Porsche Motorsport newsletter 2009-09-17

Porsche Motorsport around the world

Stuttgart. The Motorsport Newsletter regularly provides information on Porsche Motorsport racing around the world. More detailed information and additional photographs are available for accredited journalists from the press database.

FIA GT Championship: From last on the grid to victory

After their spectacular win at the fifth round on the Hungaroring (30.8), Emmanuel Collard and Richard Westbrook closed the gap to the leaders to a mere two points. After being relegated to the back of the grid after qualifying due to a loose air intake pipe, the two in their Prospeed Competition 911 GT3 RSR ploughed to the front, overtook the leading Ferrari in the 64th and penultimate lap, and won. A jammed wheel nut held up Porsche Junior Marco Holzer and Darryl O'Young in the sister Prospeed Porsche, who finally saw the flag in fourth. Holzer ranks third in the drivers' classification, Prospeed Competition shares the lead in the team standings with a Ferrari squad.

Le Mans Series: First 2009 championship title for Porsche

Works drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz won the GT2 drivers' classification of the Le Mans Series in the Felbermayr-Proton 911 GT3 RSR and with this claimed the first championship of 2009 for Porsche. Seventh place was enough for the two to secure the title at the fifth and last 1,000 kilometre race of the year in Britain's Silverstone (13.9). Over the course of the season, Lieb and Lietz won three times, most recently on the Nurburgring (23.8) where they snatched back the lead in the drivers' standings.

Zolder 24 hour race: Record distance and win for Porsche

In the 911 GT3 RSR of Prospeed Competition, Rudi Penders, Franz Lamot, David Loix and Louis Machiels won the Zolder 24 hour race (22/23.8) with a new record distance of 844 laps. The 911 GT3 Cup S fielded by First Motorsport finished second at the fifth round of the Belgian GT Championship.

Long Distance Nurburgring: Manthey wins, Mamerow as marathon man

With win number five this season, Manthey Racing concluded the DMV Grenzlandrennen at round eight of the BF Goodrich Long Distance Championship Nurburgring (22.8). Arno Klasen, Marc Lieb and Marcel Tiemann beat their rival, Christian Mamerow in his 911 GT3 Cup S, after 28 laps by two minutes. Mamerow demonstrated his top fitness, completing almost 700 kilometres on the world's toughest race track alone. Of the top ten, nine were Porsche 911 models.

Monterey Historic Automobile Races: Porsche festival at its best

The 36th "Monterey Historic Automobile Races" held on the third August weekend in Laguna Seca was dedicated to Porsche. Accordingly, 145 rolling gems from Porsche made up the lion's share of the 450 vehicles, which came to California from all over the world. Prominent Porsche pilots like Derek Bell, David Donohue, Vic Elford, Hurley Haywood and Brian Redman drove the legendary cars. The prize for the best presentation and performance went to Richard Clark. The Briton brought his 356, with which he contested the Carrera Panamericana in 1953, to Laguna Seca by plane from Europe and then drove it himself from San Francisco to the circuit.

Race notes:

At races nine and ten of the Italian GT Championship in Imola (5/6.9), Sascha Maassen and Francisco Cruz-Martins (Autorlando Sport GT3 RSR) defended their lead in the top GT2 class with fourth and a DNF. Porsche teams also lead in the GT3 and GT Cup classes. +++ Yielding fourth place in Elkhart Lake (16.8) and fifth in Mosport (30.8), Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long remain on a steady course for the American Le Mans Series title in the 911 GT3 RSR of Flying Lizard Motorsports. +++ At round ten of the Grand-Am in Montreal (29.8) Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas finished second in the Penske-Porsche prototype - their best result by now. Leh Keen and Dirk Werner extended their GT lead in the GT3 Cup of Farnbacher Loles with sixth. +++ Win and second place in the rankings for Tony Rivera in the 911 GT3 of Brass Monkey Racing at the eighth round of the SCCA Speed World Challenge GT in Elkhart Lake (16.8). Porsche leads the team classification. +++ A dramatic 500 kilometre race at Interlagos (2.8) for Marcel Visconde, Max Wilson and Nono Figueiredo: In the lead, two punctures, chase and second place in the GT3 RSR.

Carrera Cup Great Britain: GBP100,000 for youngsters

Porsche Cars Great Britain announces the 2010 GBP100,000 Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme". Drivers with a British A-licence between the ages of 17 and 22 years are eligible to apply for the selection process in Silverstone. Six talented youngsters will be chosen to take part, with the two winners receiving GBP50,000 each. Adidas is onboard as partner. Those interested should send their CV and the reason why they should be chosen to carreracupgb@porsche.co.uk by 25 September.

Carrera Cup Japan: Suspense heading to the final

With a light to flag win at the eighth round of the Carrera Cup Japan in Fuji (13.9), Shimizu elbowed his rival Nakamura from the points' lead in the top A class. Nakamura retired after a collision with Shimizu in the first corner of the first lap. In the B class, Kim ranks first, four points ahead of Mizutani. In both classes, the title decision will be made at the final as support to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Suzuka.

Carrera Cup Scandinavia: Two-way fight to the finish

A change at the top of the drivers' classification just two races prior to the end of the season: With his double victory at the races 13 and 14 in Knutsdorp (11/12.9), Jocke Mangs pushed Cralle Lindholm off position one. A fortnight ago, Mangs had moved within striking distance of Lindholm in Norway's Våler after securing the first rain victory of his career. Lindholm fought back with a win at race two of the weekend.

GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil: Drama, spins, emotion

An action-packed weekend in Jacarepagua near Rio de Janeiro. Beto Posses, the first champion of the GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil (2005), handed his son Andre the winner's trophy for the first time after the ninth round (15.8). Starting from 19th on the grid, Miguel Paludo delighted fans with his chase through the field in race ten to snatch victory. Paludo overtook Clemente Lunardi in the last corner, who in the duel then spun and crossed the finish line backwards!

Patron GT3 Cup Challenge: Four races, four different winners

Bob Faieta won race seven of the Patron GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama in Elkhart Lake (16.8). Darrell Carlisle climbed to the top of the podium for the first time after the eighth race (17.8) - in his fourth Challenge year. Mitch Pagerey earned the trophy as a rookie two weeks later in Mosport. After race ten, Martin Snow celebrated his fourth win of the season. Faieta narrowly leads the classification ahead of Snow.

Race notes:

The duel in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup remains open: Rene Rast still has a slim chance after wins in Monza (13.9) and Valencia (23.8) to catch the clear points' leader Jeroen Bleekemolen at the final two rounds in Abu Dhabi (31.10/1.11). Bleekemolen won recently in Spa (30.8.). +++ Nose-to-nose race: Thomas Jager won the sixth round of the Carrera Cup Deutschland on the Nurburgring (16.8) and now shares the points' lead with Jan Seyffarth. +++ After race seven and eight of the Carrera Cup Asia in Indonesia's Sentul (15/16.8), Tim Sugden leads six points ahead of Christian Menzel. +++ Frederic Makowiecki (AS Sports) climbed to the highest step on the podium for the first time at round nine of the Carrera Cup France in Albi (5.9) - and then repeated this success the following day. Points' leader is still Renaud Derlot. +++ With a win at the fifth and penultimate race of the GT3 Cup Challenge Deutschland (13.9) in Spa, Swen Dolenc extended his lead in the drivers' classification.

-credit: porsche