The GERT56 by rs speedbikes endurance team has revamped its lineup, drawing on well-known riders from the IDM Superbike 1000 series. The team for the upcoming 2018/2019 FIM Endurance Superstock World Cup season includes: Julian Puffe ( Germany), Stefan Kerschbaumer (Austria), and Lucy Glöckner ( Germany). Filip Altendorfer (Germany) and Rico Löwe (Germany) remain as established members of the team. The team from Pirna, Saxony, will continue to race on a BMW S 1000 RR.
The first race takes place on September 14, 2018, and is the 24 Hours of Le Castellet, known as the Bol d’Or. Puffe, Kerschbaumer, and Altendorfer will be racing there. Löwe will be there as a reserve driver. Lucy Glöckner won’t be able to participate, but she is scheduled to drive in all other races. She first needs to recover from her lumbar vertebra fracture and will not compete in any more races in 2018.
The GERT56 team has upgraded its BMW with motorsports electronics, which, among other things, required the installation of completely new wiring harnesses. New engines have also been installed. The team is expected to compete for podium finishes.
Julian Puffe:
“I competed at the 2018 Slovak Ring, and we made it onto the podium there. A lot has happened since then. I’ve been training like crazy and have also improved in the IDM Superbike class. Most recently, at the Lausitzring, I narrowly missed my first win and achieved my best result in this class with a second-place finish. I’m in top shape and really looking forward to the 24-hour race. I know it’s going to be an incredible challenge, especially the distance.”
Stefan Kerschbaumer:
I already know the GERT56 team very well, at least from the paddock. With the team I raced for previously, we were already pit neighbors with GERT56. We supported and helped each other. Of course, I’ve also followed GERT56’s development and progress over the years, and I’m now happy and proud to be part of this team. It’s an ambitious project, and I hope we’ll have a lot of fun together.”
Lucy Glöckner:
“Personally, I’m incredibly disappointed that I had to pull out of the Bol d’Or. Unfortunately, my recovery from a broken vertebra is still taking longer than expected. Normally, it takes six weeks to be able to stand up and walk again after an injury like this, so I’m already a step ahead of that. Still, the risk of falling again—and perhaps even making the injury worse—would be too great.”