DTM driver Nicki Thiim had to admit defeat to GT3 newcomer Finn Wiebelhaus at his SSR Lamborghini premiere in Valencia: What’s behind the surprise
There was a big surprise at Nicki Thiim’s SSR Lamborghini debut in the GT Winter Series last weekend in Valencia: 17-year-old ex-Formula 4 driver Finn Wiebelhaus was faster than the GT ace in the HRT team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 and dominated both qualifying sessions and the races. But now HRT team boss Ulrich Fritz puts into perspective what happened at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo
“You shouldn’t be blinded by the fact that Finn has now beaten Nicki Thiim, because I think he was also working on other issues,” says Fritz, explaining why Thiim came second and third in the qualifying sessions and was the first to finish behind Wiebelhaus in the two sprint races.
“For us, it’s all about driver training – and about them gaining track experience and being able to reproduce that. Of course, like everyone else in the paddock – except maybe SSR – you preheat the tires,” explains Fritz.
Why only SSR did not preheat the tires
A correct assumption, because as SSR Performance has confirmed, the Lamborghini team sent driver Thiim into qualifying and the races with unheated tires in preparation for the 2024 season. Preheating is prohibited in the DTM – and this has a negative impact on performance, especially with the difficult-to-warm Pirellis.
“If I were to go there for DTM or GT Masters preparation, I would do the same as SSR, but that wasn’t our issue,” said the HRT team boss, making it clear that the two drivers Wiebelhaus and Kwanda Mokoena, who are scheduled to compete in the ADAC GT Masters, should first develop a feel for their cars.
Fritz on Wiebelhaus’ talent: “That’s remarkable “
However, Fritz is particularly enthusiastic about Wiebelhaus, who dominates the GT Winter Series. “We tested with him for the first time at the Young Driver Test in Valencia,” says the HRT Team Principal, referring to last November. “We were very positively surprised, because it was his first time in a GT3 car. At that time, he still preferred to drive Formula 4 and just wanted to try it out. “
After another two-day test in Portimao in December, the team nominated the Hessian for the GT Winter Series, in which he has won five out of six races so far. “I think we have a really good talent there,” says Fritz, rubbing his hands together. “Finn is characterized by the fact that he has incredible car control, handles the car very softly and is still fast.”
So far, he has “been in the car with us for a total of twelve days and hasn’t been in the gravel or off the track once. That is remarkable. “
Intensive DTM preparation for Nicki Thiim
The SSR Performance team’s commitment is also remarkable: after the four days at the GT Winter Series, where they skipped the endurance race on Sunday, they immediately traveled on to Barcelona with rookie Thiim to take advantage of the next test opportunity on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As a result, Thiim, who is back in the Aston Martin Vantage this weekend, has already completed six days in the SSR team’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 in 2024
