Zytek Win Nurburgring 1000 km
Hayanari Shimoda helped Zytek win their second Le Mans Endurance Series race of the season by driving from the back of the grid to the front at the Nurburgring
It was also Shimoda's second LMES win of the season, after he was part of Zytek's winning team at the opening 1000 km race of the season at Spa.
The Japanese driver, driving with British Touring Car Championship racer Tom Chilton, set the fastest time in qualifying but had the result cancelled due to a technical infringement, and had to start from the rear of the 44-car grid.
Shimoda hit the front for the first time at 35 laps, and emerged victorious after a thrilling three-way battle with the Team ORECA Audi R8 of Allan McNish and Stephane Ortelli, and the Creation Autosportif team DBA 04S Judd of Nicolas Minassian and Jamie Campbell-Walter.
Shimoda was third with half an hour to go and caught and passed Minassian for second place, before closing the gap on McNish's Audi and passing the Scot seven laps from the end. Shimada pulled out a lead of 13.6 seconds by the chequered flag.
Leading finishers, Nurburgring 1000 km:
Pos Drivers Make Laps 1. Shimoda/Chilton Zytek 04S 193 2. McNish/Ortelli Audi R8 +10.7s 3. Minassian/Campbell-Walter DBA Judd 03S +24.5s 4. Collard/Boullion Pescarolo C60H Judd 192 5. Barbosa/Short/Ickx Dallara Judd 187 6. Hignett/Stack/Fisken Zytek 04S 185 7. Theys/van de Poele Lola B05/40 AER 184 8. Cochet/Vann/Frei Courage C60H Judd 183 9. Turner/Bell Aston Martin DBR9 179 10. Cressoni/Davies/Ramos Ferrari 550 Maranello 178 11. Pescatori/Seiler/Bartyan Ferrari 550 Maranello 178 12. Pergl/Kox/Janis Ferrari 550 Maranello 178
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