While there wasn't even a concrete race plan in place around the turn of the year, Mees Muller has led the Cayman GT4 RS classification in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux since the first race of 2024, in only his second year of motorsport. He drives like a bat out of hell and is now secretly adjusting his goals. “If I manage to win at Spa-Francorchamps, I will be champion before the last Round. Moreover, I'm trying to keep up with the 992 Cup cars.”
Sometimes a name appears out of nowhere and you think AI has created a new driver. Someone who does everything perfectly and claims one victory after another. Take Mees Muller, who imposed his will on the entire field from the start in the Cayman GT4 RS division of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux. Zandvoort, Zolder, Assen—he took the circuits one by one in his continued victory process during the 2024 season. Who is this 19-year-old driver from Bergschenhoek? Well, at least not someone who turns his nose up at dated material, although you would suspect otherwise based on the qualities of the recent Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. “Last year, in addition to my karting career in the IAME Series, I started in the Mercedes-Benz SLK Cup together with my younger brother Joep and my father Lars under the name Muller Racing. We finished as the best rookies and fifth overall in a fiercely contested field. We initially considered the BMW M2 CS Cup for 2024, but that series was cancelled, also in Germany. A test day with an M240i went so well that I thought: 'Should I always be at the front or should I look for something else?' As a driver, you want to take on a certain challenge and push your limits.”
Without obligations
The family team made all these considerations in phases, with a minor karting accident at the end of 2023 acting as a disruptive factor. “A tendon in my thumb was torn and it could only be fixed surgically. In any case, that meant no testing, so no concrete plan could be drawn up yet. After the test with the BMW M240i, PG Motorsport, with whom we had already contacted, pointed out a Cayman GT4 RS. Specifically purchased for the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux and Paul Geeris was looking for a driver for it. We agreed to do the race at Circuit Zandvoort, without direct obligations for the events afterwards. Let's see how it would go and if you like it first. Well… super good. I immediately won both races and that immediately made us wonder to what extent it was possible to make further progress for the rest of the season. After all, as a driver you would like to set new goals to strive for. On the other hand, there is serious competition in this field full of experienced riders and everything must go perfectly. In other words: a lot of things can go wrong, and they don't always have to be your fault.”
Next step
Mees Muller just thinks back to the race on a soaking wet Circuit Zolder. “We started on dry asphalt and all the cars in the field were on slicks. Suddenly, however, it started to rain heavily. Then try to keep grip and not fly off the track. To be honest, I thought it was great and I was able to use the qualities I had acquired in karting, which even allowed me to catch up with Jan Lauryssen with his 992 GT3 Cup and ultimately finished second overall in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux, in addition to my first place in the Cayman GT4 RS division.” The class leader is now already focusing on the upcoming race in the Ardennes, Friday September 6 at Spa-Francorchamps. “I can already become champion there and it is only the penultimate Round. That opens doors to take a next step, because we are already carefully working towards the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux in 2025, although we still have to work hard to find sponsors.”
Misjudgment
The talent is emerging, but according to Muller all circumstances are also working in his favour. “First of all, the proven quality of a Porsche, the perfectly organized championship and the professionalism of PG Motorsport. Without losing sight of Brabant’s atmosphere, the team ensures that the car is always spot-on, down to the smallest details, such as tire pressure. I also receive coaching from Wouter Boerekamps and he brings his own style to it. He consciously does not sit next to you every time while driving and points out all the points for improvement, but analyzes everything afterwards based on camera footage and data. This allows you to focus on a different aspect each time and you become less distracted in the car.” The SLK Cup also deserves credits. “Many young drivers who are in the learning process do not like a budget class with old cars and quite a few elderly drivers in the field, but I think they misjudge that. It is because of the low costs that participants dare to give everything and take considerable risks. In addition, you learn to drive fast with such primitive equipment, manual transmission and without traction control. It is typically a car that requires trail braking, otherwise you get understeer. Conveniently, that’s also characterizing Porsches.”
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