Starting 40th on the grid, it is reasonable to assume that Team Falken Porsche stands little chance of a podium in this year’s Nurburgring 24-Hour. However, it’s a long race and the team may score with a secret weapon.
Through the two qualifying sessions thus far, the team have been testing race pace and wear rates on a new supersoft slick tyre. No absolute qualifying runs have been done but, even running with tanks of fuel and lean engine maps, the times have been respectable.
In yesterday morning’s 14-degree ambient temperatures, the supersoft had no problems lasting a 9-lap stint distance, and was also impressive in drizzly conditions, which the Nürburgring is renowned for. Though disappointed by the qualifying debacle, Peter Dumbreck remains optimistic.
“The best thing about this team is all the guys are quick. When changes are made, we all report the handling differences identically and, if one of us does a fast time, we can all do that time. There is no inter-driver performance imbalance.
“We’re racing for a tyre company that’s brought more than 1,000 tyres this weekend for two teams: us and one other. The preferred option in that batch is a very effective product, developed on track over the last 12 months. Haribo Racing is the only other team using this compound. If the conditions shift to suit this tyre, we could be quids in.”
This is the upside: no prizes for guessing the down. From 4PM today, the story of the 2012 Nürburgring 24-Hour will begin to unfold. Keep it here or follow Ferdinand Magazine on Twitter to track the action.
Sitting in the Falken Porsche garage with Peter Dumbreck yesterday afternoon, an engineer appeared at the table. A few words in German and Peter said: “Cake! I’ll be back.” When he reappears, it’s with a tupperware container, and three people: German fan, Anna, and her sponsors (Dad and little brother).
All racing drivers have fond memories of early supporters in their race to succeed. For Anna, Peter is one such supporter: not with money, but with encouragement and friendship. Each year, Anna brings Peter a cake, which they share while catching up on the news. This year, I also had some cake.
The news is Anna’s engineering college has built an electric car for Formula Student, which she will drive at Hockenheim as part of the competition. The car weighs 250 kilograms, and has set the fastest-ever Formula Student acceleration times in tests on the main Hockenheim straight. Formula Student pits motorsport and mechanical engineering students in colleges all around the world against each other through a car build to strict regulations. Victory comes through racing and driving tests but also creative design and sound engineering.
When not studying or helping friends out with their Mini Coupe race car as she is today, long-time karter Anna is a co-driver in the German rally series, in a Suzuki Swift ex-Cup car. Karting has been a big part of her life: Wolf Henzler is form the same region and also got his start in karting.
Anna’s family owns a Mini Cooper race car that is legal for road use: one of just three such cars in Germany. She also makes cakes. Dumbreck has encouraged Anna since her mid-teens, and one gave her his first race winners medal as a sign that she can also make it. She races with this in the car for good luck.
Though most racing drivers earn their living being paid for skills displayed in public, self promotion is not common practice amongst the fraternity. How many more such stories might Ferdinand uncover over the next few years? I look forward to the next one.
