Photo: Jacques Letihon Photographe

Stefano Comini and Comtoyou Racing could withdraw from Zolder due to risk

By

Reigning TCR International Series champion Stefano Comini has confirmed he pulled out of the qualifying long race at Zolder over fear of damaging the team’s Audi RS 3.

The car was reported as “undriveable” by co-driver Frédéric Vervisch when he handed over at half-distance to Comini in the 60-minute race, with the team now understood to considering withdrawing from tomorrow’s races due to the risk of damage to Vervisch’s race car which is needed next weekend in the TCR International Series.

The short and twisty Zolder circuit, with its heavy braking zones, don’t favour the aerodynamic Audi RS 3 LMS, which has been a force to be reckoned with in the TCR International Series and TCR Asia this year, but which have raced at longer and wider tracks such as Monza, Spa and Bahrain.

The three Audis of Comtoyou and Bas Koeten Racing have been among the slowest on track, with Comini confirming he opted to withdraw from the race just two laps after taking over the car from Vervisch, with the car struggling with the 65kg of weight it’s carrying this weekend; 45kg from Balance of Performance and 20kg of the TCR Benelux series’ allocated success ballast, with the tyres suffering damage as a result.

“I stopped the car because it was too dangerous,” said Comini to TouringCarTimes.

“I don’t want to crash the car as we know we have to go to Salzburg in one week. Fred gave me the car but when he stopped he told me be careful as the car is undriveable, and he was right. He did the maximum, but it’s like this.

“I don’t know what I will do tomorrow. It’s frustrating, and this is not useful. It’s not a test, it’s not a race – you drive and just have to hope that nothing will happen.”