Strong start of the year for Target Competition
- Eight cars in ADAC TCR GERMANY
- Pole Position for Kris Richard. 6 cars in the Top 12.
- Josh Files started Season on Top, winning the first race of the year.
- 2-3 for Tim Zimmermann and Josh Files in the second race.
Target Competition is delighted with the strong start of the year to the 2017 ADAC TCR GERMANY Season , leading the Standings with Josh Files.
The South Tyrol based Team join the ADAC TCR Germany Championship with a total of 8 cars, 4 Honda CIVIC TCR paired up with reigning Champion Josh Files, ETCC Champion 2016 Kris Richard, Jürgen Schmarl and José Rodrigues , as it will run four brand new AUDI RS3 LMS cars for Tim Zimmermann, Tom Lautenschlager, Simon Larsson and Gosia Rdest.
With a 42-car field, Oschersleben hosted the first Qualifying of the 2017 Season. Kris Richard, at the wheel of a Honda Civic TCR run by Target Competition, scored pole position with a best lap of 1:34.185 after cancelling Q2. Josh Files became 4th, José Rodrigues 6th, Tim Zimmermann 8th. Jürgen Schmarl 11th, Tom Lautenschlager 12th, Simon Larsson 21th and Gosia Rdest 33th.
The saturday race became a incident packed race at Oschersleben. At the start of the 30-minute race, poleman Target Competition’s Kris Richard took the lead in his Honda Civic TCR, ahead of Josh Files, Steve Kirsch and Sheldon van Der Linde.
At the end of the first lap, Files made a move at Zeppeling Kurve to take the lead. Kirsch and van Der Linde followed on lap two, with Richard falling to fourth Position.
After several incidents and safety car periods, Josh Files took victory ahead of Steve Kirsch and Sheldon Van der Linde, followed by Kris Richard and Jürgen Schmarl.
Race 1 results:
01 Josh Files – Target Competition UK SUI
02 Steve Kirsch – Fugel Sport
03 Sheldon Van Der Linde - Prosport Performance
04 Kris Richard – Target Competition UK SUI
05 Jürgen Schmarl – Target Competition POR AUT
07 Tim Zimmermann – Target Competition GER
09 Tom Lautenschlager - Target Competition GER
20 José Rodrigues - Target Competition POR AUT
27 Simon Larsson – Target Competition SWE POL
31 Gosia Rdest – Target Competition SWE POL
In race two, Audi RS3 LMS Driver Tim Zimmermann bounced back : The German made a superb race, catching Thoma for the hole race. Thoma under pressure managed to maintain the lead until the end, with Tim Zimmermann 2nd, Josh Files 3rd and José Rodrigues in 4th.
Race 2 results:
01 Florian Thoma – Team Engstler
02 Tim Zimmermann – Target Competition GER
03 Josh Files – Target Competition UK SUI
04 José Rodrigues – Target Competition POR AUT
07 Kris Richard – Target Competition UK SUI
11 Tom Lautenschlager – Target Competition GER
18 Jürgen Schmarl – Target Competition POR AUT
25 Simon Larsson – Target Competition SWE POL
27 Gosia Rdest – Target Competition SWE POL
“We are really happy with the first raceweekend here in Oschersleben. With 2 podiums, one race win and almost all driver in the top 10 we are delighted. Honestly we wanted also the win in race 2, but Florian Thoma made a good Job. “, said Team boss Markus Gummerer.
The next round takes place at the Red Bull Ring on 10-11th of June.