After a year-long break from GT1 24-year old Christopher Haase competed in the final race of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season in San Luis, Argentina. He shared a Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-SV (team: DKR www-discount.de) with Manuel Lauck (28, GER) and secured a podium finish.
“It was great to be back in a GT1 car and I felt comfortable with the car and the surroundings immediately,” a happy Christopher Haase said after his guest stint for the GT1 team.
It quickly became clear during the first free practice session on Friday. At the end of the session there was a real battle for the fastest lap times with Christopher Haase pushing the Lauck/Haase duo forward by setting the fastest time. After a few modifications in the setup the pilots finished the pre-qualifying session in P4 as the best Lamborghini in the field.
“We worked on the setup for the qualifying session, constantly improving it,” says Haase. Consequently, Lauck reached P8 in the first qualifying session and qualified the DKR Lambo for the second round. Haase took over for Q2. The team decided to drive the car with low ground clearance at the bumpy but fast track. “Unfortunately I had not considered before that the car is a few millimetres lower until the optimum tyre pressure is reached. I wanted to take advantage of my grip in a fast chicane in my fastest lap but the bump in that chicane was higher compared to last year and I hit it badly.” Haase spun and the resulting flat spots made it impossible to set another fast time. With P12 Lauck and Haase did not qualify for Q3.
Christopher Haase had a good start in the qualifying race and reached P6. An overeager competitor made unnecessary contact just before a chicane sending Haase straight over the chicane. As a consequence Haase lost three places and handed the Lamborghini over to Lauck in P9. Manuel Lauck maintained this position placing the GT duo in start position 9 for the final championship race on Sunday.
Manuel Lauck went first in the race and escaped the big crash with five cars including three Lamborghinis at the start without any damages. “We were really lucky that Manuel was not involved,” says Haase. The safety cars phase continued for the biggest part of Lauck’s stint. Haase took over for the second half with new tyres and gained two places. The final race of the 2011 GT1 season appeared to be a pure battle of material. The pilots tried to gain places regardless of the consequences. Haase suffered no damages. In the meantime he had reached P2 which he intended to keep until the end of the race. “Keeping the second place was important to me. I could not press the Corvette for the lead, it was simply too fast. However, we won the second place which is a fantastic result. “The team did an incredible job and the car was prepared perfectly. I would like to thank the crew,” says Christopher Haase.
Christopher Haase about the 2011 season: “On the one hand, there were a few disappointments during the season; on the other hand, there were many highlights. Being able to start in a GT1 race was great and I would love to compete in a World Championship again and win a title at the end.
Winning the GT3 European Championship was definitely a highlight. I also enjoyed the 24h races at the Nordschleife and in Spa. I am also Vice Champion in the German GT Championship and would like to take this opportunity to thank all teams and partners who have supported me.”
Christopher Haase has been in talks for the 2012 season but has not made a decision yet.
Source : Christopher Haase