FIA GT \u2013 PREVIEW OSCHERSLEBEN FIA GT ProSpeed Competition defending a double leadership position in FIA GT GR\u00c2CE-HOLLOGNE, 17\/06\/2009. Following Prospeed Competition\u2019s victory in the second race of the FIA GT in Adria, the Oschersleben circuit is now the following venue on the FIA GT and FIA GT3 calendar. In Germany ProSpeed Competition will be defending Manu Collard and Richard Westbrook leaders\u2019 position with the drivers and on top of that also that of the team in the battle for the team title. On the GT3 front the team are looking to clinch a first podium place. ProSpeed Competition will be welcoming two new faces in Oschersleben, namely the Brit Sean Edwards in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR teamed up with Marco Holzer (GT2) and the Greek Dimitris Deverikos in the Porsche 911 Cup S, which he shares with Niki Lanik (GT3).<\/p>\n
Following his debut at Le Mans last weekend Darryl O\u2019Young will not be amongst them. \u201cThat\u2019s right\u201d, Rudi Penders started off the conversation looking ahead to the German round of the FIA GT-championship. \u201cDarryl is active in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and as from Spa will be back amongst us. In fact he\u2019s being replaced by Sean Edwards here. Sean is a young 22 year old Brit who won the first FIA GT3 title back in 2006 with Porsche and who competed in the 2007 FIA GT2 championship with a Porsche, with a third place in GT2 during the 24 Hours of Spa as his best result. In fact he will be competing for us in the 24 Hours of Spa and Oschersleben is therefore the perfect way in which to integrate him into the team and get to know some of our run of the mill procedures. In Oscherleben Marco and Sean are going flat out for a podium. It soon became apparent in Adria that our \u2018second\u2019 car had enormous potential, and can definitely improve on that fourth place clinched in Adria On top of that every point scored in the battle for the team title is welcomed with open arms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows, we might have to give our team mates a boost\u201d, Manu Collard laughed, having just won in Le Mans with Porsche in LMP2. \u201cFor Oschersleben we have no less than 90 kilo ballast (40 kilo as success ballast and 50 kilo \u2018fixed ballast\u2019 for the entire season as a result of the driver pairing). Tough going, especially as in the first instance these ninety kilo are an enormous handicap in qualifying, resulting in achieving a far less favourable spot on the starting grid. The outcome is that we\u2019ll be enjoying a catch-up race, which is not ideal in Oschersleben. This German circuit is not designed for overtaking. But last but not least trying to go into the attack with a heavy car is not obvious. A good start, a perfect strategy and a bit of luck will be of vital importance for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
In FIA GT3 the Greek Dimitris Deverikos will be heading up the Belgian team. In the past Deverikos has claimed a few podium places with Porsche in FIA GT3 and will be out on the prowl with Niki Lanik to win a first podium place for ProSpeed Competition in FIA GT3. Marc Maton (Team manager ProSpeed FIA GT3): \u201cAbove all we\u2019ll need to find a perfect set-up and be fast during the qualifying sessions, as Oschersleben is not a circuit where you can count on working your way up through the pack, especially not in GT3. But I do have this feeling that our two drivers are well matched and that we\u2019ll be pretty competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n