Another three victories for KTM at Nogaro. Christopher Haase Chamoionin the last run!
It was a heartbeat final in the French Nogaro: Up until the last round of the GT4 European Cup it was not clear who would drive home with the title in the Sports Light Class – the only certain thing known in advance was that it would be a pilot from the KTM stable. Christopher Haase arrived in France with 114 points and thus a minimal advantage, closely followed by Catharina Felser (106) and Dennis Retera (103). But the initial if only small preliminary decision fell during qualifying: After it went brilliantly for both cars during the free (but rainy) training, Cathi Felser did not really reach a top time on a drying track. ‘Only’ starting position seven or rather eight remained, which still left her positioned in the middle of a field of strong GT4-cars. It went even better for her male team colleagues: Dennis Retera conquered starting position five and Christopher Haase sensationally reached pole position – the very first ever for KTM’s X-BOW!
The picture that presented itself after the first race however was in total contrast. Catharina Felser won the Sports Light Class, despite heavy jostling by her opponents - in a 50-minute race that was marred by breakdowns and accidents - and positioned herself well to fight for the title. On the other hand pole-sitter Christopher Haase was enormously unlucky. After a hick-up (his engine cut out briefly) he was pushed off the track quite roughly by two opponents simultaneously – therefore no result for him and his „Co“ Dennis Retera. However, the “Flying Dutchman” got his revenge by return in the first 25-minute race on Sunday, achieved a strong fifth place overall and the victory in the Sports Light-Class. He took the lead in the overall ranking, but was relegated to spectator-status after that: „I’ve had a good season and managed to win almost all my races. I can’t do anymore, now it’s all down to Christopher.“ His team colleague didn’t want much asking, turned the pole position into an overall fifth place and the victory in the Sports Light, and after Cathi Felser – with a strongly understeering car – was fighting bravely, but on a lost cause, the overall win could not be taken away from him.
„Perfect work from KTM and Reiter Engineering – the entire team got me this victory, I am just absolutely happy“, so the pleased, newly crowned champion of the GT4 Sports Light. Catharina Felser, who dropped to third place in literally the last second, proved to be a fair loser and was the first to congratulate her successful team colleague: „This is racing for you. Everything has to fit together in order to get the title, But I have shown all year that I can more than keep up with the boys – I have much planned for next season!“
It was a heartbeat final in the French Nogaro: Up until the last round of the GT4 European Cup it was not clear who would drive home with the title in the Sports Light Class – the only certain thing known in advance was that it would be a pilot from the KTM stable. Christopher Haase arrived in France with 114 points and thus a minimal advantage, closely followed by Catharina Felser (106) and Dennis Retera (103). But the initial if only small preliminary decision fell during qualifying: After it went brilliantly for both cars during the free (but rainy) training, Cathi Felser did not really reach a top time on a drying track. ‘Only’ starting position seven or rather eight remained, which still left her positioned in the middle of a field of strong GT4-cars. It went even better for her male team colleagues: Dennis Retera conquered starting position five and Christopher Haase sensationally reached pole position – the very first ever for KTM’s X-BOW!
The picture that presented itself after the first race however was in total contrast. Catharina Felser won the Sports Light Class, despite heavy jostling by her opponents - in a 50-minute race that was marred by breakdowns and accidents - and positioned herself well to fight for the title. On the other hand pole-sitter Christopher Haase was enormously unlucky. After a hick-up (his engine cut out briefly) he was pushed off the track quite roughly by two opponents simultaneously – therefore no result for him and his „Co“ Dennis Retera. However, the “Flying Dutchman” got his revenge by return in the first 25-minute race on Sunday, achieved a strong fifth place overall and the victory in the Sports Light-Class. He took the lead in the overall ranking, but was relegated to spectator-status after that: „I’ve had a good season and managed to win almost all my races. I can’t do anymore, now it’s all down to Christopher.“ His team colleague didn’t want much asking, turned the pole position into an overall fifth place and the victory in the Sports Light, and after Cathi Felser – with a strongly understeering car – was fighting bravely, but on a lost cause, the overall win could not be taken away from him.
„Perfect work from KTM and Reiter Engineering – the entire team got me this victory, I am just absolutely happy“, so the pleased, newly crowned champion of the GT4 Sports Light. Catharina Felser, who dropped to third place in literally the last second, proved to be a fair loser and was the first to congratulate her successful team colleague: „This is racing for you. Everything has to fit together in order to get the title, But I have shown all year that I can more than keep up with the boys – I have much planned for next season!“
