The LMP2 and ex-GP2 driver Simon Trummer will start in 2018 at selected races for the team of Peter Schmidt from Walluf. In races 8 and 9 of the VLN endurance championship he shares the Audi R8 LMS GT3 with Pierre Kaffer.
At the ADAC Zurich 24H race at the Nürburgring Car Collection Motorsport starts with two cars from Ingolstadt. The spearhead is made up of Pierre Kaffer, Simon Trummer and Adrien de Leener. For the fourth driver’s seat the team is still negotiation with drivers. In the second round of the VLN Endurance Championship, the trio starts for Car Collection, but without Pierre Kaffer, who is in Zolder at the season opener for the Blancpain GT Series. The second Audi R8 LMS GT3 in the 24H race will be driven by Stefan Aust, Christian Bollrath, Ronnie Saurenmann and Miro Konopka. Aust and Bollrath will also start the qualifying race in mid-April.
Simon Trummer: “I can’t wait to finally get back to the Nordschleife. We are in a good position with Team Car Collection Motorsport and our team-mates Pierre and Adrien – and there is certainly another strong driver on board for the 24-hour peak. The Audi R8 LMS is a bank in the Eifel. Above all the experience of the team and that of Pierre Kaffer should help us to be able to drive in the front field. I’ve learned a lot during my races on the Nordschleife last year. In the new constellation at Car Collection I would like to take the next step and improve myself in the ‘Green Hell’. I could start today!”
During the rest of the year, Simon Trummer and Pierre Kaffer will once again go together in the cockpit for Car Collection at rounds 8 and 9. The third driver’s seat is currently still free. For the remainder of the season in the VLN endurance racing championship, drives are currently also offered on the current Audi R8 LMS GT3 or alternatively on the Porsche 991 GT3 Cup model I or model II.
Adrien de Leener: “The 24h of Nürburgring is probably the most challenging endurance race there and every driver wants to be there! I really look forward to being back with Audi and for first time with Car Collection for VLN and the 24 hours of Nürburgring. We will use the VLN race to prepare and with Pierre, Simon and the full team. I’m confident we have a strong experienced and reliable line up. Pierre and I have raced together in the Blancpain Endurance Series and obtained a great result especially in the 24h race; he was not only a great coach but also friend. I look forward to the challenge of repeating that success together with Simon and the 4th driver who will surely further strengthen our team. I want to thank Car Collection, Peter and Denis for putting their faith in us to bring back a good result for the team.”
But the use of the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 in the ADAC Zurich 24H race is not the only task for Car Collection Motorsport this weekend. For the first time in Europe, the supporting program will include the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup. Here the team around Peter Schmidt uses two more GT3 racers from Ingolstadt. The “Amadeus Group” Audi R8 LMS is piloted by Dirg Parhofer, the second Audi R8 LMS in X-Direct Group design by his son Dimitri.
Peter Schmidt: “We managed to put together a great project for the 24H race and are very happy to have found three quick and experienced drivers with Simon, Adrien and Pierre. Of Course we are pleased that Stefan, Christian, Ronnie and Miro once again put their trust in us and that we will even enter two Audi R8 LMS GT3 at the season’s highlight. We are still in negotiation for the fourth seat, but we are confident that we will be able to announce the driver shortly. The driver who supports us at the VLN races 8 and 9 is currently also under negotiation.”
Pierre Kaffer: “Car Collection Motorsport has put on a great project for the 24h race at the Nürburgring. I know both Simon and Adrien very well and we did already great and successful races together. I am very much looking forward to supporting this project. At VLN #2, the boys will compete for the first time and use the race for preparation. At the endurance classics I can finally be there. At the end of the year we will attack again at VLN #8 and #9.”
