Phoenix Leads Audi Podium Sweep at 12H Hockenheim

Phoenix Racing took its second consecutive victory in the Hankook 24H Series by leading an Audi podium lockout in the Hankook 12H Hockenheim.

The No. 18 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, driven by Michael Doppelmayr, Pierre Kaffer, Elia Erhart and Swen Herberger, recovered from a one-lap deficit on Sunday to win ahead of Car Collection Motorsport and JUTA Racing.

Car Collection’s No. 34 Audi, piloted by Johannes Kirchhoff, Max Edelhoff and Elmar Grimm, started Sunday’s running from pole position after leading into the overnight intervention on Saturday.

However, the German squad lost the lead on the first lap when it was overtaken by the No. 85 CP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Charles Putman, Charles Espenlaub and Joe Foster.

Meanwhile, the No. 18 Phoenix Audi began moving up the order, first overtaking JUTA Racing’s No. 71 Audi for third position overall.

It then moved past the leading Mercedes to get back on the lead lap after finishing Saturday’s portion of the race a lap down.

Now in third and back on the lead lap, the team was able to take advantage of a spin for the second-placed Car Collection Audi to head up to second.

When Putman then encountered brake issues behind the wheel of the leading No. 85 Mercedes, it left Phoenix clear to take the lead of the race.

It would remain there for the majority of the race, eventually crossing the lead two laps ahead of the No. 34 Car Collection Audi.

JUTA Racing’s all-Lithuanian squad consisting of Julius Adomavičius, Eimantas Navikauskas and Jonas Gelžinis completed the top three.

Putman, Espenlaub and Foster finished fourth for CP Racing.

The lone remaining GT3 car, JR Motorsport’s No. 2 BMW M6 GT3 driven by Ted van Vliet, Bas Schouten and Dirk Schouten, ended the race in seventh overall.

The Dutch squad finished 23 laps down on the winners and behind the two leading cars in the 992 class.

RESULTS: Hankook 12H Hockenheim Part II