expands
Thanks
to this year’s early summer recess, the racing stable “REM-Power”
from Heiligenroth has the time to move into its new premises at
Mogendorf in the Westerwald. Right before the third heat of the
BFGoodrich-Long-Distance-Touring-Car-Championship 2008 head of the team
Andre Ibron took over a former BMW dealership.
There
the bolides of the team will in the future be assembled, maintained and
stored. “We just needed more space”, Andre Ibron explained the step.
Presently the team has two BMW One waiting for their next racing
operation. Furthermore there wasn’t enough place at the previous garage
to store the additional equipment along with the vehicles. Due to the
new facilities Andre Ibron is now able to concentrate everything in one
spot. At the new location at Mogendorf the team offers its customers –
additionally to the usual garage service – their racing experience, the
motor sports equipment and high-value tuning products of the various
technology partners. In cooperation with the company “Wetterauer
Engineering GmbH” from Koblenz the new “Wetterauer Technology Centre
Motorsports” will emerge here. Besides the development of motor sports
components, control unit optimisation and chip-tuning, the installation
of chassis and breaking systems with registration is intended to be
carried out.
However,
after the relocation there is already some work waiting for the team.
The BMW bio-diesel coupé caught fire at the rear section during the
third heat. “At the moment we don’t exactly know what has happened, but
after a first breakdown it is most likely that the oil of the
differential gear got to hot and therefore the pipelines to the oil
cooler melted away. And then the exhaust pipe finally set the oil on
fire”. A detailed analysis by the expert Martin Bang during the next
days shall bring certainty. Despite this unscheduled drop out the head
of the team was satisfied with the performance. “We again learned a lot.
The coupé really reacts totally different than last year’s BMW One.”
From the chassis to the engine and the aerodynamics the new car is
despite the same series - due to many innovations - virgin territory and
furthermore struggles with some teething troubles. “I’m sorry to say
that 2008’s 24-Hours-Race is definitely cancelled for us. A repair of
the 135D coupé within the next two weeks is unfortunately not possible.”
Additionally the new driver – Werner Mohr – has to get used to the
diesel-powered engine. “In the past Werner drove the Viper. There you
just get in and thanks to the enormous power you can accelerate out of
any bend.” Andre Ibron knows that a diesel-powered car is something
totally different. The BMW is lighter and smaller than the Viper and has
a clearly diverse performance. Let alone the comparatively little
revolutions per minute (rpm), which the Diesel requires. “Nevertheless
Werner is well on his way.”
But now
there is primarily the relocation present for the team. Afterwards the
two cars will be updated. Besides the coupé also the old BMW One shall
be prepared for racing again. Whether or not the team will be able to
start with both cars at the next heat, isn’t quite sure yet.
