Nürburgring Race 1 Report: Elite Motorsport Secures First Win of the Season
Nürburgring, Germany – Josh Rattican and McKenzy Cresswell delivered a pivotal victory for Elite Motorsport in Race 1 at the Nürburgring, marking the team’s first win of the season and injecting new life into the Silver class championship battle.
Entering the race, Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche of Team Speedcar could have clinched the Silver title but faced early misfortune. The duo’s Audi sustained damage after contact at the start, forcing an early retirement. Compounding their woes, the Academy Motorsport Ford Mustang, second in points, also encountered technical issues, providing an opening for Elite Motorsport to capitalize.
In the Pro-Am and Am classes, leading competitors also faltered, setting the stage for a dramatic reshuffle in the standings. Mirage Racing’s Stanislav Safronov and Aleksandr Vaintrub notched their third consecutive Pro-Am victory, while Max Kronberg and Daniel Blickle triumphed in the Am class, narrowing the title chase significantly.
Silver Class Highlights
Rattican’s performance during the opening stint was critical, positioning the #78 McLaren for victory without significant incident despite the chaotic start. After qualifying in seventh, Lariche’s Audi was knocked out early, marking its first non-finish of the year. Erik Evans and Marco Signoretti, who were in contention, faced mechanical issues that eliminated their chances.
Rattican overtook Jan Duran’s Toyota to take the lead, then handed off to Cresswell, who maintained the advantage. Post-restart, Cresswell skillfully navigated a tense final lap to secure the win over Duran’s teammate David.
With Team Speedcar’s title ambitions shaken, Berkay Besler and Gabriele Piana finished third, closing in on Consani/Lariche, who now hold a 66-point lead. Rattican/Cresswell remain potential threats, sitting 75 points behind.
Pro-Am Insights
In the Pro-Am category, Safronov and Vaintrub overcame pit stop challenges to secure the win in their Aston Martin. Safronov led from the start, and despite a gearbox issue during the handover, Vaintrub resumed in fifth overall, ultimately defending against challenges from rivals to clinch the victory.
Notably, W&S Motorsport’s Hendrik Still and Joachim Bölting experienced difficulties, finishing ninth after multiple penalties. Safronov/Vaintrub are now just five points behind in the standings.
Am Class Developments
A standout performance in the Am class saw Kronberg and Blickle achieve their fourth win of the season, significantly tightening the title race. Kronberg’s strong qualifying performance translated into dominance in the early laps, with Blickle managing the lead after the driver change.
In contrast, points leaders Antoni de Barn and Jean-Mathieu Leandri faced penalties that dropped them to eighth, leaving them with a slim one-point lead over the victorious duo.
Race 1 Results Summary
- Silver Class Winner: Josh Rattican / McKenzy Cresswell (Elite McLaren)
- Pro-Am Class Winner: Stanislav Safronov / Aleksandr Vaintrub (Mirage Racing Aston Martin)
- Am Class Winner: Max Kronberg / Daniel Blickle (W&S Motorsport Porsche)
The series now heads into a decisive second race, with championship standings up for grabs as teams recalibrate strategies under pressure.
