Double premiere for Philipp Frommenwiler
GT-SPORT Philipp Frommenwiler will contest two major 24-hour races in January on tracks he has only known from TV footage. In Dubai he will be driving a Porsche 911 from Fach, and in Daytona the Lexus GT3 of a US team. Last year Philipp Frommenwiler made his breakthrough in GT racing. With Emil Frey Lexus Racing and the Spaniard [...]
Last year, Philipp Frommenwiler made his breakthrough in GT racing. With Emil Frey Lexus Racing and Spain's Albert Costa as his partner, he won the International GT Open at the first attempt. Although it wasn't enough to win the title (3rd) only because of bad luck in the final phase, they were the most successful duo with four race wins.
His achievements have not gone unnoticed. With the American team 3GT Racing, the 28-year-old from Thurgau will start in a Lexus RC F at the 24 Hours of Daytona on January 27/28.
"They needed another silver driver, and because I had made contacts beforehand via Toyota and Lexus, the deal came together," he says happily.
To get to know the team and his three teammates - including former IndyCar driver Bruno Junqueira from Brazil - Frommenwiler attended the official Daytona test drives. Because he registered too late for this, the organization did not let him take the wheel.
"In terms of the car, it won't be much different from the Swiss Lexus, and Daytona isn't the most difficult track. The team is well positioned, so I'll find good conditions," he says optimistically.
First the premiere in Dubai
After January has so far been a race-free period for him, this even gives Frommenwiler two 24-hour premieres within two and a half weeks. For the 24H Dubai (January 12-13) he returns to his former Supercup team Fach Auto Tech. With Porsche club racers Marcel Wagner, Heinz Bruder, Peter Hegglin and Michael Hirschmann, he forms an all-Swiss team in a 911 GT3 Cup.
He is aware that his experience makes him the spearhead. His teammates can only benefit from this. "The primary goal will be to get through without an accident in this constellation. In terms of pure speed, we won't be able to compete at the very front. That's why it's all about consistency."
The start will be on Friday, January 12, at 2 p.m. (11 a.m. CET). The complete race will be broadcast in livestream on the organizer's homepage (www.24hseries.com) broadcast live.
