Krämer Racing triumphs in final race of the season

Meuspath. In the season finale of the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing on Saturday, Karsten Krämer, Alexey Veremenko and Christopher Brück gained the first class victory of 2021 for KKrämer Racing. Although the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS (#977) only crossed the finish line of the PAGID Racing 45th DMV Münsterland Cup in second place after 21 laps, the team ahead of them, Horst Baumann and Kai Riemer from Schmickler Performance (#75), were relegated to fifth position due to a retroactive time penalty. The team from Bergisch Gladbach also secured their best racing result in the championship’s six-year history, with 12th place overall. In second place behind KKrämer Racing was G-Tech Competition (#982) with Fabio Grosse and Patrik Grütter, while Ben Bünnagel, Nico Otto and Nick Wüstenhagen from FK Performance Motorsport (#976) came third.

The time trials on Saturday morning only began at 11:15 because of dense fog over the Nürburgring. The fastest vehicle was the mid-engine sports car from Schmickler Performance, securing them an extra championship point. However, due to a Code 60 infringement, the pair had to start the race from the pit lane. Right from the start, the 14 participants in the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing clashed in tough duels and thrilling battles for position on this 24.358-kilometre-long Nordschleife and sprint combination of the Grand Prix.

After starting in ninth place, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS (#960) driven by the W&S Motorsport team – already established as class champion – took the lead on the seventh lap. For almost the entire race, a sure-fire win seemed certain, bringing overall victory in the Nürburgring Endurance Series. But a final pit stop that was 1.5 seconds too short forced then leaders Daniel Blickle, Tim Scheerbarth and Max Kronberg to make another stop to comply with the minimum standing time, and this set them back to fourth place in their class. As a result, they were ranked second in the overall NLS standing.

This cleared the way for Schmickler Performance who, after an impressive game of catch-up, were however unable to enjoy their victory as they were subsequently relegated to fifth place. So after a constant and flawless performance, KKrämer Racing were able to celebrate not just their first success in the final race of the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing, but also victory in the AM driver standing.

In this season of the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing, 15 vehicles from 10 teams fought for the title and top positions in the team, driver and AM driver standings. Even before the ninth and final races, W&S Motorsport (team standing) and the team consisting of Daniel Blickle, Max Kronberg and Tim Scheerbarth (driver standing) were already clearly the overall winners. ‘Montana’ and Rüdiger Schicht also took the title in the AM driver standing before the final round. Throughout the season, numerous guest drivers were on the grid, and twice ensured a record field of entrants in the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing, which was contested in all rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series. 14 vehicles took part in the season finale during the PAGID Racing 45th DMV Münsterland Cup, including 12 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS of the 982 generation and two 981 series Porsche cars.
 

Views on the race:

Alexey Veremenko, KKrämer Racing, 1st in the driver, team and AM driver standings of NLS 9: “It was a fantastic race and a great end to the season for the whole team. We’ve got stronger and stronger in the last few months, but I hadn’t reckoned on victory in the final round. It was a fantastic team success, I’m over the moon.”

Karsten Krämer, head of the KKrämer Racing team, first in the driver, team and AM driver standings of NLS 9: “It’s simply overwhelming. We fought long and hard all year and had secretly hoped for success. But to be rewarded with our first victory at the end of the season is unbelievable. I’m happy for the entire team.”

Julia Klee, organiser of the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing: “This season was absolutely wonderful. We congratulate all champions on their titles and all teams and drivers for their fantastic performance. All of them offered great motorsport and a record number of entrants on the grid in the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing. Now it’s time for the winter break, and we’ll start the 2022 season with the usual enthusiasm.” 
 

NLS 9 results: Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey-Racing

1 – #977 Krämer/Veremenko/Brück (KKrämer Racing)* **
2 – #982 Grütter/Grosse (G-Tech Competition)
3 – #976 Bünnagel/Otto/Wüstenhagen (FK Performance)
4 – #960 Blickle/Scheerbarth/Kronberg (W&S Motorsport)
5 – #75 Baumann/Riemer (Schmickler Performance)
6 – #949 Beyer/Eichenberg/Kratz (Sorg Rennsport)
7 – #964 Friedhoff/Friedhoff/Wiskirchen (Aimpoint Racing)
8 – #944 Oehme/Oehme (9und11 Racing Team)
9 – #940 Dolfen/Schambony (-)
10 – #959 Vöhringer/Steinhaus/Perrot (W&S Motorsport)
* First in the team standing
** First in the AM driver standing

DNF:
#969 Jung/Sandberg/Nytroen (Mühlner Motorsport)
#955 Schicht/‘Montana’/Hoffmeister (Mathol Racing)
#979 Hoppe/Wolter/Salewsky (Mühlner Motorsport)
#978 Ullrich/Oehme/Dünwald/Kroker (KKrämer Racing)

Pole position – 8:50.621 minutes
#75 Baumann/Riemer (Schmickler Performance)

Fastest lap time – 08:37.969 minutes
#969 Jung/Sandberg/Nytroen (Mühlner Motorsport) 

Press contact:

Laura Claesgens

Corporate Communication Consultant
E-mail: l.claesgens[at]manthey-racing.de