Nicki Thiim and his new SSR team used the GT Winter Series in Valencia to prepare for the DTM, but a German ex-Formula 4 driver stole the show
Successful SSR Performance debut for Nicki Thiim at the GT Winter Series (GTWS) in Valencia, which took place from Thursday to Sunday in Valencia. The Danish Aston Martin works driver, who is driving a Lamborghini in the DTM this year thanks to a release from his manufacturer, secured a second and a third place on the grid at the guest appearance and finished second on the podium in both races
Surprisingly, however, he was always beaten by 17-year-old ex-Formula 4 driver Finn Wiebelhaus, who will line up for Hubert Haupt’s Mercedes-AMG team in the ADAC GT Masters this season and will be supported by Manuel Reuter.
For Thiim, however, the focus was on making the most of the good conditions and the extensive driving time so that the 34-year-old can get used to his new work equipment and his team before the test restrictions come into effect in the DTM.
What Thiim and SSR focused on
The set-up in particular was tinkered with. “We saw in the DTM that the SSR team knows how to do it,” says Thiim. “But you try to get more out of it for yourself personally in terms of driving style. For me, it’s about getting used to the ‘Lambo’ again – with all the switches and options that you have in a modern GT3 car.”
Thiim had already driven the Huracan GT3 from T3 Motorsport in two DTM weekends in 2022, but not with the current Evo package at the time. But how did it go for Thiim and his squad, who did not complete the third race on Sunday evening?
HRT youngster Finn Wiebelhaus steals the show from Thiim
“That was a very good race yesterday,” he said on Sunday about the half-hour first race on Saturday evening, in which he also finished second from second on the grid, 4.116 seconds behind
At midday on Sunday, Thiim lost third place at the start to the Joos Porsche of Michael Kapfinger. Only the departure of second-placed HRT-Mercedes driver Kwanda Mokoena shortly before the finish and a five-second penalty for Kapfinger due to track limits pushed Thiim up to second place behind winner Wiebelhaus. He had a lead of 9.430 seconds.
“Finn is incredibly fast,” said Thiim after the second race. “And Kwanda also has a great future ahead of him. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for their season, wherever they will be racing in the small world of motorsport. “
Further Thiim test with SSR squad to follow this week
For SSR Performance, the focus was not on the results, but on being able to rehearse racing situations in pleasant temperatures in addition to the tests. Thiim speaks of “really good preparation. I learned a lot about the car again,” said the DTM returnee.
Now they will “look through the data at home to see what we can do better”. Because SSR Performance leaves nothing to chance. “We’ll be testing somewhere else next week. Full throttle until the season starts,” grins Thiim, who will be back in the Aston Martin Vantage after the next SSR Lamborghini test the following weekend.
