GT4 European Cup : everyone is chasing Eric...

The GT4 European Cup will be returning to Oschersleben next weekend, bigger and better than it was in its inaugural season in 2007. The new format for this season was tested for the first time in Monza, and proved a great success, despite the torrential rain which fell during the longer, 50-minute race on the Sunday afternoon.

After two meetings and five races, reigning Champion Eric de Doncker has taken a strong lead in the points classification. The Belgian, driving a Mustang FR500C, won two out of the three Monza races, and finished second in the other. His nearest rival is his fellow countryman Jurgen van Hover, whose Speedlover Aston Martin N24 took its first win in Monza.

In third position, is Jetalliance driver Klaus Engelhorn, who has finished consistently in the points, with his team-mate Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof one point behind. Guino Kenis, in the G&A Motorsport BMW Z4, is lying fifth.

In the Sports Light category, Dennis Retera has a narrow lead over Catarina Felser, with Christopher Haase third. The KTM X-Bow, entered by Reiter Engineering, put in a fine performance in the Monza downpour, with Retera and Haase finishing third overall in the long race.

The tight and twisting track will represent quite a change for the teams and drivers, after the fast and furious Monza track and the powerful Silverstone circuit. Last time that the GT4 cars raced in Oschersleben, the Nissan 350Z and the Mustang FR500C took a win apiece, and it will be interesting to see what happens this year.

There also should be an additional Nissan in contention in Germany, with the return of RJN Motorsport, and Alex Buncombe, who finished third in last year’s Cup. Additionally, the spectacular KTM X-Bow cars should have some competition in the Sports Light category with the first racing appearance of the Lotus 2-eleven, entered by Lotus Sport and raced by Gavan Kershaw.

Eric de Doncker – nr 1 Motorsport98 Mustang FR500 : " I think that Oschersleben will be more difficult than Monza; Guino Kenis should be very fast with the BMW Z4, and very difficult to beat, and as usual the Aston Martin N24 cars will be very fast.

But I will be out to defend my lead ! I want to score as many points as possible towards the Championship, as my primary objective is to the retain the title. The races will be very close and very competitive, and I hope there will be plenty of fair play !"

Michael Mallock – nr 32 RS Williams Aston Martin N24 : "It was good to get some points at Monza but it wasn't enough! We had problems all weekend after I damaged a damper on the curb in the first free practice, and then another in Q1.  

Unfortunately Prodrive couldn't supply spares so we struggled from there on in. Oschersleben is going to be a new circuit for me, but I've been studying onboard footage from the Chevrolet WTCC Cars so I have a rough idea which way to turn!

I think the circuit will play more to our favour than Monza, certainly we will be more on the pace of the Mustang without all the straights. I'm feeling confident about scoring more points and closing the gap to Eric." 

- Jacquie GROOM, FIA -

photos will be on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - FIA GT