First year Nurburgring Endurance Series driver Brett Lidsey heads back to Germany for round four of the season at the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleife – and the Northfleet racer is confident his maiden podium in the category is edging ever nearer.

After taking a best-yet top four finish in the Cup5 class with Sorg Rennsport team-mates Kevin Wolters and Ivan Berets last time out a couple of weeks ago, 28-year-old Lidsey knows the trio have the pace and performance to break into the podium placings this weekend.

Since his debut in the series during the rescheduled opening round last month, the Liftout and Dornack sponsored driver really has made incredible progress behind the wheel of the No.694 BMW M240i with marked improvements in pace and competitiveness.

Qualifying for the previous race at the world-renowned 24-kilometre track was case in point, with Lidsey storming to a season-best second fastest time. Although some early contact in round three while he was in the podium placings did damage the steering and caused the Kent driver to lose places and momentum, the fightback was impressive.

In the end, Lidsey, Wolters and Berets only just missed out on their first haul of silverware in the Gerri Limonade liveried BMW by around a minute after four hours of incredibly hectic racing at the most challenging venue in world motorsport.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Crees said: “We’re definitely getting there, bit by bit, and I really do think we have a great chance to make the breakthrough and finish on the podium next weekend”, said the former Renault UK Clio Cup race winner, “I’m getting more and more comfortable with the BMW every time I drive it, able to push the limits that bit more and improve the lap times. 

“I’m really enjoying racing rear-wheel drive for the first time this year, it’s obviously been a change after spending my whole career in front-wheel drive cars but I think I’ve adapted really well. The guys at Sorg Rennsport have been fantastic, it’s a great team to be part of and especially with two quick young team-mates like Kevin and Ivan.”

Prior to this year’s move into European racing in the Nurburgring Endurance Series, which features some of the most professional teams and drivers in global GT-style competition, Lidsey had exclusively raced front-wheel drive cars in the UK.

Most recently, of course, he was a championship front-runner in the Renault UK Clio Cup and ended the 2019 season fourth in the standings with two superb race victories, eight other podium finishes and three pole positions. 

While the change to rear-wheel drive in the Nurburgring Endurance Series and the challenge of pit-stops, driver changes and traffic management are all new to Lidsey, he has adapted seamlessly and is enjoying every minute.

He added: “It’s been a big change for us this year after so many seasons in Clios in the UK, but I’m loving all of it and especially racing at the Nordschleife.”

“The track is so long, like nothing else, and it requires a huge amount of concentration and awareness as well with up to 170 cars on track at any one time. I can’t wait to be back there next weekend, our first podium is definitely the goal.”