The recently-opened Move Experience Centre by Pon in the Dutch capital Amsterdam served as the stylish environment for the awards ceremony of the 2019 season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux. The successful drivers were put into the limelight, successful achievements were applauded and there was an outlook full of anticipation on the upcoming season. Suitable for the inspiring surrounding at Move, there was also attention for motorsport and mobility of the future at Porsche with Formula E and the new Porsche Taycan that was on display as well.
In 2019, the one-make series with the Porsche 911 GT3 CUP in the Benelux was awarded full-blown Porsche Carrera Cup status by Porsche Motorsport, a clear sign of appreciation for the positive development of the category. Races were held during high-profile events, among others on the support package of the FIA World Endurance Championship at the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps and the prestigious German DTM touring car series at the circuits of Zolder, Assen and Nürburg.
Nice achievements in 2019
Max van Splunteren was presented with the trophy for winning the championship title. In twelve races, he scored eleven podium finishes, including eight race wins. Runner-up Dylan Derdaele and Loek Hartog, third in the final standings, also received their respective trophies. For Hartog, there was also the good news that he will again be receiving additional backing from the organisation as the 2020 Porsche Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux Junior.
Drivers from the B-class, led by champion Roger Grouwels, were also presented with their trophies. On the podium, runner-up Nicolas Saelens and third-placed Bas Barenbrug accompanied the stalwart. Year-end prizes for the Porsche Endurance Trophy were handed out, too, with the Red-Ant Racing Team of Bert, Ayrton en Yannick Redant as the champions in the Cayman Clubsport class and Thems Racing by EMG with drivers Nicolas Van Dierendonck and Filip Teunkens the winners in the 911 class.
Development for the future
With an enthusiastic new crew from the organising agency The Driving Force led by Series Manager Olivier Aerts, intense work is ongoing on the development of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux with the goal to establish the class as the benchmark in circuit racing in the Benelux. One of the goals is a field with more international drivers who can combine participation in the series with campaigns in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup if required. Once again, the calendar includes major events like the DTM weekends at Zolder, the Nürburgring and Hockenheim. Two rounds will be held at the new Grand Prix circuit at Zandvoort and one round is scheduled at Spa-Francorchamps. In five of the six rounds, the number of races is increased from two to three, resulting into more race time.
For the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, there is one grid slot available during the special Porsche Carrera Cup race on the support programme of the Le Mans 24 Hours, mid-June. During the awards ceremony in Amsterdam, a raffle was held to fill this slot. Loek Hartog is the lucky driver who will be flying the flag for the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux in the international field of 60 Porsche 911 GT3 CUP cars.
Next to the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Porsche Endurance Trophy, there will also be the new Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux this year, a competition primarily aimed at gentlemen and amateur drivers, but also for newcomers in motor racing. A low entry level and plenty of track time, 180 minutes per weekend, are the main characteristics of the series, in which the Porsche models 911 GT3 CUP (ranges 991, 997 en 996) and Cayman GT4 Clubsport (ranges 981 and 982) are eligible.