The season start has been a long time coming, but this weekend, the year’s first race in the Danish Endurance Championship (DEC) will take place at Ring Djursland. STEP Motorsport has two former karting profiles ready in the team’s Ginetta G40 GT5 – and they come well-prepared.
For Mads Riis, the delayed season start has provided an excellent head start. The Sønderjylland go-kart driver, who was named Karting Driver of the Year 2020, jumped at the opportunity to participate in the opening race of the Formula 5 class.
-It was a super opportunity that gave me valuable experience with circuit racing and the race craft required. There are a few more things to keep an eye on in a racing car, so I feel it gave me a slight advantage ahead of the weekend.
Silas Rytter has also gained additional experience before the season start. A test day at the British Donington Park circuit in a car almost identical to the team’s Ginetta G40 was arranged and held last week, and Silas is looking forward to applying what he learned:
-It was really cool to try the Donington circuit and gain more experience with real racetracks. There were many things I can take with me to the Danish tracks, so I’m just excited to finally get started!
STEP Motorsport will compete in DEC’s Class 2, and although the team’s British racing car is not technically superior to its competitors, team manager Morten Dons assures that one should not judge a book by its cover:
-The Ginetta might be somewhat of an underdog in the class, but it has a low weight and a really good balance, so our focus will be on maintaining a fast and stable pace, as it is over the distance that we will need to compete with the others.
-And it’s important to remember that the whole project is about Mads and Silas developing as racing drivers and preparing for an exciting future – so in the long run, the placements are far less interesting than the process and learning.
The test days leading up to the season have gone well, and the team manager has great confidence in his driver duo despite their status as debutants in circuit racing:
-They are by no means new to motorsport, and the test days have also proven that they are both ready for this. Additionally, their great chemistry and collaboration make it much easier to achieve good results.