New Delhi: Indian motorsport sensation Akshay Gupta achieved a remarkable 2nd place finish in the 6-hour Endurance Race at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany, marking a triumphant return to the podium after a challenging season.
Gupta, who sustained a rib fracture in the previous race on June 22, showed exceptional resilience and determination, nursing his injuries while pushing his limits alongside German co-driver Alex Schneider. The tech-entrepreneur and racer represented India as the sole contender for the NLS championship title, facing stiff competition from WTCC World Champion and WEC drivers in the VT2-F category.
Despite the challenges of a broken seat, Gupta and Schneider secured 2nd place in the VT2-F category, finishing an impressive 51st overall out of 107 cars. This achievement marks a significant milestone at the 6th round of the 8-round championship.
Reflecting on the race, Gupta stated, “We finally ended the streak of bad luck that we have been having. This was the longest race of the year, and we were down to 2 drivers, so it took a physical toll given I just recovered from multiple injuries and am still nursing a few others. But I am happy for the team for taking 1-2 in class.”
He further added, “The next step for us is to win. We had two DNFs, two 5th place finishes and one 3rd place before this round. The idea is to find the remaining performance within us and the racecar and go for race wins in the remaining two rounds. It is very realistic now with our performance.”
The race weekend was marred by a pitlane explosion on Friday during the practice session, which left nearly two dozen injured and forced several teams to withdraw, reducing the grid by 16 cars. Gupta expressed his thoughts on the incident, saying, “Thoughts go out to the family of those who were involved in the explosion on Friday. I was inside the car on the racetrack when the explosion happened, the proximity of it all scares you. It could have been anyone. Shows how fragile life is.”
The NLS championship will continue with the next round on October 19, 2024, followed by the final round on November 16, 2024.
