Competing for the 13th time in the classic endurance racing event in the Eifel, with about 200,000 spectators, Dörr Motorsport will enter six cars at the 40th ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race. For the first time, the team from Frankfurt, Germany will use two McLarens MP4-12C GT3 this year.
With only one week to go until the 40th ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring, the Dörr Motorsport team is making final preparations for the race. The team from the “Klassikstadt Frankfurt” will compete in six cars at this year’s endurance race in the “Green Hell”. The team principal, Rainer Dörr, who also acts as a McLaren dealer in the same house under the name “Dörr Automotive”, considers the use of the two McLarens MP4-12C GT3 as the highest priority. “For us as a McLaren dealer, entering the racing version of the McLaren MP4-12C is very important. After all, it will enable us to show our customers how the McLaren performs on a racetrack”. The combination of Dörr Automotive and Dörr Motorsport is unique. Rainer Dörr is the only McLaren dealer in the world who also engages in motorsports.
Former Formula 1 Driver Partners Up With Endurance Drivers
A total of eight drivers, Rudi Adams, Chris Goodwin, Lucas di Grassi, Arno Klasen, Peter Kox, Henri Moser, Kai Riemer and Jochen Übler, will share the two British super sports cars for the Dörr Motorsport team.
A McLaren test driver, Chris Goodwin is the most experienced in driving the GT3 car from Woking, England. Last year, the Englishman also competed at the 24-hour race for Dörr Motorsport. Arno Klasen is one of the most successful drivers of all time, scoring 26 overall victories in the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring. He also competed in the endurance racing event in 2011 for Dörr Motorsport.
Additionally, Rainer Dörr scured Lucas di Grassi, the current Formula One test driver for Pirelli. The Brazilian joined the Virgin racing team in 2010 and made his debut in the highest class of auto racing after gaining experience as a Renault test and reserve driver in a Formula 1 car for two years. Team Principal Rainer Dörr is especially proud of signing di Grassi. “It is great that Pirelli makes its test driver Lucas di Grassi available to us for the 24-Hour Race. We are very happy to be welcoming a former Formula One driver to our team and we also hope to be able to benefit a little from his Formula 1 knowledge”.
Dutch driver Peter Kox will make his comeback in a McLaren: In 1996 and 1997 he competed in a McLaren F1 GTR at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, scoring the third place in 1997. Later, Kox became an Aston Martin factory driver and won the 2010 ADAC GT Masters Championship title. With regard to GT cars there are hardly any drivers with more experience in driving cars of this category. Henri Moser from Switzerland is well-known in international GT sports. After winning the 2007 FIA GT3 European Championship title, the law student competed in the FIA GT1 World Championship from 2008 to 2010.
Kai Riemer attracted attention in the past by setting fast lap times on different cars and competing in several highly competitive brand cups. As a Pirelli test driver, Rudi Adams is an integral part of the team from Frankfurt. Jochen Übler, an “Auto Motor und Sport” editor and test driver, completes the team line-up. In 2010 he competed for Dörr Motorsport for the last time at the 24-Hour Race.
Alliance with BMW Continues
Dörr Motorsport secured a total of six class wins in twelve 24-Hour Races at the Nürburgring. Both the team and the customers benefit from the knowledge gained at the races: Dörr Motorsport has been known for vehicle alterations, performance enhancements and chassis modifications for many years. The last victory was celebrated in 2010 when the BMW Z4 Coupé secured the win in the class of modified cars up to a capacity of 3.5 litres (SP6). The Z4 Coupé will compete again this year, with Stefan Aust, Rolf Scheibner and Frank Weisner sharing the car. Team Principal Rainer Dörr is the fourth driver of the successful BMW Z4.
The BMW M3 GT4 finished last year’s 24-Hour Race third in its class. Winning a place on the podium in the last race, Uwe Ebertz and Stefan Kenntemich will share the M3 again. They are supported by Simon Englerth and Heiko Hahn.
Klaus Niedzwidz in the Seat Leon Cupra R
In addition to the two McLarens and BMW’s Dörr Motorsport will enter a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup like in 2011, with “Sport Auto” editor Christian Gebhardt and Pirelli test driver Markus Großmann sharing the car. Peter Posavac is the third driver for the 2011 model Cup Porsche on the Nordschleife. In addition to his regular races for Dörr Motorsport Posavac secured the overall win in last year’s 24 Hours Barcelona in the Schubert Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3.
However, the Seat Leon Cupra R is a new addition, with Dirk Heldmann, Friedrich Holoch, Klaus Niedzwiedz and Christian Penno sharing the car from the Seat brand cup of the same name. Niedzwiedz is well-known among motorsports enthusiasts. The driver from Dortmund won the 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring in 1982 und 1987, together with Klaus Ludwig. These days he presents a magazine about cars on German TV channel n-tv.
One week before the long racing weekend, Team Principal Rainer Dörr is confident. “I am glad that the long phase of preparations for the highlight of the season is finished and that we were able to put together a great package in cooperation with our partners. The addition of the two McLaren MP4-12C GT3 marks a new phase at the 24-Hour Race for me and my team. We cannot wait to see how well we are going to meet this challenge”.
Team Manager Uwe Isert is also excited for the highlight of the season after months of preparations, setting first targets for the race. “Our highest priority is to finish the race; it is our most important target. It would be great if the two McLarens set good lap times in the qualifying session and secure top positions in the starting grid”.
The 40th ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race will start at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19th. The practice and qualifying sessions will start on Thursday. Like in the previous years, about 200,000 spectators are expected. The Dörr Motorsport team is looking forward to welcoming many guests of partners and sponsors.
Source : Dörr Motorsport