After a successful team debut in 2020, EFP:racing by TECE has once again passed the 24-hour endurance test in the “Green Hell.” In front of a dream setting of 230,000 spectators, Elia Erhart, Pierre Kaffer, Arno Klasen, and Michael Heimrich secured a remarkable 14th-place finish with the ’11 équipe vitesse Audi R8 GT3 EVO II at the endurance racing classic in the Eifel. In the PRO-AM category, the driver quartet achieved fifth place in a strong field of participants.

“Behind us is a really unique weekend. We can't put into words how nice it was to see all the fans at the 24h Race. These fantastic images will be remembered for a long time—whether it was the packed starting grid or the captivating atmosphere along the Nordschleife. Many thanks to everyone who created such a perfect setting for the event. At our team’s 2020 debut, all of that was completely missing due to the pandemic, and it was only half as much fun,” said Erhart and Kaffer after the big anniversary edition of the 24h Race.

But things also went well on track for the EFP:racing by TECE squad. Unlike many other GT3 teams who struggled during the 24-hour race, the team managed to bring the ’11 Audi R8 GT3 EVO II across the finish line without a single scratch. Starting from 30th on the grid, the team worked steadily forward throughout the race. In the end, 14th place overall and fifth in the PRO-AM category marked a strong result. This performance was built on a solid setup developed by the équipe vitesse crew during the qualifying sessions. In every session, valuable data and experience were gathered, allowing continuous improvement to the setup of the ’11 Audi R8 GT3 EVO II.

“Another important factor was that Pierre was able to successfully stay out of the many incidents on track in the early stages, and that we avoided any major mistakes afterwards—except for two tyre damages. All of this contributed to our great result. Many thanks to all our partners who supported us and made this effort possible in the first place. We're getting closer and closer to the Top 10, which makes me very happy,” said Erhart, aiming to improve on their 2020 result. At that debut, EFP:racing by TECE finished in 18th place overall—a result that has now been clearly surpassed.

“This result with our PRO-AM crew is especially significant, considering the strength of the starting field and the many factory-supported teams. A big thank you to the entire équipe vitesse crew as well as my teammates for their tireless commitment and great work. Our Audi R8 GT3 EVO II ran like clockwork, without any technical problems. For me personally, it was also incredibly special to race at my home event. It was impressive to drive in front of this crowd. Many thanks to all the fans who supported us so actively,” summarized Kaffer.

Text: Media-DaCo (Daniel Cornesse)
Photos: Racepix.eu

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