GTi Racing adds husband and wife pairing to team

GTI Racing has added a third car to its team for 2016 with Bayswater couple Jurgen and Helen Lunsmann taking the reins.

It will be the first time the couple has raced as co-drivers.

Helen has previously teamed up with Sharon Gunson in the GTi Girls Mitsubishi Evo while Jurgen raced with Sharon’s husband Simon Gunson in a Ford Capri Perana A2.

This year, the Lunsmann’s will race the Ford Capri Perana A2 in Targa events while Simon will compete in the new addition replica of the Ford Capri Perana with Morley resident Murray Armenti.

Helen said she could not resist the opportunity to sit next to her husband at a Targa event.

“Now he gets to prove how good he is at listening to me,” she said.

“At GTi Racing we have always said that ‘it’s the family that races together, that stays together’ and the team really is one big family with nearly 30 volunteers on service crew who come back year after year for more of the fun.

“But we are taking the family thing to a whole new level sharing a car this year.

“I just hope we are on speaking terms at the end of the rally season.”

Jurgen, an instructor at the RAC Driving Centre at Perth Airport, said that during a rally the key was to give drivers the right information at exactly the right time.

Helen said they were approaching the new season with low expectations because they were a rookie pairing.

“We both have too much respect for the sport, Targa rallies in particular, the car and each other,” she said.

“And despite the years of experience at club level racing, calling Targa pace notes, and Jurgen’s work as a performance driving instructor, we won’t be taking anything for granted…safety first.”

Lynford Ford in Osborne Park will sponsor the A2 this season.

“Simon has built and prepared a fantastic car. We just hope that we do him, the car and Lynford justice,” Jurgen said.