LMN: Fog shortened race, puncture cost Tomas Enge a podium finish - 11.10.2008

Tomas Enge with Austrian team-mate Robert Lechner finished fourth in today’s race at Nürburgring. They shared factory Aston Martin DBRS9. Heavy fog caused changes in the schedule of the seventh round of the German BF Goodrich Langstrecken Meisterschaft Nürburgring (LMN). Both qualifying and race were shortened as a result. The race with over 200 cars lasted only three hours and five minutes instead of usual four hours.

Tomas set third time in the qualifying and also started the race. The middle part was up to Lechner who later pitted to hand the car back to Tomas. The Czech driver set second best lap in the race and was beaten only by a Porsche Turbo car which has over 100 horsepower advantage. Just two laps before the finish Tomas was fighting for second place when the factory Aston Martin got a puncture. Necessary pitstop pushed the team to fourth over the line.

Tomas Enge: “It is obviously pity but there is nothing to do when you have a puncture. We had said even before the start that this race would be primary our testing for 24 hours Nürburgring race in 2009 and from this point of view we are satisfied. We have learned many new things and have got new experience. Also I can drive here on the limit. To race on such demanding track as is Nordschleife with over 20 kilometres lap is experience very valuable.”
www.tomas-enge.cz

Unofficial results
1. Manthey-Ratioparts 22 laps, 2. Alzen -3.44,9; 3. Manthey-Manheim -5:14,1; 4. Aston Martin Racing (Enge, R.  Lechner) -5:15,6; 5. Frikadelli -6:33,5; 6. Wochenspiegel -6:57,0; 7. Precitool -8:53,4; 8. Land -8:54,2.

Website of championship: www.vln.de

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Photo: Aston Martin Racing