Czech Circuits: Enge succeeds with Mercedes DTM at Most - 09.06.2008
Sunday’s Sprint mirrored a drama of Saturdays’s endurance race. The only difference was that the print was shorter. Drivers of the Charouz Racing System team with Mercedes AMG DTM C-class cars got two podium places – Tomas Enge finished second and Antonin Charouz was just behind in the standings. Swede Thed Bjork with Audi A4 DTM won the race. The tyre selection proved to be a decisive factor in third round of International Czech Circuits Championship.
Heavy rain fall hit Most just before the start which was, like Saturday, delayed. Enge did not have luck with his choose, Charouz capitalized on his last minute change. Enge led he colourful grid after the start of the 13 laps long race. Two Audis A4 DTM pushed him, Björk was behind the wheel of the closer one. It looked like Enge was going for a double at the beginning but situation changed.
“I selected intermediates and it was a mistake,” said Enge. "The track dried unbelievably quickly. I was able to defend my position few laps but it was impossible to keep the gold. Thed was on the slicks and held all the trumps. All in all, I am happy with the whole weekend. Winning endurance race yesterday and today I closed the gap to Tomas Kostka in the overall standing as he finished fourth. However, my mind is now fully focused to the 24 Heures Du Mans where I will race with Jan Charouz and Stefan Mucke in LMP1 prototype powered by Aston Martin. I am leaving to France today,I am really looking forward there.”
Enge was the main hunter in Saturdays’s endurance race (he won with Stefan Mücke, Charouz and Vaclav Nimc) and his boss Antonin Charouz took the mantle yesterday. The racing team boss decided to change tyres at the very last moment. The full grid was going to the first corner when he left from the pits on new, heated slick after he had decided to change the wets. The change paid off.
Report and quotes from Saturday’s three hours race
Saturday’s three hours race at Most was a reminder of big battles in the American Le Mans Series or FIA GT championships. The Czech championship endurance race of the D4 class was decided in the last seconds as is often the case in those prestigious championships. Hard fight culminated when the leaders entered the last lap and Mercedes DTM C-Class with Tomas Enge behind the wheel overtook the main rival Audi A4 DTM. He shared the car with Stefan Mucke and Antonin Charouz.
The Czech circuit community hardly remembers such a thrilling finish. Mercedes No. 1 led at the beginning but lost some time and places during the race that were caused y a two drive through penalties and also due not ideal selection of the tyres. When Antonin Charouz got behind the wheel he chose intermediates and it proved to be a wrong choice on a rapidly drying track.
“It was like driving on the ice and even some slower cars overtook me,” said Charouz. “There were only two solutions, either to pit again for slicks or to try to finish my stint. I selected the second possibility and fortunately it paid off at the end,” added the racing boss of the team and praised the hero of the day: “Tome, I am sorry to give you such a hard jog. Congratulations you drove fabulously.”
The ex-formula 1 driver just swept his hand. “It’s okay,” said a wiped his face. The last 45 minutes, when he was behind the wheel, was a real display of a master. Initially he was three laps down. The rivals had to pit and Enge suddenly was in the same lap.
It was just half an hour before the end of the race and the Charouz Racing System was sad after they had to retire with a broken prop-shaft in the Mercedes AMG DTM C-Class No. 2 and the leading car was way down behind the leader. However, the mood quickly changed. It was just a matter of look to the timing screen. Enge gained 10-15 seconds with each lap. “Marcel, tell to Tomas to push. He can do it,” said Charouz to the leading technician Holan.
However, the radio stopped working. Anyway, there was no need to say anything to Enge. “I was on the edge. I wished so much do it,” said driver who had parents in the pits. He overtook the leader entering the last lap and was cheered by the team on the pit wall. “I think that it was a very interesting race. Without the radio, I had to use on the pit board when I saw the the gap is closing. I pushed like hell. We won today but there is tomorrow’s sprint with six DTM cars on the grid.”
Stefan Mücke watched his performance from the pitlane and for a while also he did not believe that Enge would manage to do it. “Hats off to Tomas. He drove in a fantastic way. It is great to see a finish like this. It was a wonderful show, luckily with a good end for us,” added the young Berliner.
Tomas Enge, Thed Björk
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Tomas Enge, Thed Björk, Vaclav Nimc
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Milan Urban
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Milan Urban
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Tomas Enge, Thed Björk
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Tomas Enge, Thed Björk
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Jan Urban
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Antonin Charouz, Vaclav Nimc
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Jan Urban
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Antonin Charouz
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Tomas Enge, Robert Senkyr, Vaclav Nimc
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Tomas Enge
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Tomas Enge
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Antonin Charouz
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Photo: BPA/Martin Straka
Hi-Res photo HERE
Photogallery from Most, International Czech Circuits Championship:
Friday HERE
Saturday HERE
Results
Saturday HERE
Sunday HERE
International Czech Circuits Championship 2008
20/04/2008 Hungaroring
18/05/2008 Most
08/06/2008 Most
27/07/2008 Poznan
10/08/2008 Most
21/09/2008 Brno
25/10/2008 Brno