Nurburgring report

1st Round at the European Grand Prix, Nurburgring -------------------------------------------------

Kelleners Wins After Breathtaking Duel

After a truly breathtaking race Ralf Kelleners (D, Porsche Zentrum Koblenz) won the first round of the Porsche Pirelli Supercup, but not before coming under heavy attack from Emmanuel Collard (F, JMB Com- petition). Kelleners took the lead in the first curve of the race, after Patrick Huisman (NL) nudged team mate Juergen von Gartzen (D, both Oberbayern Motorsport) in a outbraking manoevre and both flew off the track. Huisman and von Gartzen had started side by side in the first grid row. Kelleners was shadowed over the entire race by Formula 1 test driver Emmanuel Collard, third overall last year, drove a stunning race working his way through the field from sixth starting position. The duelling match in the last five laps between the German and Frenchman kept spectators gasping.

Trailing closely behind the leading duo came Altfrid Heger (D, Porsche Zentrum Koblenz). Starting from eighth place he overtook the reigning Champion Jean Pierre Malcher (F, Labre Competition) shortly before the finish, taking third. Oliver Mathai (D) and Harald Grohs (D) finished fifth and tenth position respectively putting their newly established Manthey Racing Team in the team standings lead. Frank Schmickler (D, Tolimit Motorsport) held on to his sixth place over almost the entire sprint distance against constant attacks from his rivals. Behind Schmickler came a battling Juergen von Gartzen (D, Oberbayern Motorsport). Von Gartzen fought his way to a valiant seventh place from 21st after suffering a blow from his team mate in the first corner.

Kelleners and Collard share the same tally in the drivers standings, both with 22 points to their account. Kelleners earns 20 points with his win plus another two from yesterday's draw. Collard is on 18 points with four from the Grid Lottery. Germany lies first in the Nation's Standings with 38, just ahead of France with 36.

VIP Driver Claus Theo Gaertner returned his Porsche to the mechanics as promised - clean and in one piece: "I thoroughly enjoyed the race. Perhaps next time I can better my 31st place". Popstar Haddaway's race result was handicapped by a visit to the gravel pit.

RACE RESULT:

Pos     Driver                  Team                            Time
---------------------------------------------------------------------          
 1      Ralf Kelleners/D        Porsche Zentrum Koblenz     27:44.859
 2      Emmanuel Collard/F      JMB Competition               + 0.117
 3      Altfrid Heger/D         Porsche Zentrum Koblenz         3.654
 4      Jean Pierre Malcher/F   Labre Competition               4.156
 5      Oliver Mathai/D         Manthey Racing                  8.654
 6      Frank Schmickler/D      Tolimit Motorsport             13.688
 7      Juergen von Gartzen/D   Oberbayern Motorsport          14.697
 8      Horst Farnbacher/D      Farnbacher-Zepter Motorsport   20.977
 9      Danny Pfeil/D           Kadach Tuning                  21.789
10      Harald Grohs/D          Manthey Racing                 25.573

CHAMPIONSHIP:

Pos     Driver                  Pts
-----------------------------------
 1      Ralf Kelleners/D        22
 2      Emmanuel Collard/F      22
 3      Jean Pierre Malcher/F   16
 4      Oliver Mathai/D         14
 5      Juergen von Gartzen/D   12
 6      Horst Farnbacher/D      10
 7      Harald Grohs/D           9
 8      G.Muller                 8