Scooter Center Endurance Racing Team

The SCK GSF Endurance Racing Team with only top-class riders from the ESC was driving for Scooter Center at the 24h race in Zaragoza. The driver line-up consisting of Andreas Putz, Robert Leibfarth, Christian tile, Jens Fischer, Michael Betz and team manager Andreas Bayer already demonstrated last year with third overall and second in their class position their capability. The fact that this very good result can be increased again was not expected by anyone considering that there were 59 teams starting this year.

In the qualifying, the first place could be secured, which was also expanded in the early hours of the race. However, this came to an abrupt end when, after 2.5 hours a Vespatronic flywheel broke, which also affected the specially adapted stator plate for the xenon light. In record time a new stator plate was adjusted and mounted, but this resulted in rank 45. Equipped with an unbroken motivation, the team struggled with superior lap times to the front again.

Than 5 hours after the start of the race, the podium was within reach again, but the next unwanted stop came as well: The brakes were not copying with our extreme pace, even the brake caliper was damaged beyond repair. After installing the replacement brake however, still only at # 32 again, so the chase began again. Unpredicted stops were repeated several times, there was an oil loss at the rear, a less switching nipples, 2 broken flywheel covers, a missing tail light, a loose coupling lever screw, a penalty of two laps because of a violation and a scheduled pit stop with tire and brake pad change too.

After daybreak, all these time consuming service stops could be compensated by our fast drivers, so the team was constantly at # 1 in the last hours of the race. However, it was clear to all that the last existing lead of 15 laps could be taken away quickly due to another major defect. Thus, the tension was at its peak when the team observed that the pilot stopped short before the finish off the track and went no further! The seat was folded up, the side panel was opened, and everyone was asking what has now gone wrong again? In the end, it was the third flywheel cover which was already damaging the ignition again and this caused again 10 penalty laps for lost parts on the racetrack. The pilot dumped the completely destroyed cover and drove the remaining minutes without forced cooling…. which was successful in the end! After 24 hours, 926 laps and 1574 km race time, the team had set the fastest lap time, won a class victory in the Proto class Smallframe and also the overall winner across all categories! This resulted in not really easy to be transported huge cups and an extensive champagne shower from … happy times!

Here again, many thanks to all who supported us with spare parts and a helping hand! A big compliment to the race organization which organized this race perfectly. And last but not least, many thanks to the team that held together despite all odds and always great team spirit in any situation with an absolute will to win the race!

Muchas gracias, we’ll see you next year!