Auteur/autrice : Keke Platzer

Following rain-hampered free practice sessions, the weather for Saturday’s qualifying were not much better. Dark, grey skies, a damp track and below 10 degrees Celsius are not the most inviting race conditions.

Regardless, all drivers went out immediately in order to get as many laps under their belts as possible, attempting to get acquainted to the conditions.

The OPEN Class saw the Red Bull Ring entirely in Austrian hands in free practice with Peter Milavec on top in FP1 and Bernd Herndlhofer in FP2. That didn’t change in qualifying as Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) had finally overcome his technical troubles and marked the quickest time in 1:16,868 minutes. However, it looked much easier from the outside than it actually was.

“The new tarmac is so dark that you can barely see the dry patches. It was tough out there today”,

Gerstl revealed.

“P1 in my home race is fantastic, of course. It’s a pity I had to sit out FP1, because more track time would have been very useful, especially in these conditions. But I am confident for the race, although Klaas and Bernd will push like crazy”,

he added.

Ascari driver Klaas Zwart placed his Jaguar R5 on P2 a tenth off Gerstl’s top time, just ahead of Bernd Herndholfer, who completed the Top 3 in a qualifying session which was characterised by countless yellow flags and spins into the gravel.

Wolfgang Jordan, who placed fifth, expects

“Gerstl, Zwart and Herndlhofer to pull away from us. So I will focus on a dog fight with Peter Milavec. I didn’t get one clear lap together in qualifying, so there is some room for improvement in the race.”

In the FORMULA Class, favourite Christopher Brenier continued to dominate and cruised to top spot.

“I am delighted, as I will start the race from the second row overall, so maybe I can actually challenge some of the OPEN Class drivers.”

Both Philippe Haezebrouck and Gilles Brenier confirmed their good form coming second and third.

Speed Center driver Christian Eicke was suffering from a hydraulics problem in qualifying.

“However, I am confident, we will work it out for the race. Otherwise, I will have to take our spare car.”

In Friday’s second free practice session at the Red Bull Ring, conditions were much better for the drivers than in the morning stint. The track had dried up and temperatures were a little higher.

When the lights went on green, there was lots of action in the pits, as several competitors had not yet hit the tarmac due to earlier technical issues.

In the OPEN Class Ingo Gerstl finally got his Toro Rosso car going, but it was another home fans hero who topped the standings. Bernd Herndlhofer pushed his Benetton B197 to a mighty 1:17,532 minutes outpacing the rest of the field. Unfortunately, he had to retire his car shortly before practice time had elapsed causing a red flag.

Championship leader Klaas Zwart was still battling problems with his newly set up car, but jumped to P2 in the dying seconds, just ahead of Gerstl. Peter Milavec, who had led the pack after FP1, finished fourth.

Czech female driver Veronica Cicha made her debut in a Formula One car, chasing good lap times in a Super Aguri SA06.

In the FORMULA class, Christopher Brenier continued to dominate, underlining that he wants victory on Saturday.

“What a great day for me. I hope my streak will hold tomorrow”,

he was all smiles.

Salvatore de Plano made up for times past in the morning and came runner-up, ahead of two Frenchmen, Gilles Brenier and Philippe Haezebrouck. De Plano and Haezebrouck agreed that

“the Breniers are very strong here. But we will do our best to defeat them.”

The BOSS GP series has returned to Austria and is holding its free practice sessions on Friday. Most drivers are taking advantage of the extra mileage to get better acquainted with the Red Bull Ring and work on their set ups.

In difficult conditions with slight rain and only 15 degrees Celsius, Austrian Peter Milavec was the fastest man in the OPEN Class. He punched his Panoz DP01 around the hilly circuit finishing top of the pack, one second clear of Wolfgang Jordan from Germany, and Dutchman Klaas Zwart.

Overall standings leader Zwart took a calm start into the weekend only doing five fast laps, while his main championship rival Ingo Gerstl was sidelined with an electronic problem. However, he is hopeful to take part in the day’s second session.

“We have arrived with a completely new car, so we did a first shakedown in the opening session. Thus, it was not about quick lap times in this stint.”

In the FORMULA Class Christopher Brenier has dominated.

“I love this track and I am having a lot of fun out there. I happy with the result, but of course, it’s only Friday.”

The Frenchman has been battling with Milavec for the session’s top time and outpaced his fellow-countrymen Gilles Brenier (P2) und Philippe Haezebrouck (P3).

Less amused was Italian Salvatore de Plano, who complained about the new tarmac surface:

“The track is exciting, but the current asphalt is very slippery. When it rains, it’s even worse.”

The BossGP Series returns to Styria for the second race weekend of the 2016 season.

Since Europe’s fastest formula racing series did not race on the 4,318 km track last year, this season’s visit will only be its second after 2014. Two years ago, the dominating man on the fast, hilly and curvy circuit was Luxemburg’s Gray Hauser. Despite his great display at the season opener in Hockenheim, Hauser will not be on the grid this time. Regardless, the entry list guarantees close and exciting racing in both categories.

Favourites or local heroes?

In the OPEN class the duel between Dutchman Klaas Zwart and Austrian Ingo Gerstl is expected to continue. Already in the first two races in Hockenheim, the pair was battling out victory. However, racing on home soil, also Peter Milavec and Bernd Herndlhofer have faith in their chances and will be pushing hard to challenge Zwart and Gerstl.

Who is Hauser’s heir?

 In the FORMULA category, Gary Hauser’s absence means the pack is reshuffled and the fight for the top is closer than ever. Frenchman Christopher Brenier, who finished runner-up twice in Hockenheim, is the declared favourite. However, Salvatore de Plano and Philippe Haezebrouck are also out for winning Silverware. “I know and like the Red Bull Ring. It’s great fun to race on” Haezebrouck said. A potential dark horse is Veronika Cicha. The series’ only female driver sensationally finished on P6 twice in Hockenheim and is highly motivated to battle for a podium.

Weather as game changer?
Looking at the weather forecast will give drivers and teams a headache, because the so called “Frost Saints” phenomenon will cater for cold temperatures and lots of rain on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, skies shall clear up and allow a dry race.

Austria’s Ingo Gerstl triumphed over reigning champion Klaas Zwart in an amazing fight to decide the second BOSS GP race of the season at Hockenheimring in his favor.

Already the race start wreaked havoc as many drivers did not realise two warm-up laps had been issued and caused a mass collision. At the restart another crash urged for a second red flag.

When the race finally took off, Gerstl and Zwart battled for the top lap after lap, while Bernd Herndlhofer was fighting off Gary Hauser to remain in third.

Zwart led for most of the race, but could not shake off Gerstl, who took the lead in the dying minutes and posted his first win of the year. Hauser once again took 1st place in the Formula Class, ahead of Christopher Brenier and Philippe Haezebrouck.

« I had a bad start, but then I caught up with Klaas. I was able to match his pace and when I got the chance, I overtook him. It’s a great feeling to have won here and now I am looking forward even more to my home race in Spielberg »,

Gerstl was all smiles.

However, Dutchman Zwart was not discontent saying:

« It was a good weekend for me with a 1st and 2nd spot. To be honest, I haven’t seen a lot of all the chaos behind me, as I was focusing on pulling away. »

Third-placed Herndlhofer was unhappy with his car,

« which still doesn’t work properly », but « relieved that the race was so short in the end. Hence, I could bring the points home. »

Formula Class double winner Gary Hauser, on the other hand, would have wished for a couple of laps more,

« because then I could have caught Bernd (Herndlhofer). »

Reigning BOSS GP Champion Klaas Zwart dominated Saturday’s season opener at the Hockenheimring and left his opposition chanceless.

Zwart led an action-packed race from start to finish securing himself the first 25 points.

« I couldn’t have asked for a better start into the new season. Hopefully, it will be dry again tomorrow, because our cars are pretty expensive and I don’t want to end up in the armco »

the Dutchman said.

Austria’s Ingo Gerstl battled his way back from the end of the field to finish runner-up.

« Our qualifying was rubbish, as I didn’t have a clear track. And what’s more, my fastet lap was cancelled. So I had to risk a lot in the race, but it worked out eventually »,

Gerstl was happy, but exhausted.

His fellow-countryman Bernd Herndlhofer completed the podium, while Gary Hauser capped his comeback by winning the Formula Class event.

« I am not entirely happy, as my chances would have been better in rainy conditions. Maybe it will rain again tomorrow »,

Herndlhofer said.

On the other hand, Hauser was delighted saying:

« It is great to come back with such a result. I can’t wait to get back into the car and attack again tomorrow. »

In a qualifying session under difficult conditions with heavy rain and several incidents, Luxembourg ace Gary Hauser secured himself the first Pole Position of the season.

The 2013 double-champion marked the best laptime only just outpacing Austrian Bernd Herndlhofer, who sensationally placed his Benetton B197 F1-Judd on P2.

Defending champion Klaas Zwart came third, while Ingo Gerstl saw his quickest lap cancelled and will have to start the race from the pitlane.

The BOSS GP season opener will start in Hockenheim at 4 pm today, when the track should have dried up again.

Boss GP – Qualifying Results

Defending champion Klaas Zwart has dominated free practice 2 for the BOSS GP season opener at the Hockenheimring. The Dutchman lapped the notorious German circuit in 1:24.397 minutes, underlining who will be the man to beat.

Right behind Zwart, Luxemburg’s Gary Hauser decided a close battle against Austrian Ingo Gerstl in his favour by 0.4 seconds, which also made him the quickest Formula Class driver of the day.

On Saturday, qualifying will take place, followed by the first race of the weekend. The latter is forecast to be held in mixed weather conditions with patches of rain, which may cause some trouble in the pecking order.

The new BOSS GP season has started with a bang, as 2013 double champion Gary Hauser, who has returned to the series for this year, set the fatest time in the opening free practice at Hockenheim.

The Luxembourg-born driver lapped the renowned German track in his Dallara GP2 in 1:46,079 minutes, an incredible 1.2 seconds faster than Frenchman Christopher Brenier. Austria’s Peter Milavec was quickest Open Class driver on P5, while defending champion Klaas Zwart only placed his R5 F1-Cosworth 3.0 V10 on P10.

The second free practice session starts at 4:35 pm local time. Temperatures are said to rise, which would mean quicker lap times.

The 2016 BOSS GP Championship starts with the traditional season opener in Hockenheim

Thousands of motorsport enthusiasts and petrol heads will travel to Hockenheim to celebrate racing at the ‘Hockenheim Historic’, held in memory of double Formula One World Champion Jim Clark, who suffered a lethal crash at the track in 1968.

BOSS GP ‘The Fastest Race Series In Europe’ is again part of this unique motorsport experience at the renowned race track near Heidelberg, where more than 500 race cars will entertain the fans over the weekend.

Different to last season, BOSS GP has concentrated forces and will now run the OPEN class and the FORMULA class. In the OPEN class, Formula One and Champ respectively IndyCars will battle for Silverware and Championship points while in the Formula Class mainly GP2, World Series by Renault and Superleague Formula cars will fight for podium places.

OPEN class Champion, Dutchman Klaas Zwaart (Jaguar R5) will try to defend his title against his closest contenders, Austrian Ingo Gerstl (Toro Rosso STR1) and Peter Milavec (Panoz DP01 Champcar). This years FORMULA class promises an exciting battle for the podium spots. 2013 double-Champion Gary Hauser from Luxembourg will give his comeback this weekend. 23 cars including 6! F1’s are on the entry list for this race which is also the biggest grid of all opening rounds in BOSS racing history (since 1995).

In 2016, BOSS GP will be competing at seven different European venues, holding 14 races in total. Hockenheim will be followed by the Red Bull Ring in May. The other tracks are Nurburgring, Monza, Assen, Brno and Imola.

The BOSS GP drivers cannot wait to push the pedal to the metal for a spectacular season opener full of Highspeed, Power and Noise.

Stay tuned!