The two drivers Albert von Thurn und Taxis (DEU) and GM factory driver Oliver Gavin (GBR) used Friday’s free practice sessions to test the latest developments on the car and to optimise the set-up around the 4.574km track. In first qualifying, Thurn und Taxis clinched P21 in the 27 car field despite sliding off the track in the final sector. Gavin pushed the US muscle car up to P14 in qualifying with a time of 1m 40.7s and landed exactly in the middle of the grid only 0.96 seconds from the pole position.

Oliver Gavin was able to defend his position easily at the start, but at turn 3 he was then involved in a collision, in which the front left side aerodynamics and suspension were damaged. Oliver dropped down to 19th position as a result, but was able to continue the race. The GM factory driver lived up to his reputation as unrelenting fighter and scythed his way up to 11th position before bringing the battered Camaro GT3 with its damaged steering and big understeer (due to a lack of front downforce) into the pits for the mandatory pit stop.

Albert von Thurn und Taxis had to fight more with the damaged car in his stint, but tried to defend his position. The Camaro GT3 finally crossed the finish line in P17.

Team Manager Tomas Enge: “We are satisfied with the weekend particularly as we saw that we are working in the right direction and are successful in this way. With Oliver (Gavin) in the car for the weekend, we had very valuable support. He has huge experience and is a top driver. Albert (von Thurn und Taxis) also got on exceptionally well with the Camaro GT3 throughout the event. The team also worked with great precision after having to remove the engine after it was over-revved, completely overhaul it and refit it in a nightshift between Saturday and Sunday.

The change to the somewhat ‘more current’ tyres from Yokohama produced visible steps forward. Although the team must still make do without the soft Yokohama compound for the front axle, the drivers and crew coped considerably better with the rubber compound for the rear axle than with the 2012 tyre.

We are now visibly on the right track and aim to compete in one or two races this season. It’s great fun and is great to see that the enormous amount of development work is paying dividends and we are making progress. SaReNi United has set a genuinely strong and affordable GT3 car rolling in the form of the Camaro GT3.”