Race 02 - Brands Hatch

After a very good start where Kristian managed to stay out of trouble - he was P16. Then the safety car was set in - because the medical helicopter had to take off.
On the first lap after the saftey car was in, Y. Muller overtook Thomson and Poulsen at the same time. Afterwards it was close race between Thomson and Poulsen and Thomson pushed Poulsen off into the sand....and then it was game over for Poulsen.

Race 01 - Brands Hatch

Even though Kristian had to start last, because of the change of engine, he managed to get a good start and came out P15. There was a lot of chaos in the start and safety car was set in.
Everything was going well, Kristian had good speed and gained on Porterio, but then the gas pedal broke and he was out. He managed to get the car on track again and finished the race P20 and P6 independent.
The cars are in parc freme now, and the mechanics only have about 12 minutes to repair the car before the pit lane closes for race 02...but that should be all rigth and Kristian and the car will be ready. Let's hope for a good second race...

Qualifying at Brands Hatch

Saturday, in a WTCC weekend, is as usual for training and qualifying. Kristian and the mechanics, Robert, Hans and Danny have been working hard to find the perfect setup for the car - and it is getting there. Throughout the day is has been better and better. In qualifying Kristian was P22 and got his fastest lap time of the day. It is very close...only 1.4 secounds between Kristian and the pole position.
For the races tomorrow they have changed a bit and Kristian is positive and looking forward to a good race here at Brands Hatch.

We are at Brands Hatch...

The WTCC circus has arrived at Brands Hatch and Kristian has been looking forward to driving here. Brands Hatch is one of his favourite circuits. It has got a lot of history and is it a fun circuit to drive - so they say...
The last two days the guys have been unpacking, setting up the pit and got the cars ready - it's alot of work. This weekend Engstler Motorsport has got three cars in the WTCC. Young talent Philip Geipel is also driving this weekend.

Race 02 - "new" engine

Well, the start was less dramatic in the second race, and Kristan had a good start. He gained a couple of positions. Unfortunately he lost them again during the race. The brand new engine, that broke yesterday, was changed..but the "new" engine is not as good as the other one...and Kristian is loosing almost a second on the straight part of the circuit. The engine has to be changed again before Brands Hatch, but this costs ten positions...

Race 01 Porto

The first race of the day had a crazy start...the circuit is extremely narrow and alot of cars crashed during the start. Kristian managed to get around most of the chaos but then cars packed competely in the second turn...and there was a red flag. Kristian managed to drive to the pit and the mechanics got the car ready for the restart.
At the restart of the race Kristian had to start from the pit. Unfortunalely he got a penalty drive through, because he drove to the pit during red flag.
During the race he managed to catch up with the cars infront and at the last lap he overtook Thomson and finished P17 and P6 independent.
All in all a good result considering all the obstackles on the way. And best of all he was really fast...
Race 02 is at 16.50...let's hope for a less dramatic race.

Qualifying in Porto

Qualifying went allright...Poulsen starts P20 and teammate Engstler P19. (P5 and P6 independent)
A few ajustments have to be made on the setup for the race tomorrow.
Warm-up is at 9am and Race01 at 11.35..see you tomorrow on Eurosport :)
(Photo 1: WTCC)

Last practice before qualifying...

The practice went well... just untill the brand new engine broke...speaking of bad luck.
The mechanics are working hard to change the engine and getting the car ready for qualifying at 3pm.

Driving in Porto

The WTCC is in Porto this weekend. The race is at a circuit in the city made for the occation. The Circuit is 4.7 km long and has 22 turns and is very narrow - a quite demanding circuit.
The first training of the day just finished and Kristian is getting faster and faster. It is all about getting as much practice as possible before qualifying at 3pm. Next and last half hour training is at noon...
(Photo 01: WTCC)

Kristian in the speaker box

Today Kristian is in the speaker box commenting on the FIA Formula masters race Live from Brno. The danish driver Kasper Andersen won the last race in the series in Valencia.
It is at Eurosport at 12pm...

The show must go on...

Still high and tired upon Le Mans last weekend, the show must go on and Kristian had to leave for Brno today, for the next round of the WTCC. So, back in the BMW this weekend...
Follow qualifying and the race LIVE on Eurosport.
Saturday: Eurosport 2
15:00-15:45 FIA WTCC Brno: Qualifying
Søndag: Eurosport
08:30-09:00 FIA WTCC Warm up
12:45-13:30 FIA WTCC Brno: Race 01
14:30-15:45 FIA WTCC Brno: Race 02

Celebrated at the City Hall

Yesterday, Kristian Poulsen, Casper Elgaard and Teamowner Peter Halvorsen were invited to the City Hall by mayor Nicolaj Wammen. They were congratuated on the winning of Le Mans and asked to write in the book of the city of Århus.

And she song...

Finally she song... and Casper drove the car across the finishline at 15 pm, as the first car in the LMP2 and the Winner of Le Mans 2009 (LMP2). It was amazing and very moving. The whole team had worked so hard and made no mistakes, within the whole race...and it paid off.
What we had all been dreaming off came through. The first danish team to be on the podium at Le Mans ever. Congratulations to the drivers and the whole team - well done!

The last hour...

The Essex Porsche had been the leading thorughout the whole race...but at times it had been close race with Team Goh. At the last hour the Essex Porsche was three laps ahead, as the Team Goh Porsche crashed and was out. The lead was now 14 laps...and the victory was within reach.
The last hour was very long and nerve-racking anyway. We just has to stay out of trouble, but the team Goh crash showed that "it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings..."

Sunday morning...

In the early morning hours with Collard behind the weels there was a crash. Team Goh - the other LMP2 Porsche drove into the Essex Porsche and both cars had to pit. The mechanics did an amazing job reparing the car and it was back on track within 5 minutes.

At 4.27am after a couple of hours of rest Kristian got ready to drive. Casper had just finished two stints and Collard was in the car...still leading but it was very close race.
The sun was getting up as Kristian drove out of the pit. "It was fantastic to see the sun getting up behind the Dunlop curve racing the leading car" Said Kristian. Casper and Collard drove the car all night and needed rest to be able to do the rest of the race.

Saturday - The race begins

At 15pm the 24 hours Le Mans 2009 started. Emanuelle Collard was the first driver in the car and held the pole position at the start of the race.

Casper Elgaard took over and drove three stints (3 x 12 laps) still as the leading car with a gap of a minute to no.2.

Kristian Poulsen had his first laps of the race after Casper. Just as he drove out of the pit there was a safety car and the gap to the following car was redused to a few seconds...

Friday - Parade at Le Mans centre

On friday the drivers were presented at the official parade in the centre of Le Mans. It is a fantastic event and the city is packed with people.

Thursday - Qualifying at Le Mans

Thursday from 8pm to 12pm qualifying and training was on. The Essex team set the fastest laptime and qualified for a poleposition in the LMP2 class and p20 all over.

Kristian had his first laps in the dark and drove the official rokey laps to qualify for the race. Everything went well and the team is ready for saturday.

Countdown for Le Mans

The countdown for the 77th edition of the legendary Le Mans has begun. Kristian and Casper just arrived at Le Mans, ready for the preparations starting with sporting checks and scrutineering tomorrow. The programme is listed above.

Le Mans - Press conference

Today in Copenhagen, there was a press conference as a run-up for this years Le Mans. The danish drivers were presented and anwsered questions from the press regarding the legendary race next weekend. Kristian Poulsen and Casper Elgaard represented Team Essex.