This weekend, Dutch racing driver Max Koebolt, took part in his first-ever 24-hour race. For this debut, he had chosen one of the world’s most challenging races, the Spa 24 Hours at the Grand Prix circuit in the Belgian Ardennes region. With a field of no less than 57 cars rightfully considered as the biggest GT3 race in the world, the Spa 24 Hours marks the highlight of the Blancpain Endurance Series season. Next to Koebolt’s regular team-mates, fellow-Dutchman Pieter Schothorst and French driver Sacha Bottemanne, British driver James Nash was added to the line-up in the Audi R8 LMS with starting number 4, run by Belgian Team WRT. Changeable weather conditions, the characteristics of the circuit itself and the high number of cars on track made the race a particularly challenging affair for the drivers. These factors also contributed to a relatively high attrition rate, and, unfortunately from Koebolt’s perspective, the number 4 Audi was one of the many cars that didn’t make it to the finish. A collision, in which one of Koebolt’s team-mates got involved during the night put an untimely end to the team’s race. “Too bad, because we were making good progress and we had a good pace. We even were in the top three in our class for a while, but things like that can happen, especially in a race like this,” the Dutch driver commented afterwards. “Still, it was a weekend in which I was able to learn a lot, especially driving in the dark. Altogether, it was a very good experience and I can’t wait to come back here!”
The undulating circuit of Spa-Francorchamps was no longer unfamiliar territory for Koebolt after he had participated in the official Blancpain Endurance Series’ test day at the same venue last month. However, conditions were rather different, with high temperatures in the first days of the meeting with practice sessions and qualifying. In the field, the team posted the 33rd time in first qualifying and eventually started from 36th place on the grid for the race. Unlike the previous days, cold temperatures and rain dominated on the Saturday of the race. The race got underway on a wet track and driving was quite difficult. “Then, there were also various safety car interventions due to drivers having accidents or getting off the track,” Koebolt reported. “That also prompted our team to change our strategy. Initially, it was planned for all drivers to drive single stints, but because of the many safety cars, this was changed to double stints for Pieter and Sacha and single stints for James and myself.”
Unfazed by the conditions, the drivers of the number 4 Audi steadily completed lap after lap and gradually worked their way up through the ranks. Eight hours into the race, they already showed up in the top 20 of the overall standings and were sixth in the Pro-Am class. Temporarily, the team had even been third in its class.
However, just before 1 am, the Audi became involved in a collision with Sacha Bottemanne behind the wheel. The car was damaged beyond repair, so the team was forced to retire.
“That was really disappointing, because I was ready to go out for my second stint,” Max Koebolt reported. “But especially in such a long race and with so many cars on track, there is always the risk that something happens. There is no point in thinking too much about what could have been. Now, we close this chapter and we start preparations for the next race. Still, I am quite happy with what I have learned this weekend. Especially racing in the dark at Spa was a new experience. Finding the braking points wasn’t too difficult, but finding the turning points in the corner was quite demanding. All in all, I have again been able to acquire a lot of valuable experience.”
Max Koebolt’s driver coach, Frans Vörös, said: “For Max, this race was one of the highlights of the season as well. The event itself is quite impressive, and racing at Spa is a special experience for every driver. Over the course of the sessions, he showed good progress and in the race, Max and his team-mates did a good job until the time of the retirement. That they didn’t make it do the finish obviously is a disappointment, but that is also part of motor racing.” WRT team principal, Vincent Vosse, shared Vörös’s view: “It was a pity for Max and his team-mates that their efforts in the race remained unrewarded. This year’s running of the Spa 24 Hours was quite tough, as the high number of retirements testifies. However, they have all done a solid job and we are now looking forward to the Nürburgring.”
The German circuit will be hosting the fifth and final round of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series’ season, September 19 and 20. “There, we should be able to challenge for a podium in our class again,” Max Koebolt says. “I have more and more experience with the car and I am very optimistic.”