Double PRTC win for Marco Chianese at the season opener at the Hockenheimring

Hockenheimring. This year’s season opener of the Pfister-Racing Touring Car Challenge (PRTC) season took place at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg from March 22-24, 2024. Just as in previous years, the 4.574 km ultra-modern race track was the venue for the PRTC season opener.

True to the series motto "real cars, real racing," both ambitious youngsters and experienced "gentleman drivers" took to the starting field to once again compete against each other in the PRTC. Germany, Italy and Switzerland were represented in terms of driver nationalities.

“We are excited about the start of a new touring car season. In spite of the generally difficult financial situation, the PRTC was able to hold its head up high this season as well and offers the drivers a fantastic opportunity to participate in touring car motorsport at a reasonable cost. We’re already looking forward to many 'wheel-on-wheel battles.' Good luck to all the drivers!” said series organizer Andreas Pfister before the start of the racing weekend.

The PRTC racing cars were greeted by changing weather conditions at the Hockenheimring

After the first free training session on Friday, the touring car drivers went into the important qualifying session on Saturday to earn their position on the starting grid. The weather on Friday was still sunny and warm, but the conditions were mixed on Saturday and Sunday with a drop in temperature and some showers.

At first, the focus was on how this year’s starting field would be arranged after the lap times determined the positions.

Rookie Felix Müller takes sensational pole position

The distances between racers in the qualifying session gave us an initial foretaste of what was to come – an extremely close touring car racing weekend: With a lap time of 2:19:551, rookie Felix Müller (GER, Deggenhausertal) secured the pole position in a sensational effort, but only just ahead of Marco Chianese (ITA, Würzburg) with 2:19:582.

Andreas Schundiak (GER, Weiden) made it to third place, followed by Patrick Röthlisberger (CHE, Langnau) and Kay-Yvo Baudler (GER, Abtswind).

First racing weekend, first pole position: Felix Müller (GER)

Adrenaline runs high in the very first race:

stoppage, safety car, rain, FCY, dry conditions and a new PRTC winner

The PRTC fans on the stands and at home watching the live stream were certainly not disappointed by the season’s opening race. It had almost everything to make fans’ hearts skip a beat: There was a red flag (stoppage), the safety car, showers, “Full-Course-Yellow,” dry weather again and, what’s more, Marco Chianese entered as the newest racer in the list of PRTC winners.

But first things first: The first race got underway with a rolling “Indianapolis start,” then stopped straight away, as it had just begun to rain heavily in the same moment. All cars had to be driven back to the pits.

After the restart and safety-car situation, Chianese was able to take the lead at first in the wet conditions, but then had to fend off a strong Patrick Röthlisberger (CHE, Langnau). After more action on the track and a subsequent “Full-Course Yellow” (FCY) phase, the leading trio of Chianese, Röthlisberger, and Müller broke away from the rest of the group.

Once the race got underway once more and in drier conditions, Felix Müller saw his chance: First, he whooshed passed Röthlisberger and went into battle against Chianese in front. At the second northern curve, Müller started a courageous maneuver to try to overtake Marco Chianese, but had to leave the dry line to do so and slid into the right side of the Italian’s car. Müller’s car spun and he had to let Röthlisberger past once more.

At the front despite light collision: Marco Chianese from Würzburg

In spite of this sudden collision, front-runner Marco Chianese was not put off and took home his first PRTC victory ahead of Röthlisberger and Müller. Kay-Yvo Baudler and Andreas Schundiak completed the top 5.

Victory in race 2 also goes to Chianese, just ahead of Felix Müller

After the action on Saturday, and an initial licking of wounds, the drivers went into the second race on Sunday morning. The outdoor temperature was a mere 4 degrees, making the track conditions a bit more difficult and the grip on the track was limited.

Chianese and Röthlisberger were able to make excellent use of the starting phase, while Felix Müller and Andreas Schundiak fell behind. On the dry yet slippery track caused by the low temperatures, it was extremely important for the racers to keep the Toyo Tires Proxes R888R semi-slicks up to temperature.

Halfway through the race, Kay-Yvo Baudler and Felix Müller got int the groove of it once more and were able to advance a few places with strong lap times. The excellent driving performance of Baudler wasn’t to be rewarded yet, however, as he and his Chevrolet were forced back to the pits before the end of the race.

Müller kept a steady course towards the front and came into the slipstream of race leader Marco Chianese during the last laps. Chianese held his nerve, however, and took home his second victory of this racing weekend.

Podium in race 2: Felix Müller (left), Marco Chianese (center) and Patrick Röthlisberger (right)

Now, all that’s left is for the outstanding drivers to celebrate their successes, but not for too long – the PRTC continues with season races 3 and 4 on April 26-28, 2024 at the Circuit Zolder (BEL). A few new guest starters have already been announced, and this should add to the excitement on the renowned Belgian race track.

Pictures: Pfister-Racing GmbH