4h Spa: From the very back to 2nd place

Finally it worked out! At the fifth race weekend of the European Le Mans Series in Spa-Francorchamps, Fabio Scherer and his Inter Europol Competition LMP2-team achieved their first podium finish of the season with second place.

Fabio Scherer and his two teammates, Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi and David Heinemeier Hansson from Danmark, had collected two points before the ELMS race at Spa-Francorchamps. A ninth place was the best result so far. At the fifth round on Scherer’s favourite circuit in Belgium, everything finally worked out. With second place, the 23-year-old from Engelberg secured his first podium finish in the ELMS.

After the qualifying, things looked anything but promising. Scherer spun in the decisive practice in the tight “Bruxelles corner” which was followed by a red flag. Because he was not allowed to chase times afterwards, he therefore had to start from the very back of the grid. But that didn’t stop the driver of the #43 Oreca, supported by STOBAG and ATS Banding System, from diving through the entire field.

“These were exactly my conditions,” said Scherer. “Half wet, half dry. I was already on P16 after the first lap. And it went really very well. So good that I did three stints on the same tyres.”

Leading the race, Scherer handed the car over to Heinemeier Hansson, who completed the second stint. Before Fittipaldi successfully completed the final turn in second place.

“I was very nervous in the pits,” Scherer says. “When you’re not in the car, it’s always one of those things. I almost couldn’t watch. But my teammates did a great job except for one spin by David. It’s a big weight off our shoulders. And we’re all looking forward to the final in Portimão on 16^th October. In this condition, we can race for victory at the last race.”

Before Scherer heads to Portugal, however, the fast Swiss will compete in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on 1^st October in the USA. A preview of this last race in the IMSA series 2022 will follow in the next few days.