Ferdinand Habsburg returned from the summer break in top form, delivering a pole position and a podium finish at Spa-Francorchamps.
In Qualifying, the Austrian shone in wet and drying conditions, claiming his first-ever European Le Mans Series pole position and earning Nielsen Racing’s maiden pole in the championship.
The race got off to a strong start with Cem Bolükbasi behind the wheel of the #24 Nielsen Racing car. He held the lead into Turn 1 and delivered a solid opening stint. When Ferdinand took over, he immediately showed his pace and went on a charge, including a spectacular overtake through Turns 5 and 6 to move into P3 at the halfway mark. Although the team’s pit stop strategy was hampered by the unlucky timing of Full Course Yellows, the trio fought back to secure the podium, with Filipe Albuquerque bringing the car home in P3.
Habsburg’s outstanding pace and racecraft earned him the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, highlighting his exceptional performance across the weekend as the most valuable and fastest LMP2 driver. The 16 points collected lifted Ferdinand and the Nielsen Racing trio from P7 to P4 in the LMP2 standings, with two races remaining in the season.
Ferdinand Habsburg: “It feels incredible to be back on the podium and sharing this with my friends Cem and Filipe. The team did a fantastic job. We kept pushing despite all the obstacles and were rewarded with a result that reflects our hard work. I am grateful to everyone for their support, especially my long-time sponsors AVL Racetech and REMUS.”