GEBHARDT Motorsport set a new lap record for LMP3 cars and collected important points at the season opener of the Prototype Cup Germany in Spa-Francorchamps.
The 2025 season of the Prototype Cup Germany kicked off at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. GEBHARDT Motorsport travelled to the legendary Ardennes rollercoaster with two Duqueine D08 LMP3 cars. Michael Herich and Alexzander Kristiansson drove the car with the starting number #1, while Mikkel C. Johansen and Oscar Tunjo started in the #80.
The race weekend began with a brilliant performance by GEBHARDT Motorsport. Oscar Tunjo took pole position for the first race. The Colombian lapped the traditional 7.004 kilometre circuit in 2:09.703 minutes. This is also a new lap record for LMP3 cars on the Belgian circuit.
In the first race, Tunjo was initially able to defend first position and drove the GEBHARDT Motorsport car at the front of the field. The Colombian drove the fastest lap of the race at the front. After the driver change, Mikkel C. Johansen took over the car. The Dane, who was only contesting his second LMP3 weekend, was unable to withstand the pressure from the experienced drivers and ultimately finished the race in fourth place. Herich and Kristiansson finished seventh overall in the team's second car. Herich missed out on class victory in the Trophy classification at the end of the race by a meagre 0.164 seconds!
The second race was chaotic: A petrol leak was detected on the Duqueine with starting number #80 shortly before the start of the race. The mechanics from GEBHARDT Motorsport worked flat out to solve the problem and only finished a few moments before the start of the race, so that the car was able to start the race. In addition, typical Ardennes weather greeted the participants of the Prototype Cup Germany, as rain set in during the formation lap, which turned into a heavy downpour over the world-famous circuit a few moments after the start of the race. A real tactical thriller then began for the drivers and teams.
Mikkel C. Johansen and Oscar Tunjo were able to make up a few positions in the race after the drama before the start and finished the race in fourth position. Tunjo, who loves the race track near the German border, set the fastest race lap with a lap time of 2:18.917 minutes in the difficult conditions. The ‘Swedish Express’ with Herich and Kristiansson crossed the finish line in fifth position, meaning that Michael Herich once again took second place in the Trophy classification.
‘With the fastest LMP3 lap, pole position for race one and the fastest race laps in both races, we were able to impressively demonstrate our speed in Spa-Francorchamps,’ said Fritz Gebhardt after the race weekend in Belgium. ‘Mikkel C. Johansen still lacks a little LMP3 experience, but he was able to learn a lot from Oscar at the weekend. We are confident that he will continue to improve over the next few weekends, especially as he knows the Hockenheimring from test drives. We were able to score solid points in both races with both cars, which is important. The past has shown that consistency is important in the Prototype Cup Germany!’
The Prototype Cup Germany continues on the second weekend in May, when GEBHARDT Motorsport's home race takes place as part of the ADAC Hockenheim Historic. Fans of LMP3 racing can already look forward to an exciting announcement of the team for the event in the coming days.
The car with starting number #1 will be driven by Michael Herich and Alexzander Kristiansson. While gentleman driver Herich has already gained experience in the series, Swede Kristiansson will be making his debut. Last year, he won the title in the Swedish GEBHARDT Ginetta GT5 Challenge and was given a test drive in one of the team's LMP3 cars. During the test, he impressed the team so much that he was given a contract for the entire 2025 season.
With starting number #70, GEBHARDT Motorsport is aiming to defend its title. The car will be driven by fast Dane Mikkel C. Johansen, who will compete with rotating team-mates. Johansen will make his debut for GEBHARDT Motorsport in the 2025 season after impressing in a guest start with another team last year. Colombian Oscar Tunjo will line up with him at the season opener in Spa-Francorchamps, as it is his favourite track. Last year's champion Valentino Catalano will be celebrating his home race at Hockenheim and will therefore take the wheel of the Duqueine. Catalano will also be the second driver at the legendary Norisring. The team will announce the rest of the line-up at a later date.
Before the season opener at Spa-Francorchamps on the Easter weekend, the team was able to complete test drives at Hockenheim, which went very well. GEBHARDT Motorsport is therefore very confident about the upcoming season.
The car with starting number #1 will be driven by Michael Herich and Alexzander Kristiansson. While gentleman driver Herich has already gained experience in the series, Swede Kristiansson will be making his debut. Last year, he won the title in the Swedish GEBHARDT Ginetta GT5 Challenge and was given a test drive in one of the team's LMP3 cars. During the test, he impressed the team so much that he was given a contract for the entire 2025 season.
With starting number #70, GEBHARDT Motorsport is aiming to defend its title. The car will be driven by fast Dane Mikkel C. Johansen, who will compete with rotating team-mates. Johansen will make his debut for GEBHARDT Motorsport in the 2025 season after impressing in a guest start with another team last year. Colombian Oscar Tunjo will line up with him at the season opener in Spa-Francorchamps, as it is his favourite track. Last year's champion Valentino Catalano will be celebrating his home race at Hockenheim and will therefore take the wheel of the Duqueine. Catalano will also be the second driver at the legendary Norisring. The team will announce the rest of the line-up at a later date.
Before the season opener at Spa-Francorchamps on the Easter weekend, the team was able to complete test drives at Hockenheim, which went very well. GEBHARDT Motorsport is therefore very confident about the upcoming season.
