• DTM at the Nürburgring as part of the second round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux • Three new teams in the championship • Hartog-Schuring duel in the Carrera Cup, open battle in Pro-Am • Pro-Am, AM and GT4 provide a spectacle in Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux • Watch three races online via live stream
After the season opener at Zolder, now almost three weeks ago, the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux will start the second round of the 2020 season in Germany this weekend. The Nürburgring is also the only excursion outside the Benelux for both championships. As part of the prestigious DTM meeting, the drivers of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux are determined to provide their share of the spectacle.
After each having scored a victory in the two races of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, the young Dutchmen Loek Hartog (17 years old) and Morris Schuring (15 years old) will continue their duel in the Eifel. The more experienced representative of Bas Koeten Racing knows that his young rival from Team GP Elite has great ambitions in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux!
Against these two riders from the Pro category, many riders from Pro-Am are also determined to put themselves in the spotlight on the Grand Prix circuit of the Nürburgring. Starting with the title favourites, the Belgians Michaël Cool (NGT Racing) and Nicolas Vandierendonck (EMG Motorsport). In addition to Bas Barenburg (Bas Koeten Racing), twice on the podium in his class in Zolder, the Belgian duo will also have to keep an eye on other Dutchmen such as Tijn Jilesen (PG Motorsport) and Huub van Eijndhoven (JW Raceservice). Those two also ensure the presence of two new teams in the championship. We are also looking forward to Carlos Rivas’ comeback in the Benelux Championship. After winning the ProAm ranking in the German Cup, the Luxembourger now competes with the prestigious Black Falcon. In short, the battle for the Pro-Am podium places will be exciting! In the Am class, double Zolder winner Gilles Smits sits this round out due to other obligations, which should allow father and son Verhoeven (Jean-Pierre and Jaxon) to score heavily.
Porsche Sprint Cup Challenge: when the cat is out of the house…
For all the above-mentioned participants, the two sprint races also provide an opportunity to score points for the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux, which share their short races with those of the Carrera Cup. In addition, they also complete a 55 minute race, with a mandatory pit stop. That applies to everyone, except for Loek Hartog and Morris Schuring. Three-time Sprint Challenge winner Schuring (he was the best in the two races over 30 minutes and the long one over 55 minutes) mainly wanted to drive extra kilometres during the season opener, but at the Nürburgring he will focus entirely on the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. This way, he gives his sporting buddies from the Sprint Challenge, those who have entered the Pro-Am and Am categories with their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, free rein. Several Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport are also active in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux. Thierry Vermeulen, unapproachable in Zolder, hopes to bring successes to his Team GP Elite again. The racing stable is well represented, with three other drivers: Steven Van Rhee, Harold Goddijn and Alexandre Goddijn. The Belgians are not inferior, however, because RED ANT Racing is also driving the GT4 with Sven Van Laere and Ayrton Redant, who already showed that he can go very fast with this type of car last year.
The free practice sessions will be completed on Friday (9.50 AM to 10.30 AM and 5.20 PM to 6.00 PM), the qualifications start on Saturday from 11.45 AM. Later that day, the start of the first 30-minute sprint will be completed at 5:40 PM. The second race starts on Sunday at 11:45 AM, just before the DTM race. The race 55 minute race then follows on Sunday afternoon, at 4.45 PM.
Excellent news: the three races can be followed live on the YouTube and Facebook page of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux.
Qualification Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux & Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux:
Race 1 Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux & Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux:
Race 2 Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux & Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux:
Race 3 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux – 55 minute long race:
Follow the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux via: Instagram: @carreracupbenelux @sprintchallengebenelux Facebook: /carreracupbenelux /sprintchallengebenelux