Niels Troost (Team GP Elite) dominant in the '992' class and overall
Rookie Mees Muller (PG Motorsport) wins twice in the 'GT4RS' class
Zandvoort, June 4, 2024. The spring weather was somewhat lacking during the first round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux, but exciting and beautiful races still came through at Circuit Zandvoort. The first of five rounds of the 2024 season of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux immediately raises expectations for the coming months with races at Circuit Zolder, Assen, Spa and Circuit Zandvoort, again.
The Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux has now reached cruising speed, with a format that has been popular with the participants for several seasons. All activities take place on one day - always a weekday - and that was once again the case for the opener of the 2024 season, on the Dutch North Sea coast. “The mix of well-known names and newcomers proves the power of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux as a first step in motorsport, for people who often come from track days. Moreover, we immediately see some of the rookies performing strongly here and that gives us great pleasure,” said Lars Plato, the Series Manager of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux.
Racing on the cutting edge
The first important sessions were of course the two qualifying sessions, where Niels Troost secured the overall pole position twice, while Philippe Wils (Speedlover) and Lennart Hiemstra (Triple & Crown Racing) raced around Circuit Zandvoort as the fastest '992 Am'. In the 'GT4RS' class, Mees Muller took pole position twice while G. King (W.D.P Racing) managed to take pole position for both races in the 'GT4RS AM' class.
The first races of the season, which traditionally are two sprint races over 30 minutes, showed why the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux is so popular with gentlemen drivers. The battles were intense, with several drivers able to take up positions at the front.
In the first race of the weekend, which also is the first race of the season, we saw a one-two finish for Team GP Elite, with Niels Troost, ahead of Koen Munnichs, while Michael Cool, driving for Belgium Racing, took third place. Philippe Wils won the '992 AM' class, ahead of Lennart Hiemstra and Sam Shahin (Team GP Elite).
Mees Muller was the fastest in the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, ahead of Tyler Eaton (RFF Motorsport), while G. King, Menno van de Grijspaarde (Team GP Elite) and Bas Barenbrug (Bas Koen Racing) took the podium in the 'GT4RS AM' class.
On to Circuit Zolder
The second race was won again by Niels Troost, ahead of his teammate Koen Munnichs, with the winner in '992 AM', Lennart Hiemstra in third place overall. Philippe Wils and Alfred Lenferink (Hans Weijs Motorsport) finished second and third in the '992 AM' class, while Michael Cool finished third in the '992' class.
Mees Muller was again the fastest man in a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, ahead of Tyler Eaton and Dino (P.J.) van der Geest (Team GP Elite). G. King, Menno van de Grijspaarde and Bas Barenbrug shared the podium again in the 'GT4RS AM' class.
The next round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux will take place on the 20th of June at Circuit Zolder and new names will certainly join the competition on Limburg soil.
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