9 August 2008
Round 4 – Oschersleben 8hrs, Germany

Diablo 666 storm to top 10 finish!

Diablo 666 have had their best result of the 2008 season finishing in 9th place in the Oschersleben 8hrs race, Round 4 of the World Endurance Championship.

Diablo 666 have had their best result of the 2008 season finishing in 9th place in the Oschersleben 8hrs race, Round 4 of the World Endurance Championship.

Michael Weynand would start the race for Diablo 666 and at the practice start he got an absolute flyer and came round at the end of first practice lap in a sensational 6th. Unfortunately in the race proper he was seriously baulked and was 18th and for the first first few laps he seemed to slow and then as the race settled down he was lying 20th for many laps and after the first hour he handed over to Alex and remained in 20th place.

After 11 laps the No 77 Honda pulled into the pits with a problem and then another and then another. Would Mr Schumacher be able to show what he could do in an endurance bike race? Only time would tell. It would seem not though as the bike repeatedly came into the pits. Having made so many pit stops for minor problems this looked as though it was merely being used to get some laps on the bike for its famous rider.

Although Diablo 666 were in 20th overall they were actually in the points as they were lying 14th in the WEC class, excluding the Open class and Superstock runners.

After an hour and a quarter bad news, firstly Bolliger were pushing in and the No. 33 bike had crashed causing the pace cars to come out. Alex was now on a mission as the two bikes ahead of him had obviously become closer and soon we were up to 15th overall and 13th in class.

Patrick Muff pushed the stricken Bolliger bike back to the pits but the news was not good, the engine had a con rod poking out the side of the block and Bolliger’s race was run. As always though, the ultra efficient Bolliger pit crew led by Hans Peter were there as ever to carry out the pit stop for the Diablo 666 Kawasaki ZX-10. Alex handed over to James Hutchins. Would the Diablo 666 luck hold out for the remaining 6 hours?

Close to the end of Alex’s stint the pace car was out again as Moto 38 crashed on the final corner just before the start and finish straight. Diablo 666 were now up to 12th in class. All three riders all the way through the race would be lapping consistently at round about the 1:32 to 1:33 mark depending obviously on traffic out on the circuit.

At the end of hour 3, James Hutchins handed over to Michael Weynand with Diablo 666 once again improving to 11th overall and 10th in the WEC class.

At the end of hour 5 it was beginning to get dusk with the sun being dangerously low in the sky but as always the top bikes just seem to get faster and faster. It is amazing to watch the skill of these guys. Diablo 666 had now moved up to 10th Overall and 9th in class. Could Diablo’s first top ten finish of 2008 be on the cards, fingers were being crossed and everything else as well!

As Alex Cudlin crossed the line the whole Team breathed a huge sigh of relief and uncrossed a few digits as well! Miles Hutchins, Team principal was overjoyed, “After all the effort over the past month to finally get some further points is a just reward. Well done to the riders and a big thank you to all the members of our Team”.

Diablo 666 will be racing again at the Bol d’Or at Magny Cours on the weekend of the 13th & 14th September.

< Back to main news page