Schaeffler Paravan and W&S Motorsport

When more than 100 racing cars compete in the world's toughest endurance race at the Nürburgring from 24 to 27 September 2020, it will be the premiere event for the Space Drive System from Schaeffler Paravan.

Pfronstetten/Nürburg: When more than 100 racing cars compete in the world's toughest endurance race at the Nürburgring from 24 to 27 September 2020, it will be the premiere event for the Space Drive System from Schaeffler Paravan. In the new cooperation between Schaeffler Paravan Technologie GmbH & Co.KG and W&S Motorsport, the steer-by-wire is installed on board the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 #58 and is the first car ever to take part in an endurance race without a mechanical connection between the steering unit and the steering gear.

"We have learned a lot about the Space Drive technology through the missions under the extreme conditions of the race track last year and the extensive tests in spring and were able to develop and perfect it a decisive bit further," says Roland Arnold CEO of Schaeffler Paravan Technologie GmbH & Co.KG and founder of Paravan GmbH, which developed the technology from mobility for the disabled. "Testing the robustness of the system over such a long distance is the next logical step after the successes of the last races. We hope to gain further important insights and parameters for the further development of the system."

W&S Motorsport as new partner - The Cayman as the next step towards series development

The cooperation between Space Drive Racing, the development platform of Schaeffler Paravan Technologie for new innovative vehicle technologies for the mobility of the future, and W&S Motorsport from Ofterdingen, should provide important experience in continuous operation. The Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 is significantly closer to a production car than the GT3 platform in which Space Drive has been used to date.

"I am delighted that we, as a team, together with Schaeffler Paravan, can push ahead with such an extraordinary and innovative project and carry out the first Space Drive endurance test with the Cayman. The team already has many years of experience with test projects and the car used has always crossed the finish line this year without any problems," says Team Principal and Managing Director of W&S Motorsport Daniel Schellhaas, himself an experienced driver in endurance races for many years. "I am very optimistic that the Porsche modified by Space Drive Racing, which now does without any mechanical connection at all between the force feedback steering wheel and the steering gear, will finish the 24h race and thus provide important impulses for the further development of the system. The drivers are experienced drivers on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Therefore, we are excellently positioned."

Marvin Dienst (Lampertheim), Niklas Steinhaus (Schwelm), Kai Riemer (Filderstadt) and Tim Scheerbarth (Dormagen) will be in the cockpit of the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4. Scheerbarth was crowned VLN overall champion in 2011 and was GT4 class champion in the endurance series in 2019.

The modified Porsche will be used for the first time in the GTC race next weekend, 11 to 13 September 2020, where Marvin Dienst and Tim Scheerbarth will compete in the Goodyear 60. Scheerbarth will also compete in GTC Race 1. Race 2 will be contested by Kai Riemer with the innovative technology in the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4. Another test day for the team around Space Drive Racing and W&S Motorsport will be on 21 September 2020 at the Hockenheimring in preparation for the annual highlight.

Four cars from different manufacturers equipped with the steer-by-wire system are already competing in the GTC Race. At the season opener at the Lausitzring three weeks ago, a furious triple victory was achieved. Sounding team and driver names test the electronic steering system: Audi R8 LMS GT3 #99, Space Drive Racing operated by Phoenix Racing with Markus Winkelhock/ Carrie Schreiner (Goodyear 60). Mercedes-AMG GT3 #31, Space Drive Racing operated by HWA Engineering Speed with Maximilian Götz and Patrick Assenheimer. Porsche 911 GT3 R #117, KÜS Team75 Bernhard with Jannes Fittje and David Jahn and the McLaren 570S GT4 #59 from Dörr Motorsport with Christer Joens.

Über das ADAC TOTAL 24h-Rennen auf dem Nürburgring

Since 1970, the 24h race at the Nürburgring has been one of the toughest and most prestigious races in the world alongside the 24h Le Mans. The competition twice around the clock on the 25.378-kilometre variant of the Grand Prix circuit and Nordschleife will be held in 2020 from 24 to 27 September. More than 100 participants have registered under special conditions due to the Corona pandemic. In previous years, the event attracted more than 200,000 visitors to the Eifel and millions of viewers worldwide. In all likelihood, no spectators will be able to attend the classic race on site this year - an extended livestream broadcast will provide the necessary information and entertaining entertainment throughout the race.

Since its inception, the 24-hour race has always put new prototypes of racing cars and innovative technologies to an incomparable endurance test. Since the opening of the Nürburgring in 1927, the adage has been: "Everyone praises what Nürburgring tests." As a rule of thumb for developers and manufacturers, one kilometre of the Nordschleife is as demanding on the material as 10 kilometres of country road. The record of over 4035 kilometres after 159 race laps was set by Audi in 2014.

About the GTC Race and Goodyear 60

The success story of the GTC Race began in 1990 with the Hockenheim Cup (later also Divinol Cup, DMV TCC and DMV GTC). Eligible to start in the GTC Race are drivers with an international licence. Two drivers can share one car. Two separate races, two qualifying sessions and one free practice session will be held. The races will be divided into different classes. In addition, the 60-minute Goodyear 60 race will be held at each GTC Race event.

Source: https://www.gtc-race.de/serieninfos/die-serie/

The series comprises two GTC sprint races of 30 minutes each with no driver changes or pit stops. The Goodyear 60 will be held over one hour and must be with a mandatory pit stop, a pilot change is possible. The GTC Race on the weekend of 11 to 13 September 2020 at the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit will be held in conjunction with the DTM and is very popular with fans. In a total of five classes and with a series-specific BoP (Balance of Performance), current GT3 models, GT3 predecessor models, GT4 vehicles as well as Porsche 991 GT3 Cup and Super Trofeo racing cars from Lamborghini will compete against each other.