19.08.11 Wolfgang Kaufmann, time traveler

Last Thursday the German racing professional Wolfgang Kaufmann was in Zolder for a test with the Guess Racing Team's Lola-Jud LMP1. With this sports prototype that was developed especially for the famous Le Mans 24 Hours, the Belgian team is planning to take part in the 1000k race at Silverstone next month. „The test at Zolder was altogether a very positive experience, now we have to get our package for Silverstone together.“

Wolfgang Kaufmann piloting the Jaegermeister Kremer Porsche 935 K3

Winning Team - Wolfgang Kaufmann and Kremer Racing Chef Eberhard Baunach

From Belgium Kaufmann travelled straight to the 39th AvD-Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring where he got the chance to participate in two races in front of over 60000 enthusiastic spectators. In the first of these, the self confessed Porsche fan shared a 911 ST with Dr. Afschin Faschemi, a physician from Düsseldorf. It was not just driving the 40 year old Porsche that proved to be a special experience: „The race was not started with lights but in the old-fashioned way, with a flag signal. Sadly we had an oil leak later in the race and had to make an unscheduled pit stop.“

On Saturday, the „Revival Deutsche Rennsportmeisterschaft“ was on Kaufmann's schedule. „On very short notice, Eberhard Baunach who owns Kremer Racing gave me the opportunity to drive his Jägermeister Porsche 935 K3 in this event. For this I want to thank him and the entire Kremer Racing team.“ In qualifying, Kaufmann was able to put the 1979 vintage Porsche on the 3rd position of the grid. The race itself offered the spectators a display of exciting, top quality racing. Toward the end, rain made life especially difficult for the drivers in their slick-shod, and priceless, cars. Kaufmann led eleven of the twelve laps and in the end managed to hold on to his lead across the finish line, by the tiny margin of 0.192 seconds over his team mate. „I hadn't sat in this car for a year. Racing these cars doesn't even compare with current motorsports; but it was incredibly enjoyable and I am pleased I could reward the trust the team has put in me with a win.“