Kaufmann climbs onto the podium twice

Successful start to the season in the FIA ​​Historic Formula 2 Championship at the Jim Clark Revival in Hockenheim for Wolfgang Kaufmann.

Just in time for the start of the season of the Historic Formula 2 Championship in Hockenheim, Baden, Wolfgang Kaufmann had completed the preparation of his March 782 BMW. A short roll-out had to suffice before the hunt for times in front of a home crowd at the BOSCH Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival. With a total of 22 vehicles, the championship was again extremely strong, so exciting battles were a foregone conclusion.
 
In free practice, the fifth fastest time was initially on the clock, the braking balance of the racing car from 1978 was not right. Also in qualifying, which was decisive for the starting order for the first race, things did not go optimally. But third place was more than forgiving due to the circumstances. "The brake problem from free practice was still there," reported Kaufmann. "That's why I didn't want to risk too much and did a safe, fast lap and then parked the car." An intensive search in the evening brought the error to light, there were still individual air bubbles in the system. Bleeding brought the brakes back to work as usual and the first race could come.
 
At the start, the man from Molsberg held his ground in third place, but was able to steadily gain ground on second place. A safety car phase came to his aid after two opponents had pushed each other off the track. "I followed right after the restart and was able to move up to second place around the outside of the Parabolica curve, that was really fun," said Kaufmann happily after the manoeuvre.
Until the checkered flag fell after 14 laps, Kaufmann was able to cement second place and was able to climb straight onto the podium in the first race of the year.
 
Kaufmann then tackled race two from the front row of the grid. “My start was perfect and I was able to lead the field until the second lap. But the pole setter has a bit more power and was able to overtake me again on the following straight,” reported Wolfgang Kaufmann. However, second place initially seemed safe until five laps before the end of the race, another problem with the brakes became noticeable. The balance shifted more and more to the front wheel brake, until that was the only place where the full brake pressure was applied. This did not go unnoticed by the third-placed competitor, who from then on hunted down the "piranha".
But he lived up to his nickname and defended the place with all his ability and saved the second podium place of the weekend to the finish. "Finding second place twice is a great result for the opening weekend of the championship," Wolfgang Kaufmann summed up. "It's a real pleasure to drive in front of so many great and enthusiastic spectators."
But while the driving time on the slopes was generally positively received, there was also some criticism of the event. "The accommodation in a tent relatively far back and on the edge of the paddock wasn't very fair for Formula 2, so the series was a bit offside. You also have to be careful that the flair of the event doesn't become too modern."

The next event for March Formula 2 will be the Historic Grand Prix in Zandvoort, Netherlands, from 16-18. be June 2023.
In addition to the historical program, there is also a possible return to the modern sports car circus on the horizon. Discussions are currently underway about races in the Prototype Cup Germany on an LMP3 prototype.


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