It was a race he and fellow team mates Christian Bakkerud and Christian Albers were so close to finishing after 21 hours, driving the diesel engined Audi R10 TDI for the Audi ‘customer’ Kolles team. 

Having started from 13th place on the 55-car grid, it was mechanical problems in the closing stages of the race that forced the team to retire, which was disappointing for all concerned as the team were then placed seventh with just three hours to go.

“To be honest despite not finishing, the whole weekend was a huge success.  To get to drive there was fantastic and it is an experience I will never forget,” says Oliver.

“I took it easy for the first few laps of the race as I was very aware of how long it was and just how far we had to go.  After a triple stint (about 2.5 hrs) I handed the car over to my team-mates and at that time we running 8th.  I was back in the car at 10pm (that was my first experience of racing at night) to complete another triple stint.  I managed about an hour’s sleep and then it was back in the car at 5am.  On the soft tyres, I got straight back into the rhythm, setting consistent lap times in which we were running in the top eight. 

“Despite not being able to sleep, I was called upon again at 11.30 but this time, things did not go to plan and a problem with the gearbox ended the race for us just after 21 hours.  All-in-all, it was an amazing experience and I’d like to say big thank you to Audi UK and the Kolles team.”

Little may spectators have known but Race Day for Oliver had got off to a terrible start when he realised his helmet, two race suits, a HANS device, earplugs and two pairs of boots had been stolen.  He had to borrow equipment from his fellow drivers at Audi Sport Team Joest.

Oliver returns to his Audi DTM car at Norisring on 3 & 4 July.