Nick Tandy is all smiles on the podium - Photo Credit: Porsche AG
Nick Tandy has extended his points lead in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland with victory in the penultimate race of the season at Oschersleben.
The Briton's advantage lies at 12 points ahead of the season finale at Hockenheim after nearest rival and compatriot Sean Edwards could only manage fifth place in the race.
Konrad Motorsport driver Tandy took the lead from polesitter Nicki Thiim at the start, and had Rene Rast for company early on. He later pulled away as drizzle became heavier during the race. The safety car came out at the very end of the race allowing Tandy to cruise across the line.
“Super,” declared Tandy afterwards. “But it's not over yet. A twelve-point advantage is of course good. This was one of the most difficult races this year. With each lap, the track became more and more damp and slippery – and I was in the lead so the others could just watch what happened to me. I left the track a couple of times but there was no need to panic. I'd managed to build up a gap early on from which I later profited.”
Rast had fallen into the clutches of Thiim late on but the safety car meant he held onto second ahead of the Dane.
“I'm pleased with second place,” said Rast. “Nicki's start wasn't that great, so Nick and I managed to get past him. Early on I could keep up with Tandy because he kept making small mistakes, but then he pulled away. In the end the rain was so heavy that it was the right decision to bring out the safety car.”
Thiim added: “It was an eventful and very tough race. Unfortunately I messed up my start. The conditions were very difficult, you had to use all the tricks of the trade. I found it annoying that the safety car came out, otherwise I could have taken Rene and maybe even Nick. We're sitting third in the championship, and after a year's break that's pretty good.”
Jan Seyffarth came out on top of a duel with reigning champion Nicolas Armindo for fourth. Edwards fought with Thiim for third early on but then lost his front splitter after hitting a kerb. That lost him grip on the slippery surface and he fell back behind Armindo. However, the Frenchman lost the place again before the end of the race went he took a trip off-road, promoting Edwards to fifth.
Robert Lukas was seventh, ahead of Robert Renauer, substituting for Jeroen Bleekemolen as teammate to Edwards at Team Deutsche Post by tolimit. Jaap van Lagen was ninth with another guest driver Hannes Plesse tenth, in place of Martin Ragginger.
Race result – 22 laps:
1. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, 37:19.587 minutes (130.704 km/h)
2. René Rast (D), Förch Racing, + 1.265 seconds
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 1.565
4. Jan Seyffarth (D), SMS Seyffarth Motorsport, + 2.208
5. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 2.426
6. Nicolas Armindo (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 3.925
7. Robert Lukas (PL), Förch Racing, + 4.513
8. Robert Renauer (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 5.404
9. Jaap van Lagen (NL), Land Motorsport, + 6.445
10. Hannes Plesse (D), Schnabl Engineering, + 7.734
Drivers' classification after 8 of 9 races:
1. Nick Tandy (GB), 122 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 110
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), 85
4. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 84
5. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 81
6. René Rast (D), 75
