Kévin Estre on the verge of an XXL performance at the Nürburgring
A week after his podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Porsche driver put in another fine performance at the Nürburgring. It could have been even better had it not been for a heavy penalty.
He once again demonstrated all his talent. During the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, Kévin Estre secured pole position on the longest circuit in the world, before dominating almost the entire race.
The driver of the Porsche #911 was perfect until this morning’s contact with an Aston Martin GT4, which had been shown blue flags. While trying to overtake it, the French driver clipped it, causing it to hit the barrier and roll over. Although the crew of the British car was unharmed, the footage was impressive.
A lengthy debate then took place to determine who was responsible for this accident. The commissioners eventually made a decision. The fault was attributed to Kévin Estre, who was heavily penalized with a 100-second penalty.
His team appealed, but it was rejected. The Lyonnais and his teammates then did everything to widen the gap at the head of the race. Even though the “Grello” Porsche crossed the line first, the penalty was too significant, and they were ultimately classified second.
« 100 seconds is a harsh penalty. I saw the gap inside and went for it. The other car had already received three blue flags but still turned into the corner. I had nowhere to go, even though I swerved over the curbs and onto the grass. This is what led to the contact, which unfortunately had serious consequences and caused the other car to roll over. I am very relieved that the other driver is okay. Unlike my second-to-last stint, the last one went well: the tires held up better and the Porsche was very performant again. We ran for 24 hours with unwavering determination and gave it our all. I think we did a fantastic job », analyzes the runner-up of the event.
Despite this disappointment for Kévin Estre, it is important to note the impressive string of performances. In one week, he achieved a podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and another at the Nürburgring, moreover in two different cars, which clearly shows that the driver is capable of adapting to all racing conditions.
