LONG-DISTANCE SUCCESSES FOR THE KTM X-BOW GTX: SENSATION IN JAPAN, PODIUM FINISH IN HOCKENHEIM!

  • At the 24-hour race Fuji, the KTM X-BOW GTX sensationally takes 2nd place overall
  • “KTM Cars Japan" and "Syntium Apple" also win the ST1 class in superior fashion
  • Third podium in the third race for the KTM X-BOW GTX in the Creventic 24 H Series

 

The endurance successes of the new KTM X-BOW GTX continue. At the traditional 24-hour race in Fuji, the Japanese KTM X-BOW importer "KTM Cars Japan" was able to score a sensational success with their "Syntium Apple" racing team. The usual three-man driver team around KTM Cars Japan CEO Kazuho Takahashi was expanded for the endurance classic by two drivers from the Super GT series: Takahashi, Taiyo Iida and Hiroki Katoh were thus joined by Takashi Kobayashi and Hiroki Yoshimoto.

 

Due to heavy rain and fog, there was no qualifying in Fuji at first, for the starting grid the Super Taikyu organisers reverted to the points of the overall standings, so the KTM X-BOW team started from second place in the ST-1 class, accordingly also behind the GT3 cars grouped in the ST-X class. Despite slightly shorter stints than the direct competition, the team was able to maintain its position in the leading field right from the start, thanks to consistently fast lap times being decisive for this. After a trouble-free night, they already had a 10-lap lead over the first direct pursuer, and after making good tactical use of the one or other safety car period, the team was a full 23 laps ahead of the second-placed team when they crossed the finish line after 24 hours! "Incidentally", the "Syntium Apple" team also secured the sensational second place overall, leaving no less than five GT3 cars behind!

 

Not quite as successful, but still satisfactory, was the third appearance of the Felbermayr KTM X-BOW GTX at the Creventic 24 H Series in Hockenheim. The 12-hour race held there initially brought the clear lead in the SPX class after the first day of racing, but this was lost before the start of the second race section: a mandatory repair meant 10 penalty laps for the team with Horst Felbermayr, Eike Angermayr, Nicolai Elghanayan and Mads Siljehaug. In the end, however, the quartet was able to finish second in class and thus, after the victories in Mugello and Paul Ricard, also celebrate a podium finish in the third race of the season again. A second KTM X-BOW GTX, which was entered for the first time for the Dutch trio Nico Pronk, Peter Kox and Dennis Retera, unfortunately did not see the chequered flag.