Jasmin Preisig: Race premiere with Autorama
RE-START OF THE 24H SERIES On the second weekend in June, the endurance racing series continues in Portugal. Autorama Motorsport will be at the start with two top manned VW Golf TCR. Jasmin Preisig is taking part for the first time. The highlights of the all too short 24H Dubai. Next week the weather should play a less important role in Portugal. Early in January, the 24H [...]
The highlights of the all-too-brief 24H Dubai. Next week, the weather in Portugal should play less of a role.
Early in January, the 24H Series began with the traditional 24 Hours of Dubai. Torrential rain early on required the race to be stopped prematurely (see Report).
In retrospect, this was a bad omen, because a few weeks later, before the European series should have started in Monza, racing came to a standstill due to the Corona crisis. As of next week, the wheels will be turning again.
The traffic light goes green again
After the long forced break, the race will finally go on at the Circuit Algarve in Portimão from June 11 to 14. The Dutch organizers from the Creventic agency have managed to work out a concept with all the necessary safety measures in a short time and thus meet the conditions of the Portuguese authorities and the track operators.
Just as Dubai in Janbuar had opened the international racing year 2020, the now 24H Portimão form the hugely delayed season opener in Europe.
Autorama with two top quartets
From a Swiss perspective, the focus will be on Autorama Motorsport, technically supported by Wolf-Power Racing, with its two VW Golf GTI TCR. With eight drivers - Yannick Mettler, Miklas Born, Jérôme Ogay, Jasmin Preisig, Christoph Lenz, Kari-Pekka Laaksonen (FIN), Anti Buri (FIN), and Roberto Ferri (I) - the championship team is top notch.
With five Swiss, a strong national team has been put together. However, the team boss does not want to make the lineup until after the on-site training, with the drivers having a say in the process. The interests in the drivers' championship also have to be taken into account.
Stefan Tanner: "I'm glad that we can fill both cars so well. After all, we live off customers and had feared that people would be cautious and reluctant because of Corona. Now it's rather the opposite - everyone wants to drive again."
Finally it works with Jasmin Preisig
Joining the team from Wetzikon for the first time are Jasmin Preisig and Christoph Lenz. As an ambassador for Volkswagen Switzerland, Preisig, who comes from Appenzell, has ties to the brand anyway, but Lenz is switching from the GT3 to a TCR cockpit for the first time.
The 27-year-old AHV clerk from Schwellbrunn is happy to be able to compete in a completely different race before the delayed start to the Nürburgring endurance series, where she drives for Max Kruse Racing.
Jasmin Preisig: "Stefan Tanner had already asked me several times, but it never fit in terms of scheduling. Now we're going to try it together. With such a successful team, it will certainly be cool. If it goes well, another race with them is certainly an option."
Waiting time finally over
Incidentally, this will be her first real 24-hour race. With "Girls only," an all-female team, she barely got to drive at last year's premiere at the Nürburgring due to technical problems.
And like her, it's probably happening to all racers now.
Jasmin Preisig: "The last time I sat in a TCR car was at the beginning of March, shortly before the lockdown. Now half the year is almost over, and you have the feeling that you haven't really experienced anything yet. That's enough now..."
Third VW Golf in Wetzikon
Last week Stefan Tanner picked up a new VW Golf GTI TCR from Volkswagen Motorsport in Germany. Probably already from the race after next in Monza Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing wants to use it as an additional car.
After a third-place finish in Dubai, the aim is to win again soon. The season's goal, i.e. successfully defending the tiutel in the 24H Series touring car classification, remains unchanged despite Corona.
