Autore: Keke Platzer

A selection of interesting reports about BOSS GP in international print media, published during the 2016 Championship season!

Less than twenty-four hours after taking victory in the first BOSS GP race at the Red Bull Ring in 2016, Ingo Gerstl has pocketed his second top spot… with a bit fortune. Christopher Brenier triumphed again in the FORMULA Class.

At much cooler temperatures and thus much less grip, the starting phase was highly chaotic. Yesterday’s third-placed Hans Laub spun off hitting Wolfgang Jordan, who also had to retire. The crash called for the Safety-Car lining up the pack behind it.

“I was quite surprised, when suddenly Klaas was in my mirrors.”

“It was a perfect weekend for me. I had some troubles to get temperature in my tires, but in the end everything worked out well. Now, I am already excited to run on the Nürburgring”,

the Austrian was delighted.

Regardless, Zwart was content with his runner-up spot.

“P2 is OK. I wanted to go racing, so I pushed as much as could. In the end, I could secure some valuable points.”

Eventually, also Bernd Herndlhofer got a deserved podium, who was suffering from technical troubles all weekend long.

“I am not entirely happy, but compared to yesterday, Sunday’s result is good of course.”

The FORMULA Class winner did not come as a surprise, as Frenchman Christopher Brenier had been too dominant all weekend.

“What a weekend for me. I am so excited, I could extend my lead in the championship, even though it’s early in the season.”

Fellow-countryman Philippe Haezebrouck came second and was

“content with my performance. I wanted to finish on the podium and I did”,

ahead of Peter Göllner, who scored his second podium in a row.

“Two podiums in two races – what more could I ask for. But after yesterday’s great run, I knew, I could do it again today.”

Local hero Ingo Gerstl drove in a class of his own in the first of two BOSS GP races at the Red Bull Ring this weekend.

When finally, the first rays of sunshine slightly cut through the cloudy sky, the Austrian started from Pole and immediately pulled away from the field, only shadowed by his main rival Klaas Zwart.

Third-placed Bernd Herndlhofer, whose Benetton had to be worked on at the grid, fell victim to technical failure and had to retire his car already in the opening lap.

Suddenly the Safety Car appeared on the track, after both Klaas Zwart and Gilles Brenier had crashed their cars.

“It was entirely my fault. Our tyre pressure was too high considering that the temperatures had risen rapidly in the past half hour ahead of the start. When I turned the car, I spun off. It’s a pity, because I would have loved to get a podium for the team for all the hard work they have done. But that’s racing. Better luck tomorrow.”

Zwart’s DNF meant Gerstl had lost his last opponent for OPEN Class victory, but it was by no means cruising to Silverware.

“It may look easy from the outside, but believe me, it isn’t. You must keep your concentration up and avoid the slightest mistake. If you reduce the speed too much, errors happen. So I kept pushing.”

German pair Wolfgang Jordan and Hans Laub sensationally completed the podium.

“I can’t believe it. I am pretty shocked to be standing up here on the podium, to be honest. I have of course profited from Henk de Boer’s time penalty, but it’s the rules after all. Maybe I can keep up my good form for tomorrow”,

Laub was all smiles, placing his Forti FG03 on P3 in the car’s first race in twenty years.

Wolfgang Jordan commented,

”I am delighted about the podium. Especially after the hampered qualifying. I feel sorry for Bernd (Herndlhofer) though. Looking ahead, I am pretty confident for tomorrow.”

FORMULA Class victory went to favourite Christopher Brenier, who pocketed his first win of the season.

“Winning here is amazing. It was a very chaotic race and I had troubles to keep tyre temperatures high behind the slow Safety Car. We will certainly party a bit tonight. But not too much, as I want to win again on Sunday.”

Veteran Philippe Haezebrouck came second, ahead of surprise third Peter Göllner of the Team Speed Center Castrol.

„My goal was to finish on the podium and I have achieved it, which is highly satisfying. So let’s see what tomorrow has in store.”

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.”