NEWS
FIA GT1 2010: Nurburgring Championship Race Report
Written By: Gary Watkins
Darren Turner and Tomas Enge dominated the main event at the Nurburgring round of the FIA GT1 World Championship.
The Young Driver Aston Martin duo led for all but a couple of laps during the pitstop window on a day that no-one else had a look-in. Turner quickly pulled out a clear lead in his stint, stretching the away by two and a half seconds before the pitstops began, and then Enge rejoined with a 12-second advantage after a quick turnaround by the Fischer-run Young Driver squad.
Turner, whose team-mate crossed the line nine seconds ahead at the end of the championship race, said: "I was mindful of yesterday's start and wanted to get out of Turn 1 in one piece. I kept my head down and tried to make no mistakes and Tomas then went out and did a sterling job."
The best of the Reiter Lamborghini Murcielagos finished second in the hands of Peter Kox and Christopher Haase. Kox ran third behind the Phoenix/Carsport Chevrolet Corvette driven by Marc Hennerici for the first half of the race, but a quicker stop by the Reiter squad vaulted him ahead of the Chevy and secured the duo's first Championship race podium.
Alex Margaritis and Hennerici ended up third, just ahead of the Hexis Aston Martin driven by Clivio Piccione and Jonathan Hirschi.
Marc Hennerici, Phoenix Racing/Carsport Corvette No.13
"We have done a very consistent job during the whole weekend. To find a good set-up with a new team-mate is sometimes difficult but with Alex (Margaritas) it was really perfect from the first moment. "The car was much better than we expected because of the latest Balance of Performance decision. Third place is really great for us."
Alexander Margaritis, Phoenix Racing/Carsport Corvette No.13
"Coming back with Phoenix, we have a long relationship since the DTM times. It was a great moment on Wednesday when I got the phone call 'Alex can you be there on Thursday?'. I said for sure it would be a pleasure to drive for you. The atmosphere from the first moment was very good. "I hope we can find a solution so I can continue driving. I have to speak to my manager and make the decision in the next few days."
