Debut for Benjamin Mazatis in the GT4 European Series Northern Cup
- First European race as a Reiter Engineering rider at Misano, Italy
- Strong international field of drivers with over 60 participants
In terms of speed, a podium finish might even have been possible.
Following their second place in the Dubai 24 Hours in January, Benjamin Mazatis had his next outing in the KTM X-Bow GT4 from Reiter Engineering last weekend. At the season opener in Misano, Italy, the 19-year-old and his American teammate Brett Sandberg competed for the first time in the fiercely contested GT4 European Series Northern Cup. The racing driver from Bruckmühl immediately found himself in the midfield of the 33 cars.
As one of 13 riders from the Reiter Young Stars development programme, Mazatis travelled to the well-known Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli near the Adriatic coast following intensive preparations in his home simulator. The German showed a steep learning curve in the 320hp powerhouse from the outset of the training sessions. In qualifying, Mazatis and his stablemate secured grid positions 19 and sixth.
The first of two 60-minute races on Saturday evening brought another premiere for Mazatis: a race start in the dark. With 19th place in the night race, he once again asserted himself in the midfield. On Sunday, the good starting position from the third row of the grid remained unrewarded. When Mazatis‘ teammate was touched by a rival in the very first corner, the duo's race was over prematurely.
FOUR questions for Benjamin Mazatis
Benjamin, your first race weekend in the GT4 European Series Northern Cup was just getting going when misfortune stopped you and your teammate...
The weekend had started well. Although we struggled with the balance of performance in the initial practice sessions, this was then eased for qualifying. Things improved significantly after that. We were able to drive at the pace of the frontrunners in the timed practice session, which earned us sixth place on the grid for the second race. After finishing in the midfield in the first race, we had high hopes for the second race. In terms of speed, a podium finish might even have been possible. Unfortunately, there was no good result possible due to an unprovoked collision involving my teammate at the start. But 'ifs' and 'buts' don't help now. It's time to lift our heads and look ahead to the next race.
How did the collaboration with Reiter Engineering and your teammate Brett Sandberg go in Misano?
Just like my team, I knew Brett from the 24 Hours of Dubai, where we achieved a podium finish together. This meant we already knew how each other approached car set-up and the best direction to take. Furthermore, he has a lot of experience, having been victorious in the Pirelli World Challenge last year with the KTM X-Bow GT4. As a result, I was able to learn a great deal from him. The atmosphere within the team was really superb, and I could always rely on the help and feedback from the mechanics and engineers.
What experiences and impressions did you gain during your first start in the GT4 European Series Northern Cup?
It was a great experience, as the level is even higher than in the series I've raced in before. The international field of drivers with so many experienced competitors is a big challenge. On top of that, the Misano circuit was completely new to me. However, I managed it quite quickly and well, as I had spent a lot of time in my simulator beforehand to prepare as best I could. That definitely paid off. It was also a great experience to race in the support programme of the Blancpain GT Series. The atmosphere was fantastic, especially when we were racing at night.
What goals have you set for yourself for the second race of the season at the Red Bull Ring?First of all, I will prepare myself in the simulator in the same way as before. Furthermore, through my experiences in Misano, I now know even more about the technical details of the KTM X-Bow GT4. This will help me with my preparation, as I can already work out some things regarding the setup in advance. In addition, it is possible that I will start in Austria with a different teammate, as Brett is not confirmed for the whole season. Without an experienced second driver, it will be all the more important to take responsibility for the setup work myself. However, at the Red Bull Ring, I definitely want to pick up where I left off in Misano. My goal is at least a top-10 finish.