Maybe you’re not able to, or put more simply, you don’t want to read each little news blurb about Porsche Motorsports. If that’s the case, there is no better way to stay up to date than by reviewing the monthly Porsche Motorsport Newsletter here on PorschePurist.
There’s always a lot going on and this month is no different. Filled with interesting facts and figures about past and upcoming races, along with changes to team and crew, the Porsche Motorsport Newsletter is an easy way to keep on top of this year’s racing activities within the Porsche community.
Flying Lizard Motorsports contests ALMS and Daytona in 2011
Full steam ahead for Flying Lizard Motorsports: After successfully defending the GT drivers’ title of the American Le Mans Series with Porsche factory pilots Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long, the team based in Sonoma (California) will be back in ALMS in 2011. Team owner Seth Neimann will again field two Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. At the Rolex 24 at Daytona January 29 – 30, Flying Lizard Motorsports will also run a Porsche-powered Riley Daytona Prototype.
Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard: Germany’s race driver of the year
At the ADAC Sport Gala in Munich, Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard received the “Oscar of German Motorsport” – the Christophorus made from Nymphenburg porcelain. A jury of experts chose the 29-year-old as the ADAC Motorsport Person of the Year. This season, Bernhard crowned his career by winning the “Motorsport Grand Slam”. He was the first race driver to win the four major long distance classics. Driving for Porsche, Bernhard won the 24 Hours at Daytona in 2003, the Nürburgring 24 hour race four times in succession between 2006 to 2009, the Sebring 12 Hours in 2008 and the Le Mans 24 Hours last June at the wheel of an Audi. Former award winners include Walter Röhrl, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Porsche works driver Richard Lietz: Race Driver of the Year in Austria
Porsche factory pilot Richard Lietz can also be proud of winning an important distinction in his home country. The 26-year-old has been voted Race Driver of the Year by the committee of the Austrian Motorsport Association (OSK). Amongst other victories, Lietz won the GT2 class title of the Le Mans Series with his teammate Marc Lieb at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and clinched victory in the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Porsche Carrera World Cup: 200 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on the Nürburgring
At the Porsche Carrera World Cup on 25 June 2011, up to 200 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will tackle the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The world’s greatest Porsche race takes place over a distance of six laps directly before the 24 hour race. The Porsche Carrera World Cup marks the season highlight of 19 Porsche brand trophy series worldwide.
International GT Open: Richard Lietz and Gian Luca Roda are runner-ups
Richard Lietz and his Italian teammate Gian Luca Roda fought to the last lap of the season with their 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Autorlando Sport in their bid for the title of the top Super GT category. Despite their victories at the finale on the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona (31 October), a Ferrari squad edged the Austrian/Italian duo at the in the end by five points.
Australian GT Championship: Champion title for Porsche customers
Following the sixth and final race weekend at the Sandown Motor Circuit near Melbourne (November 20 – 21), David Wall successfully defended his title in the top GT class. The 27-year-old businessman drove a 911 GT3 Cup S. Success as well for Porsche customers in the GT Challenge, with 46-year-old real estate agent Shane Smollen taking home the title in a 911 GT3 Cup. The GT championship is reserved for non-professional drivers.
Belcar Endurance: Goossens and Soulet vice-champions after dramatic finale
Marc Goossens and Maxime Soulet travelled to the Zolder Ten Hour Race (November 13), the last round of the Belgian GT championship, heading the points with the 911 GT3 R of Prospeed Competition. Right up until the sixth hour of the rain-drenched marathon it looked as if the pair would win the title, until their extra driver Richard Westbrook damaged the Porsche in an accident. The 15 minutes needed for repairs dashed all title hopes.
Carrera Cup Great Britain: Sell-out grid for 2011 – juniors selected
Full throttle in the British Carrera Cup: With five months to the start of the 2011 season, all available grid spots for 32 new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers are allocated. In order to cater for the huge demand, the organizers increased the permitted number of entries from 28 to 32. At a two-day evaluation process, 18-year-old Benji Hetherington and 20-year-old Kieran Vernon were announced as the winners of the Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme. Porsche supports each of the talented young drivers in 2011 with £50,000.
Carrera Cup Asia: Menzel wins in Zhuhai and defends his title
With a victory at the 12th and final round in Zhuhai, China (November 5 – 7), 39-year-old seasoned campaigner Christian Menzel concluded the 2010 year by reclaiming the title. Runner-up honors went to Marchy Lee. Like in 2009, Menzel drove a 911 GT3 Cup fielded by the StarChase team. In 2008, the German finished his first Carrera Cup Asia season as vice champion.
Carrera Cup Italia: Alessandro Balzan is the new champion
A win and a fourth place at the finale in Monza (24 October) was enough for Alessandro Balzan in an Ebimotors 911 GT3 Cup to snatch the points’ lead and title from season-long forerunner Christian Passuti. A fourth and a sixth rank put Passuti four points behind and yielded him the vice championship.
GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil: Rosset snatches title at home race
Twelve years after his last race in the Formula 1 World Championship, Ricardo Rosset won the championship title of the strongly represented GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil with a victory at the 14th round (6/7 November). An emotional moment for the Brazilian who secured victory and the title in a race held as support to the Formula 1 race weekend in Interlagos on the outskirts of his home town Sao Paulo. The finale also takes place in Interlagos on 11/12 December.
GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East: Stalemate after start of season in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa beat pole-sitter and reigning champion Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal at the first race of the season as part of the Formula 1 weekend on the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi (November 14 – 15, UAE). Race two saw a switch of fortunes, with the reigning champion crossing the line ahead of Sheikh Salman. Tied in points , the leaders now head to round two in Bahrain (December 2 – 3).
GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand: Daniel Gaunt proving unbeatable
Five wins from six starts for 27-year-old Daniel Gaunt after the first two race weekends of the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand. At the season-opener in Pukekohe Park, 40 minutes south of Auckland, reigning champion Craig Baird only managed to win one of the three races. At the second meeting at Ruapuna Park (November 27 – 28) near Christchurch, no one had a remedy to stop Gaunt’s charge in the Triple X Motorsport 911 GT3 Cup. Jonny Reid ranks third overall after three second places in Ruapuna.
Porsche Race notes:
- The Porsche Mobil1 Supercup will continue racing as support to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship until 2013. As the flagship amongst the 19 Porsche brand trophy series worldwide, the prestigious championship has run alongside motorsport’s top league since 1993.
- Strong Porsche representation at the Race of Champions in
Dusseldorf (27/28 November): The 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, as the best selling race car in history, was one of the official race cars driven by 16 of the world’s best race drivers in front of 64,000 fans. Surprise winner was Portugal’s GT ace Filipe Albuquerque. - Cenk Ceyisakar is the champion of the inaugural GT3 Cup Challenge Eastern Europe. A second place at the 13th and penultimate race in Istanbul (6 November) earned him the title.
- Marc Lieb, Arno Klasen and Lucas Luhr were in top form in the 911 GT3 R of Manthey Racing, clinching pole, fastest race lap and the ninth win for Porsche at race ten of the VLN Long Distance Championship (30 November) on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
- Jeroen Bleekemolen and Tim Pappas are to drive a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for TRG/Black Swan Racing at the 24 Hours at Daytona (29/30 January). The pair won the GTC class of the 2010 ALMS.
- Olaf Dobberkau/Alexandra König narrowly win the German Rally Series after six rounds over Anton Werner. Both the champion and vice-champion drive Porsche 911 GT3.
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