Ralf and David Schumacher do some father-son bonding on the LMP3 scene. Schumachers to test a new, sustainable engine oil. All qualifying sessions and races shown live and in full via a free livestream.
The Prototype Cup Germany is at the Nürburgring this weekend (16th to 18th August). As well as the title race, the focus will also be on two prominent guests at the penultimate race weekend of the LMP3 series: former Formula 1 driver and present-day TV expert Ralf Schumacher (49/Salzburg) will line up in a Ligier together with his son David (22/Salzburg). This is Ralf Schumacher’s first outing in his own team, US Racing, after a twelve-year break from driving. “I have wanted to drive alongside my son in a race for a long time. As a team, we have bought two LMP3 Ligiers. We have great partners for this project and now is also a good time, as I feel a special association with the Nürburgring, because I have driven there so often during my career.” Danny Soufi (21/USA) and Torsten Kratz (53/Mönchengladbach, both Konrad Motorsport) arrive in the Eifel region as championship leaders in the Prototype Cup Germany. They have two new rivals in Julien Apothéloz (23/CHE) and Riccardo Leone Cirelli (16/ITA, both BWT Mücke Motorsport). The Mücke duo won twice in Hockenheim and are now looking to back up that success at the Nürburgring. As well as the two generations of Schumacher, there are other new starters at the Nürburgring: AF2 Motorsport has turned to Jaime Guzmán (34/MEX) and Mikkel C. Johansen (37/DNK), while Rinaldi Racing fields a second Ligier for Stefan Aust (52/Münster). The two races in the Prototype Cup Germany will be streamed live and free of charge at 17:20 on Saturday and at 10:00 on Sunday at youtube.com/adacmotorsports.
Premiere for father and son
Ralf and David Schumacher’s first outing together is set to be a special weekend. “The Prototype Cup Germany is a great series, which is reasonably manageable financially compared to other racing series. There may be three different chassis manufacturers, but the fact that they all have the same engine means they are relatively similar when it comes to performance. And the car is very close to the Formula cars,” says Ralf Schumacher, who is primarily out to enjoy his start in the Prototype Cup Germany. “It is great that the ADAC and Creventic have created the opportunity to run LMP3 cars in Germany.” David can also hardly wait for his LMP debut. “It is a different car to my GT3 Mercedes, which I usually drive. For example, I sit much lower, there is no ABS and the LMP is also far lighter than a GT3. It is like a Formula car with a roof, but is a lot of fun.”
The two Schumachers will receive special support at the Nürburgring from their long-term partners Dekra and Ravenol. Ravenol is taking the opportunity to test a new lubricant in the US Racing Ligier. “It is a sustainable oil called Ravenol RET 5W40, which is based on renewable, plant-based raw materials. We have already trialled it at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and are now testing it in an LMP3 for the first time,” says Martin Huning, Motorsport Director at Ravenol.
Home race for Hockenheim winners Frikadelli Racing
Among the opposition awaiting the Schumachers are Klaus Abbelen (63/Barweiler) and Felipe Laser (35/Leipzig, both Frikadelli Racing Team). Not only is Frikadelli Racing based in close proximity to the Nürburgring, but Abbelen has enjoyed great success with his team at the circuit in the Eifel Mountains. And last Sunday, Abbelen and Laser claimed their first victory in the Prototype Cup Germany. “It is always nice to drive at my home circuit, as I know it particularly well,” says the 63-year-old. “I hope that I will be a bit closer to the top drivers there and that, if the chance comes along again, we can achieve a similar success to what we enjoyed in Hockenheim.”
One feature of this year’s Prototype Cup Germany is the variety of winners. Six different pairings or individual starters have taken their place on the top step of the podium. Only Soufi / Kratz and Apothéloz / Cirelli have won twice, while Markus Pommer (33/Untereisesheim) / Valentino Catalano (18/Westheim, both Gebhardt Motorsport), Keanu Al Azhari (16/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport), Antti Rammo (41/EST, MRS GT-Racing) and Abbelen / Laser have each celebrated one victory.
