Trier-based racing driver Niklas Krütten once again produced an impressive drive in the Nürburgring Endurance Series. Having been denied a possible victory by a technical issue on Saturday, Krütten and his team-mate Dylan Pereira celebrated second place on Sunday.
This was the first podium on the Nordschleife for the former ADAC Stiftung Sport driver. One day earlier, the Walkenhorst Motorsport duo in the BMW M4 GT3 was rewarded for a spirited fightback with seventh place.
The team started the opening race of the weekend, which took place at the iconic circuit at the foot of the historic Nürburg, from fifth place on the grid. Krütten was first behind the wheel of the number 35 BMW M4 GT3 and, despite temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius, managed to keep a cool head. He held his own in the intense early stages and even managed to climb three places into second. However, a technical issue with the generator put an abrupt end to any hopes of victory, and led to a five-minute repair job in the team’s garage. Even after suffering a puncture a few laps later, the team still refused to give in and showed plenty of fighting spirit: at the end of the six-hour race, team-mate Pereira crossed the finish line seventh in the 590-hp BMW M4 GT3.
A broken wheel rim in qualifying meant the duo had to start Sunday’s race from 22nd on the grid. This left start driver Krütten no choice but to launch another remarkable fightback. The 20-year-old demonstrated his unquestionable talent in the start phase, overtook 16 opponents and climbed into sixth place within the first hour. As the race progressed, the duo produced a flawless performance and pulled off some spectacular overtaking manoeuvres on their way up the standings. By the halfway point, they were already second. The team then successfully defended that position and, after six hours of racing, crossed the finish line in second place. This was Niklas Krütten’s first podium in the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
Niklas Krütten: “On Saturday, we unfortunately missed out on the podium that we were confident of getting. After a very good start, a technical issue with the generator meant we had to return to the garage from second place. We then lost more valuable time, due to a puncture. However, we did a great job of motivating ourselves and, despite the poor starting position, came back even stronger on Sunday. I am really very proud of my first podium on the Nordschleife. The team and Dylan did a flawless job. We were fast and thoroughly deserved second place!”
Round eight of the Nürburgring Endurance Series takes place on 22nd and 23rd September 2023. Niklas Krütten heads to Valencia this weekend for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, in which he currently leads the Gold class in the Sprint Cup.