The DKR Engineering team may not have been new to prototype racing at the start of the 2023 season, but it was taking its first steps in the Prototype Cup Germany – and immediately demonstrated why the team had previously won four LMP3 titles in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, one in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), and the LMP2 class in the Asian Le Mans Series on two occasions, as well as twice finishing on the podium in the Pro-Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Valentino Catalano (17/Westheim) and Robin Rogalski (23/POL), the team founded in 2004 by Kendy Janclaes has put its faith in two young drivers, who have already demonstrated their talent on several occasions.
“We started strongly, continued strongly, but have unfortunately failed to finish twice when leading the race,” says Olly Brinkmann, team manager at DKR, summing up the season so far for the team from Luxembourg. Valentino Catalano secured his first pole position at the opening race weekend in Hockenheim. He and Robin Rogalski went on to finish runners-up in the race, following an exciting battle with Markus Pommer (32/Untereisesheim) and Gary Hauser (31/LUX, both Racing Experience). Just one meeting later, Catalano was again the fastest man in qualifying. This time, however, he and Rogalski converted pole position into a race win. “If not beforehand, we saw there what the car, team and drivers are capable of,” says Brinkmann assuredly.
As the season progressed, the duo continued to catch the eye – particularly 17-year-old Catalano, who had spent an LMP3 season in the ELMS and one in the Asian Le Mans Series before joining the Prototype Cup Germany: he has secured pole position in four of his five qualifying sessions so far. Only in Zandvoort did he have to settle for second place behind Xavier Lloveras (23/ESP, van ommen racing by DataLab). “Valentino is a driver how analyses things very well, asks a lot of questions, listens well, and can learn from his mistakes. He will make it in prototype racing, I am sure of that. We are now also trying to get him more involved in our LMP3 test programme for ELMS, for example. However, because he unfortunately does not have a big budget, we must consider very carefully what move is best for him. I could also imagine him racing in the LMP2 class in the Asian Le Mans Series. His clear objective at this point in his career has to be to win titles.”
Rogalski only started out in motorsport at the age of 16, made the move from GT3 racing to the LMP3 scene this season and has never driven a Formula race car in his career so far. He too has enjoyed a positive development in qualifying. The Pole, who was born in Lübeck, started with 13th place in Hockenheim. By the fifth round in Assen, he had already improved to fifth place in his qualifying session. “It was not easy at first for our LMP3 newcomer Robin. However, he has developed nicely and really has potential. It was no coincidence that he was the fastest man in FP1 in Assen. Unfortunately, he has also made two mistakes whilst leading races that have resulted in the Duqueine failing to finish. Everyone makes mistakes, and you learn from them. It is also our job as a team to help him ensure that these things do not happen again,” says Brinkmann. “Prior to the start of the season, we had drawn up a three-year plan with him. We are now considering whether we might also use him in the Asian Le Mans Series in the winter, to give him more LMP3 race experience so that he can return to Europe even stronger next summer.”
With two races remaining this season, the DKR duo of Catalano and Rogalski, who have claimed four podium results so far, lies third in the Drivers’ Championship. They currently trail second-placed Julien Apothéloz (22/CHE) and Oscar Tunjo (27/COL, both van ommen racing by DataLab) by 14 points. Catalano / Rogalski and DKR Engineering are also third in both the Junior and Team standings. The final round takes place in mid-October at the Nürburgring.
