The American had qualified for seventh position on the grid. Although the tight, 3.372-kilometer short street circuit did not offer ideal conditions for the powerful GT2 model, Sabo managed an appealing performance. As the only competitor with a GT2 sports car, he met ten GT3 race cars and twelve GT4 models in the starting field. Elias Sabo, who had contested the first two events in an Audi R8 LMS GT4, had moved up to the 640-hp GT2 variant of the race car on the street circuit of Nashville in the U.S. Successful newcomer: At the fourth round of the GT America race series, an Audi R8 LMS GT2 was on the grid for the first time this year.
#VAN DER LINDE DRIVER#
In the second race, Jason Daskalos was the best Audi driver in the field and finished second in his R8 LMS ultra. After 40 minutes of racing, the long-time Audi customer won by 1.6 seconds from Lamborghini driver Jeff Burton. When Curtis spun on the street circuit with three laps to go, the way was clear for Sofronas. He then fought a duel with Ferrari driver Bret Curtis during which the lead changed several times. However, the Californian lost his good position right at the beginning of the first race. The GMG Racing team principal and race driver had secured grid position one with an advantage of more than half a second in the Audi R8 LMS ultra on the fourth race weekend at Nashville. Strong weekend in GT America: James Sofronas was happy about his first victory of the season with Audi in the mixed sports car racing series GT America. ABT Sportsline is the best of 13 teams and is 13 points ahead of Ferrari squad Red Bull Alphatauri AF Corse. After three of eight events, van der Linde has a 21-point lead in the standings over Ferrari driver Liam Lawson. In the end, ABT Sportsline achieved the first one-two victory by a team in the 2021 DTM with Kelvin van der Linde ahead of Mike Rockenfeller. He then controlled the pace with his teammate. At the pit stop he gained another position. He only started from fifth on the grid, but made up two positions already on the first race lap. Teammate Mike Rockenfeller had been unlucky in qualifying and had to abort his fastest lap after an opponent spun.
#VAN DER LINDE PROFESSIONAL#
The 25-year-old professional had secured pole position in Belgium and won Saturday’s race after 39 race laps with a 0.696-second advantage. After the South African had won the season opener at Monza for ABT Sportsline ahead of Nico Müller from Team Rosberg, he now celebrated a start-finish victory in the Audi R8 LMS in Saturday’s race at Zolder. Second one-two for the Audi R8 LMS in the DTM: For the second time in the 2021 DTM season, Kelvin van der Linde stood at the top of the podium.