Report and Photos: Willem J. Staat

The local VLN Endurance series at the Nürburgring Nordschleife has become more and more popular with bumper 2011 season ahead. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Volkswagen are officially of semi-officially being involved in the Nürburgring 24 Hrs! This year the Nürburgring 24 Hrs. edition promises to become one of the best ever. But except the manufacturers there have always well financed teams who haven given it a try. But one of the best stories for this year’s race the brand new Pininfarina designed and N-Technology built Ferrari P4/5 from American James Glickenhaus. Glickenhaus who in his youth was a big fan of the P4 has seen a dream come true. The Ferrari P4/5 Competizione will drive at some VLN events prior the 24 Hrs and in the 24 Hrs itself. Thereafter the F430 based P4-5 will go into the musuem of Mr. Glickenhaus. Mika Salo, Nicola Larini, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Luca Capellari will drive the car. Last Saturday the Ferrari had it’s maiden run at the Nürburgring and did a very good job, though at the long Döttinger Höhe Straight it missed some straightline topspeed in comparision to the works BMW’s and Mercedes GT3 cars. In a leading German motorsports magazine Glickenhaus said he had this car built to please the fans, as access for the diehards in F1 has become impossible nowadays. And fans should enjoy and have access to his Ferrari P4/5 as well. That’s why he has entered it in the Nürburgring 24 Hrs. because it is a fan event! Audi has renewed as a partner of the series and for this year they are being joined by Peugeot. Peugeot France and Peugeot Germany will enter two RCZ’s in the VLN Endurance series and 24 Hrs.