Red Bull Ring offers RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP spectacular backdrop for 11th Grand Prix of the season
This weekend, the 11th Grand Prix of 2024 will be held at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The 4.35-kilometre circuit gives riders and machines a short but intense challenge while the mountainous landscape makes for beautiful scenery.
After the season resumed a fortnight ago at Silverstone, the 2024 season has reached its halfway point. With 10 Grands Prix completed and 10 race weekends to go, the RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP travels to the Red Bull Ring in Austria with a positive mood for the 11th Grand Prix of the season.
After a couple of difficult weekends before the summer break, Zonta van den Goorbergh and Barry Baltus got back on track at Silverstone. Both riders showed that the speed is still there and that points finishes are possible. For this weekend the aim will be to bring home World Championship points again.
Zonta van den Goorbergh: “After quite a good weekend at Silverstone, where we showed our speed and had a good race, we go to Austria full of confidence. To be honest, I did go to Silverstone a bit worried because it was very difficult there last year, but it’s the opposite for Austria. I had a good weekend there last year so it remains to be seen how it will go, either way we go there with confidence. It also remains to be seen what the weather conditions will be, it looks like there could be some rain. I am not hoping for that but we are prepared for everything.”
Barry Baltus: “We are ready for another race weekend and I think we can do well. I didn’t race in Austria last year because I broke my foot so it’s been a while since I last raced there. The Red Bull Ring is a track that I like and it suits my riding style. With the Pirelli tyres I think we can do well and I feel ready to fight for a good result this weekend.”
Jarno Janssen – RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team manager: “The Red Bull Ring is a beautiful circuit in incredibly beautiful surroundings, making it one of my personal favourites. The layout is also special with lots of tight corners and hard braking points and it is certainly not an easy circuit. It has been a good circuit for us in the past though and I think we can continue our positive line here. For Zonta, a finish in the top ten would be very nice, at least that is something we are aiming for.
For Barry, basically the same applies. We saw that he made a positive step at Silverstone after his participation in the Suzuka 8 Hour race. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite come out in the race yet but for him too, it will be important to continue that positive line so that we finish in the points again this weekend, which is where we belong. We will have to wait and see what the weather conditions will do because anything can always happen between the mountains. Let’s hope things fall our way this weekend and we can bring home a nice result.”
The race weekend at the Red Bull Ring starts with free practice on Friday morning, followed by the first official practice session in the afternoon. Then on Saturday morning the second official practice takes place after which it is clear which riders will have to take part in Q1 or Q2. Qualifying starts at 13:45 on Saturday afternoon, with the 23-lap race starting at 12:15 on Sunday afternoon.