Unfortunately, Ekstrom was not able to get a stint in when the Porsche 911 RSR was involved in a crash 5 laps in. We are looking forward to the 24-Hour Race Audi works team!
As preparation for a possible appearance as a driver in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race Audi works team, DTM ace Mattias Ekström contested the season opener of the Endurance Championship Nürburgring, this weekend. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR entered by Land-Motorsport, the Swede wanted to refresh his Nordschleife skills.
In the qualifying session, Ekström and his team-mates, Toto Wolff and Marc Basseng, delivered in superior style to secure pole position. ‘For the first time in my career I have raced a Porsche and it was big fun,’ Ekström beamed following the qualifying session. ‘The car’s handling is just great.’ But his delight came to an early and sudden end when the squad’s start driver, Wolff, was involved in a collision on lap five, forcing the team into early retirement. Consequently, Ekström had to leave the Nürburgring without having contested a single race lap.
The event was won by former DTM driver Marcel Tiemann and Timo Bernhard who clinched the win in the four-hour race at the wheel of a Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
