23.05.06 Niko scored VLN Endruance podium Niko continued his assult on the VLN Endurance Championship at the weekend help at the Nurburgring with a assortment of weather. The KRS-Motorsport Honda Civic squad and Niko had already proved in qualifying they had one of the fastest drivers on the grid and were out for a great race result. "Saturday morning's qualifying was driven in totally wet conditions and I was the quickest driver in our team and managed to set third fastest time in class. I have never driven here before here in wet conditions, so the result was good" commented Niko after qualifying. Niko's driving parneter was German, Andreas Teichmann. Andreas started the race in sodden conditions and put that to his advantage to climb to second in CUP3 class, which is for Honda Civic Type R's. Nurminen soon took over in the cockpit and has to think tactically as the weather was about to change. "We didn't change tires during the pitstop because the track was still very wet. It was getting dry suprisingly quickly but I decided to stay on track and drive as fast as the tyres would let me as well as keeping them cool" Niko explained. Niko made the right decision and just before the finish of his stint the weather changed to a deluge of rain and for the majourity of drivers on silcks made the track conditions tretrous which started a chain reaction of crashes. "Finally the race stopped by red flag because of dangerous conditions and serious accident which happened in Grand Prix part of the circuit. At that moment we were in second place in class" Niko told. As well as achiving second place in the CUP3 class, Nurminen also had hauled the car into 23rd place overall in a field of 229 caras. The CUP3 class had 13 Honda Civics in total all of the cars finished making the 2nd place in class a very worthy result. "I feel very good now. Immediately when I got good team and car, I managed to get a great result. I am really looking forward to the next race here competing in the 24 hours race" Niko commented. The main event of this season, the massive 24 hour race of Nürburgring is on 17th - 18th of June. << back to news