It was not simply another overall victory which Frank Stippler and Anders Fjordbach celebrated after the second round of the VLN endurance racing championship at the Nürburgring, this was a very special success in many respects. The new driver duo in the Audi R8 LMS set up before the season currently puts the local heroes of the Team Phoenix-Racing in high spirits. Two wins in the first two VLN races of the year any anything but common in this championship. With these two victories, the manufacturer from Ingolstadt of course also moves up in the VLN statistics. The triumph achieved on 30th April thus signified the 200th VLN class win for Audi.
This was, however, not the only jubilee that could be celebrated after the finish of the 41st DMV 4 Hour Race. More statistically significant figures were achieved after the second VLN race of the year. Amongst others, Ralf Schall is working flat out on a status as VLN legend.
Audi and Stippler moving up
Stippler, too, is working on fine-tuning his reputation as expert at the Nordschleife. It was for the 13th time for the man from Bad Münstereifel to receive the overall winner’s trophy and he thus caught up with Marc Lieb in the all-time VLN table where they both now hold tenth place. The manufacturer of his vehicle also moves up in the corresponding classification. Audi has now scored 17 victories, the same number as Opel and Chrysler – position five.
Ancient record in danger
In terms of class wins, Ralf Schall remains the best of the best. Just as it was the case already in the opening round, nobody in class H4 was able to beat him and his team mate Christopher Gerhard in the Porsche 977 GT3 Cup. The man from Dornstädt near Ulm thus further extended his lead in the VLN table of class wins which was introduced in 1990. The 84th class win was at the same time the 46th group win for Schall and he is now in third place of this statistics, together with Olaf Manthey. Schall is now also on the point to go into the lead of this classification. He needs seven more group wins to break the ancient record of Edgar Dören, not at all an impossible task for Schall.
The second part will be published tomorrow, Wednesday (4 May) at 9 o’clock.
