Kris Richard to work on simulator to prepare for Nordschleife challenge

Kris Richard won both races in today’s ETCC round in Slovakia. The Rikli Motorsport driver led a Honda 1-2 and is now third in the championship behind team-mate and team owner Peter Rikli and former championship leader Petr Fulin.

“In the first raceI tried to keep my speed as high as possible and when the top two (Christjohannes Schreiber and Petr Fulin) were disqualified I knew I had a good chance,” said the Swiss.

“In the second race I had to fight against Peter (Rikli) and I’d never driven before against him whilst fighting for position. I didn’t suspect we would lead on the first lap, but the car was super. I knew I was a bit faster than Peter and we had agreed before the race we wouldn’t waste time fighting. It was special for me but he had a 30 kilos ballast, so when I get that as well we will probably have the same speed.”

Richard will now focus on the next ETCC round in Germany, at the iconic Nordschleife: “Of course I will try my best for the Nordschleife, I will do a lot of hours on the simulator to learn the track, I’ve never been there before. I gave it my everything and it’s all down to the team and to JAS.”

Super1600 pole sitter and race winner Ulrike Krafft commented: “In Race 1 I had one of the hardest I have ever had in the ETCC, I made contact with my team-mate and with the Peugeot driver (Kevin Hilgenhoevel). Not every situation was fair, that’s my point of view, but I lost and made up places and that was fun. I am happy I won.”

Niklas Mackschin won the second race and now leads the class: “I am really happy. The first race was very difficult and exciting, I went from first to fifth and didn’t realise how that was possible. In the second race I had a fair fight with Ulrike and it was a good weekend.”

The Nordschleife round is scheduled for next month, sharing the track with the FIA World Touring Car Championship.