With a little luck, the former F1 ace could have pocketed his first podium for the Austrians
Christian Klien presented himself in good form his debut in the Renault Sport Trophy in Le Mans. The former F1 ace finished on P5 in Saturday’s Endurance Race and on P6 in the Sprint event the following day.
“Christian got acquainted to the car quickly and gained a lot of experience with the RS01 in the Endurance race, showing good lap times, just like in the Sprint race the next day“, team boss Michael Zele analysed.
Unfortunately, despite his good pace, Klien could catch up in the Sprint race, but missed out on the podium. Due to technical problems in qualifying, he had to start from far back on the grid.
„We were unlucky in qualifying with a radiator problem, so the engine started overheating and I had to quit early. Coming just from P9, I could make up a couple of spots in the Sprint event and crossed the line on P6. I had a lot of fun with the RS01, as it was only my second race in a GT car. Zele Racing did a great job and our pace was good“, Klien added.
Team boss Zele was also content with the second Elite driver Bas Schothorst saying: „In the Endurance race Bas showed top lap times despite a puncture on his car in lap 1, and in the Sprint race he was on P3, when his cousin Stejin pushed him into the gravel.“
Zele Racing and Klien are working on extending their partnership. „We would love to have Christian in the car again at the season closer in Jerez.“
