Northfleet racer Brett Lidsey was denied a podium chance on his Nurburgring Endurance Series debut because of a mechanical issue.

The Sorg Rennsport BMW team proved their pace by producing the fifth fastest lap in class but an issue with a variable valve timing sensor led to a forced retirement from the four-hour race.

Racing around the 24km track took place on Saturday but Lidsey was denied a possible podium in class on his debut after what they described as an "extremely rare VVT sensor failure."

He was sharing driving duties in the BMW M240i with Germany’s Kevin Wolters and Russia’s Ivan Berets. It was Lidsey’s first time piloting a rear-wheel car in a race and there were plenty of positives to be taken.

It was his first competitive outing since the finale of the 2019 Renault UK Clio Cup at Brands Hatch in October.

“Overall, the race was mega”, said the 28-year-old.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from ourselves, everyone did a great job – from the guys in the team to the drivers. Everything was so well organised and relaxed, and the approach paid off.

“I really can’t wait to do it all again in two weeks for the double-header.”

There was a combined grid across all classes of 140 cars and Lidsey battled for fourth place early, dropped back to seventh in traffic, then fought his way up among the leading drivers in class.

Berets was third after his stint but Wolters was the unlucky driver behind the wheel when the car went into limp mode on the 15th lap and eventually ground to a halt.

Lidsey said: “It was such a shame as we were on for a top five finish at least, maybe a podium, in our first race in the Nurburgring Endurance Series.

“It’s disappointing, obviously, but I’m so pleased with the level of competitiveness we had.”

There is just a fortnight to wait until Lidsey’s next event at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife which, unusually for the Nurburgring Endurance Series, will be a double-header race meeting on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12.

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