The KTM X-BOW GT2 SPX has made a successful return to the famous Nordschleife around four months after the Nürburgring 24 Hours. True Racing by Reiter Engineering entered the car in the Nürburgring Endurance Series and finished a creditable tenth overall. Georg Griesemann, Yves Volte and Felix von der Laden were the best-placed entry for customer team Teichmann Racing in the KTM X-BOW GTX.
Focusing on testing and developing cars while racing at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is certainly nothing new for KTM. The Nürburgring Endurance Series has played host to tests in racing conditions for the KTM X-BOW GT2 SPX on multiple occasions in 2022. “Every kilometre counts,” says Reinhard Kofler. “We found a number of areas where we have to improve, particularly after the 24-hour race.”
KTM’s test and development driver competed in the seventh round of the championship together with the Norwegian driver Mads Siljehaug, with both underscoring the enormous potential of the car entered by True Racing by Reiter Engineering. A top 10 finish for Kofler in qualifying and a strong opening to the race by Siljehaug despite the difficult conditions were just two examples of what the car is capable of.
Neither Kofler nor Siljehaug doubt that a top 5 finish was possible. “We performed extremely well both in dry and in wet conditions, which shows how strong the car really is,” Siljehaug said. Repair work and two stop-and-go penalties during the race ended up costing the pair several minutes on their competitors. At the end of the four-hour race, Kofler and Siljehaug crossed the line in tenth position in the 132-car field.
That field also included Georg Griesemann, Yves Volte and Felix von der Laden, racing for the KTM customer team Teichmann Racing. After an issue in the opening stages of the race, the fans trackside were treated to a strong recovery drive by the trio in their KTM X-BOW GTX. Ultimately, they crossed the line in 19th overall and first in class.
The sister car entered by the team didn’t have such a successful weekend. An accident in the morning practice session meant that the KTM X-BOW GTX of Stephan Brodmerkel, Hendrik Still and Constantin Schöll had to be withdrawn from the race meeting. The KTM X-BOW GT4 (Lukas Drost/Andreas Simon) started the race but was unable to finish.
The next opportunity for good results comes on 22 October, when both True Racing by Reiter Engineering and Teichmann Racing will be competing in the penultimate round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series.