I was able to secure overall victory four times, mostly for Uwe Gemballa and his crew. Since 2005, the level has gone up quite a bit, though, and keeping up with the sharp end of the field requires a lot of effort", Kaufmann outlines the evolution the Tuner Grand Prix has gone through.

This year, the man from Molsberg drove three different cars, in three different categories, beginning with a VW Golf R32 prepared by tuning company HGP. "I first drove a HGP turbo Golf on the Nordschleife about two years ago. I was impressed by the car's performance, and also the quality of fit & finish. The project for the Sport Auto Tuner GP came together on short notice."

In the end, third place in its category war a creditable result: "We did closk the best time in this class, but this year for the first time, the aggregate of the five fastest laps counts determines the result. Unfortunately, an unusual brake problem meant we lost time during our laps."

The weekend's second drive was in an a-workx AKRAPOVIC Porsche 997 GT2. In the top-of-the-ladder category GT Turbo, third place against much more powerful competition was the result. Contrary to its rivals, this Porsche's performance was improved only through optimised engine management software.

"The a-workx crew did a great job there, both the GT2 Porsche and the BMW M3 were set up perfectly so I was able to hold my own against much more potent cars in both classes", Kaufmann names the secret to success.

The victorious end to the day came with the AKRAPOVIC BMW M3 optimised a-workx. Equipped "only" with stock production performance, improvements were made on the brakes and suspension.

"It was really 'geil'," says Kaufmann, "and a whole lot of fun!"