Filip Salaquarda and Frank Stippler worked on the setup of the n.33 Audi R8 LMS in free practice sessions not looking for the quickest performance. The nineteenth place in Q1 and the sixteenth in Q2 might have envisaged for two mid-pack races, but engineers and drivers were positive for the remainder of the weekend.

Unfortunately race one lasted only a few meters for the ISR drivers, involved in an incident during the first lap, which heavily damaged the steering arm. An early retirement prevented, therefore, drivers to show all their potential in the race.

The chance to bounce back was readily there in Race two run on changing weather conditions. Stippler started on slick tyres and put in a virtually perfect first stint without mistakes. Despite the tricky tarmac due to the rain, he did not change his strategy and avoided to pit for wet tyres.

Salaquarda lapped on a good rhythm in the second stint, thanks to a great balance of the car, and managed to climb up to P2. When the track started to dry up things became more complicated, especially the tyre management due to the rising temperature and pressure. Salaquarda fended off as many attacks as possible in the closing stages, despite his rivals having fresher tyres and eventually crossed the finish line in fifth place. A penalty handed to car number 42 promoted Team ISR to P4.

Team Principal Igor Salaquarda said: “We are more than happy with the result obtained today, that is our best finishing position in ADAC GT Masters. I think it was not possible to do something more, considering that we were sixteenth on the starting grid. We knew we could be competitive on race pace and drivers and engineers have been very good in making the most of it, choosing the right strategy in difficult conditions, when it was very easy to make a mistake.”

Source: Team