In practice & qualifying the V8 Holden driven by Mal was in the top 50 with cars like the Porsche 997 RSR  & 911 GT3s. The lap time was 9 min 43 sec at a top speed of 285km/h. The V8 Supercar was the ex GRM ( ex Bargwanna / Whincup ) from 2003 and was prepared by Mal Rose Racing last year using a Sequential Holinger six speed gearbox & ex Bathurst winning Monaro 18" wheels. Engine spec , ex 18deg GRM Chev with high torque camshaft ( 600hp ) only. The car was fitted with Pollard Panels, "Carbon Fibre" bonnet & guards, SMB metallic cats and with Xenon Oz high beam spot lights.

With rookie drivers to V8 Supercars , Peter Leemhuis & Tony Alford raced with the vast array of exotic machines without any problems from 3.00pm Saturday May 25th to 3.00pm Sunday May 26th.

Team Mirage Australia run by Mal Rose also raced their 2 Mitsubishi Cup Cars in Class SP1 and were also using  SMB cats. In a field of 230 cars they finish 3rd Australian team home and 9th & 13th and out of the top 100 cars. This is Mal Rose's 5th consecutive Nurburgring 24hr race & now the 3rd time in a Holden V8 Supercar. This is Team Mirage Australia's Mitsubishi Mirage Cup cars 9th 24hr race with a 100% finish record     

Interesting specs

 Track length is 25.378 km

Altitude variance 300m ( 1000' ) 

Longest straight is 3.4km ( with a kink under bridge )

Total laps by Car 44 is 131

Top Speed only 282km/h  ( next year will have 6.0litre engine with 655hp )

Total Km incl Practice & race was 3825km

Total Tyres used were only 8 Toyo RS1 18"   

No brake pad change

2500 liters fuel  ( $8750 ) we think we pay a lot in Australia!