15.10.2011 - Mikko Eskelinen had a heavy crash in FIA GT3 Zaanvoort - Season conlcuded due destruction of the car
In final round of FIA GT3 European Championship series, which was driven in Holland, the flying Mikko Eskelinen, 39, had a very fast crash as he lost the control of his Ford GT car and hit the concrete wall of Zaanvoort circuit.
Even Eskelinen experienced the most roughest crash of his long and successful career, he wasn't injured at all. However the damages for the car were so extensive that Eskelinen and his danish team mate Christoffer Nygaard were forced to end the season.
- In my qualifying run I drove one fast paced left corner with fifth gear, cut the corner a bit too much and lost the control of the car which jumpt a bit and rear side of the car lost the grip. Then there wasn't anything I could do as I was turned into passenger, told Eskelinen his experience.
- The data told that I hit the concrete wall with 218kms/h of speed. The car suffered heavy damages and therefore it's not possible to continue racing for the races. This means that my season ends here to this major dissapointment, Eskelinen continues.
12.10.2011 - GT3-season ends with a highlight in Holland - Premiere race of the FIA GT3-EC in Zandvoort
The 2011 season of the FIA GT3 European Championship ends in the Netherlands this weekend. For the first time, the championship will start at Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Fischer Racing hope to close the season on a high with the two Ford GT at the series first ever visit to the Dutch track, located directly at the north sea coast north of Amsterdam. For the final two races of the 2011 season, a driver new to Fischer Racing will share the Ford GT with experienced Finn Markus Palttala. Jesse Krohn from Finland will make his first step into GT-racing along his fellow countryman Palttala at Zandvoort, while the second Fischer Racing-Ford GT will be driven by regular drivers Mikko Eskelinen (FIN) and Christoffer Nygaard (DNK).
"We know the track in Zandvoort very well from the past, but this time we start there for the very first time with our two Ford GT", Fischer Racing team principal Hardy Fischer says. "At the end of the season, this event is an highlight. I hope it will also be a highlight for us. It would be nice to score another fine result before the winter break."
The Finnish-duo Palttala and young hot-shoe Jesse Krohn are looking forward to a strong result in their first common race. "My season in the FIA GT3-European Championship wasn't trouble free so far", says Palttala, who recently took momentum with a second consecutive victory in the Blancpain Endurance Series. "We had a lot of bad luck and desperately needed corrections to the 'Balance of Performance' of the Ford GT never came. But together with Jesse, I hope for a good result. He is a real talent and will race for the first time in a GT-car at Zandvoort. Our goal is to finish the season in the point ranks."
This is also the goal of Eskelinen und Nygaard. At the last round in Slovakia, the two Scandinavians scored points for the third time in the 2011 season and want to repeat that at the end of their second common season in the FIA GT3-European Championship.
Both races will be streamed live in the Internet on the series Website www.gt3europe.com . The races will also be broadcasted LIVE by Pan-European motorsports channel Motors TV.
Schedule Zandvoort
Friday, 14th October
10:45-11:45 - FIA GT3 European Championship - Free practise 1
15:15-16:15 - FIA GT3 European Championship - Free practice 2
Saturday, 15th October
10:05-10:55 - FIA GT3 European Championship - Qualifying
15:45-16:45 - FIA GT3 European Championship - Race 1
Sunday, 16th October
13:15-14:15 - FIA GT3 European Championship - Race 2
