Challenge Scootthole
Project Paul at the 10-hour race in Magny-Cours
Finally it was time again! After what felt like an eternity, in which various long-distance races had to be canceled, the loaded Team Scotthole on September 12th to 10-hour race to Magny-Cours a. Full of anticipation, we followed from Paul project - in addition to about 30 other teams - their call.
A lot of time has passed since the last race, time that team boss Dennis has not wasted. So he devoted himself - with great support from Scooter Center - the construction of a completely new racing scooter, the sixth Paul since the formation of the team in 2015. The former PLC-Racer, a V50, with which Andy had already started in the ESC for years, served as the basis. Disassembled into its individual parts, the scooter was rebuilt from scratch and equipped with a lot of power. After a day of testing on the test bench, Paul number 6 with starting number 6 was ready for his race in France.
On Saturday, the day before the race, there was a lot on the program. In addition to the construction of the pit and the technical acceptance, the final adjustments had to be made during the training runs before qualifying, in which we actually ended up in first place - the test was passed, the race could come!
Exciting 10 hours in Magny-Cours
The alarm clock rang early on Sunday morning. The closer the race got, the more stage fright increased – not just among the drivers, it just infected everyone. So off to the track, Paul woke him up and put Felix in the station wagon. Up to this point everything was going smoothly. About ten minutes before the start - we were already in position - we noticed that Paul was "letting go"... Without thinking too much and without wasting any time, we went back to the pits. The reason was found quickly: a screw on the clutch cover was not tight enough. Luckily not a big deal, just the ten minutes left until launch wasn't enough to fix the problem. So the start took place without Paul, who only started chasing half a lap later with Felix.
Starter after starter, the two began to roll up the field from behind. Arrived in position 17, bad luck caught up with us again when the membrane plate flew in our faces. The associated stay in the pits cost us six places, so we started chasing again from 23rd place.
Arrived in 14th place, the rubber carburetor thought that this would be a good time to make the number a little more exciting and spontaneously parted with the carburetor. Driver Andreas was forced to push Paul off the track into the already familiar pit. Equipped with an additional clamp, it went back into the race to make up for lost places. And this time it should work! Team by team and round by round, Andreas, Felix, Thomas, Andy and Wolfi worked their way up to Place 1! For the remaining one and a half hours it was “only” a matter of defending it – not an easy task, because we didn’t get anything for free from the French team “Superbordel”. The drivers, who were also very strong, kept coming dangerously close to us with their fast PK.
Make no mistake now...
The (planned) last driver change took place 40 minutes before the finish line. Andy was able to hold the position and Andreas started for the last stint when the red light came on less than ten minutes later. Abandoned race. All drivers from the pits. But where was Andrew? Ambulance and service car sprinted onto the track towards a part that was not visible from the pits. Minutes passed, dragging like gum. The ambulance left the route first and drove straight through to the medical supply room, followed by the service car loaded with our number 6. Our hearts stopped for a moment.
Part of the team ran straight away to ask about Andreas, the others ran to the service car. Andy still had his suit on and grabbed his helmet, while Dennis, Thomas and Felix Paul did a quick check and started again. The riders from the other teams were in starting positions right next to us, waiting to be released back onto the track. Andy joined in, it could actually go on! We were still in the lead by a good two laps and Andy, after a nerve-wracking ten hours, crossed the finish line with Paul in first place!
With the award ceremony, that has been beneficial for Project Paul so far most exciting racing weekend a happy ending, because Andreas was also able to attend - despite severe pain in his shoulder - and receive his very own trophy: with a time of He has the fastest lap in 1.29.3 minutes burned into the asphalt!
We thank the Scooter Center, which supports us with the parts supply at all times, as well as our supporters KR Automation, Egig Performance and FalkR, without whom the construction of such a vehicle would not have been possible without further ado. We would also like to thank the organizer, who realized this great event despite adverse circumstances, and of course all the other teams for a fair race! It is always a great honor for us to be able to share this passion with friends. Thanks a lot for this!
