- Alexander Goddijn (GP Elite) and Jurriaan de Back (HWM) win first appointments of the season
- Arthur Peters (Tip Top Rent) and Lennart Hiemstra (Triple & Crown Racing) fastest in the GT4 class
Circuit Zandvoort, May 16. The season opener of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux at Circuit Zandvoort provided two great races under a radiant spring sun and in a real Porsche atmosphere. In the general classification, victory in the first race went to Alexander Goddijn (GP Elite), while rookie Jurriaan de Back (HWM) immediately claimed victory in his second race ever. The Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux now travels to the north of the Netherlands for a second meeting on June 1 in Assen.
With thirteen Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 -, six Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport and one Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 991 – this first meeting of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux could count on a nicely upholstered starting field. Real gentlemen drivers, fast amateurs and of course also young wolves appeared at the start, who have learned their trade in karting. The meeting started with a free practice session, followed by two qualifying sessions. Pole for the first race went to Alexander Goddijn, while Arthur Peters was fastest in the GT4 class. For the second race, the same gentlemen again drove to the best starting places.
Exciting and fair first race
The first race started at 2:00 pm and that first appointment remained very exciting for 30 minutes. At the front Alexander Goddijn took the victory, but the gap with his closest pursuers, Jaxon Verhoeven (Speedlover) and Niels Troost (GP Elite) was never really big. The battle for the closest places of honor was also exciting, with Zias Geris (Team GP Elite) in fourth and the well-known Dakarist, Bernhard ten Brinke (GP Elite) in fifth. Thijs Heezen (PG Motorsport) won the 992 Am class and was sixth overall. He was ahead of Peter Munnichs (Team GP Elite) and Jean-Pierre Verhoeven (Speedlover) in his class.
Arthur Peters and Lennart Hiemstra (Triple & Crown Racing) also provided a nice race. They decided among themselves who would win the GT4 class and in the end the young Belgian came out on top. Bogdan Duma (Q1 Trackracing) finished third and also won the GT4 Am class.
Remarkably, the race was barely interrupted by yellow flags and provided pure driving pleasure for the participants.
Breeding ground for young talent
The second race was possibly even more exciting with a constant fight at the front, which was eventually settled in favor of Jurriaan de Back. He beat Jaxon Verhoeven and Thijs Heezen, who was the fastest in the 992 Am class. Remarkably, De Back is barely fifteen and was at his very first race meeting in Zandvoort. Bernhard Ten Brinke and Niels Troost completed the top-5. Peter Munnichs and Jean-Pierre Verhoeven, were again on the podium in the class 992 Am.
“I come from karting and will be driving the entire Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux this season. In the first race I had a bad start and was the last to pick up, but still finished seventh. In the second race my start was much better and I put up a great fight to the finish to take my first win in a race car. Simply fantastic!”, says the young talent Jurriaan de Back.
This also proves how much the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux is a breeding ground for young talent.
Lennart Hiemstra won the second appointment in the GT4 class, ahead of Bogdan Duma (Q1 Trackracing), who was again the fastest in the GT4 Am class, and Gerrit Verwelius (Team GP Elite).
The Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux now travels to the north of the Netherlands for a second meeting on June 1 in Assen, after which Circuit Zolder, Zandvoort and Spa-Francorchamps are also on the calendar.
