ADAC GT Masters : Lamborghini top at the Nuerburgring

From the start of the weekend, the Lamborghini showed their potential at the famous Nürburgring. They would be the cars to beat. So after the first qualifying three Gallardo were in the first three places on the grid for race one. Frank Schmickler (ARGO Racing) drove the fastest lap in 1.45,623 minutes, followed by Harald Becker (also ARGO Racing) and Roman Rusinov (team flatex-reiter). With Albert von Thurn und Taxis (team flatex-reiter) a further Gallardo driver was within the Top 10 (6th on the grid).
The result of the second qualifying was even better. Six Lamborghini Gallardo were present in the Top 10 of the grid. The pole position for race 2 was held by Peter Kox (team flatex-reiter) in front of Frank Kechele (ARGO Racing). Jan Lammers qualified his team flatex-reiter Gallardo for the second row (4th on the grid), followed by Christopher Haase (team flatex-reiter) and Sebastian Asch (ARGO Racing). Michael Raja closed the Top 10 with his MRP Motorsport car on 10th starting position.

An accident in the first corner of the first race on Friday mixed up the ranking of the field. Pole setter Frank Schmickler kept the lead without problems and started immediately to build up a gap. Also parts of the leading group were his team mate Harald Becker and Roman Rusinov of team flatex-reiter.
All three Lamborghini Gallardo stayed in front until the obligatory pit stops. But then the leading Gallardo of Schmickler / Asch lost some seconds in the pit lane and came back on track at second position. Peter Kox, with good chances to win this first race of the weekend, had to park his GT3 Lamborghini only a few laps before the chequered flag after some stones (a car in front of him went through a gravel trap) destroyed the front coolers.But the 60 minutes race still had been a success for Lamborghini. While Sebastian Asch crossed the line in second position, Frank Kechele came home in third, Jan Lammers in fourth and Christopher Haase in fifth place. Haase / von Thurn und Taxis lost some places after a spin in the first lap, but came back into the leading group after a series of very fast laps.

Also in the second race of the weekend in front of a big number of spectators at the 24hrs of the Nürburgring two Lamborghini Gallardo finished onto the podium. After second and third place on Friday, a victory was the result of Saturday´s race. Peter Kox and Roman Rusinov were the dominating drivers from start to finish and scored the first victory for Lamborghini in the ADAC GT Masters 2008. Third after 60 minutes were Christopher Haase and Albert von Thurn und Taxis. With this superb result they stepped up to second in the driver point standings of the championship.
Especially for Haase, this second race had a hot moment, as a car, which should be overtaken by Haase, slowed down unexpected and the young German driver had to pass him on the grass. Also Becker / Kechele (8th) finished into the points. Two more Gallardo came home in the top 10. Ritskes / Lammers had a 9th, Raja / Stiefel a 10th place as their result in race 2.
The point standings after four races:
| 1. | Bergmeister | Porsche 997 Cup S | 22 Points | |
| 2. | Haase | von Thurn u. Taxis | Lamborghini Gallardo | 18 Points |
| 2. | Heyer | Hennerici | Ford GT | 18 Points |
| 2. | Von Gartzen | Mutsch | Ford GT | 18 Points |
| 3. | Becker | Kechele | Lamborghini Gallardo | 15 Points |
| 4. | Schmickler | Asch | Lamborghini Gallardo | 14 Points |
| 4. | J. Bergmeister | Porsche 997 Cup S | 14 Points | |
| 5. | Kox | Rusinov | Lamborghini Gallardo | 10 Points |
| 5. | Stippler | Arnold | Porsche 997 Cup S | 10 Points |
| 6. | Rodrigues | Aston Martin DBRS9 | 9 Points | |
| 7. | Basseng | Porsche 997 Cup S | 8 Points | |
| 8. | Rodrigues | Accary | Aston Martin DBRS9 | 7 Points |
Team flatex-reiter is 3rd in the team ranking now with 25 points in front of ARGO Racing with 20 points. MRP Motorsport is scored on 8th place. Christopher Haase and Albert von Thurn und Taxis are the leaders of the Lamborghini challenge in front of Becker / Kechele and Asch / Schmickler.











