Kumho-Shod Peugeot RCZs dominate diesel class in VLN Series

Having gained an encouraging podium place in the opening round of the 2011 VLN Series, ‘Team Peugeot RCZ Nokia’ powered their Kumho-shod RCZ 2.0 HDi Sport Coupes to a dominant 1st and 2nd in class in round two at the Nürburgring last weekend (April 30).
 
It was the German Michael Bohrer who placed Peugeot No.545 on pole for the category with a best lap of 9:55.224 minutes, and he and his team mates Stéphane Caillet and Jürgen Nett who achieved the victory – averaging 137.777 kph (circa 86.1 mph) over the four hours of the event. The second-placed Peugeot No.546 of Alexandre Premat, Olivier Perez and Guillaume Roman was just over three minutes adrift at the end of the race.
 
Former F3 Euro Series, DTM and Le Mans competitor Premat was using the race to prepare and qualify for the 39th Nürburgring 24 Hour event in June, for which the team’s aim of a class win now looks more than feasible. The 29 year old Frenchman commented, “I was very positively surprised by the grip, torque and acceleration of the RCZ on such a technical circuit.” Jürgen Nett, who achieved the fastest lap for the class of 10:05.103 minutes, was also quick to praise, “I must congratulate the team for the race strategy and our tyre partner Kumho for the S700 slicks. During my eight 14-mile laps, the times varied by no more than two seconds.”  Stéphane Caillet reported, “The balance of our Peugeot RCZ is just a dream.”
 
Said Kumho’s European Motorsport Manager Steve Thompson, “This team is clearly fully into its stride already and it’s very encouraging to learn how well our tyres our working and how well the cars handle on them.”
 
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