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Podium spot and fourth place for Porsche customer teams
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Stuttgart. The International GT Open race on the Nürburgring began very promisingly for Porsche customer teams. With works driver Patrick Pilet and team owner Raymond Narac (both France) at the wheel of the 911 GT3 RSR, IMSA Performance Matmut claimed position three from race three – and with this the second podium spot this season.
The winning duo of the first two season races, works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) and Manthey-Racing pilot Nick Tandy (Great Britain) secured valuable points ranking fourth in the 911 GT3 RSR. With this, Holzer and Tandy retain their points’ lead in the drivers’ classification. Pilet/Narac have moved up the table to now rank second. The Austrian Deboeuf Team yielded a second place in the GTS class and seventh overall with the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Porsche leads the manufacturers’ classification.
Positions three and four for IMSA and Manthey Racing respectively are something to be highly valued. Both teams had to spend extra time in the pits: To increase the suspense amongst the front-runners there is a handicap regulation in the race series that hands the top three of the race a time penalty. Because of this, during the driver change between Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac, the IMSA team had to wait for ten seconds because the Frenchmen had secured second place at Sunday’s race on the Algarve.
Marco Holzer and Nick Tandy had a whole 30 seconds to pay for their two Algarve wins. Still, fourth place from the 70 minutes race on Saturday in the Eifel had its upside for the German/British team: For tomorrow’s fourth race of the season, which runs over 50 minutes, the time penalty during a pit stop has now been shortened to 15 seconds.
“It was a good race for us with a perfectly set-up car. Above all, my start from sixth to move up the field into second was just great,” thought Patrick Pilet.
“We made it over the distance well with the tyres, although we weren’t allowed to change to new rubber during the pit stop. Raymond’s spin during qualifying made one set of tyres completely unusable. And we need the remaining fresh set for tomorrow’s race. At the end there was a misunderstanding. We didn’t know that the driver ahead of us had been handed a time penalty so we slowed the pace. Otherwise we would have finished in second. Fourth or fifth tomorrow would be good, then we are exempt from the ten second penalty.”
“The race was okay with fourth place at the end,” stated works driver Marco Holzer.
“Luckily we don’t get a 15 second handicap for tomorrow’s race. To have to stand for a full 30 additional seconds during a pit stop is really long. I lost a couple of positions at the start, other than that another driver nudged my car, but there were no repercussions. Afterwards, we kept out of any trouble. Tomorrow we definitely want to take a trophy home from the Eifel.”
Seventh place overall for Deboeuf Racing yielded the Austrians second in the GTS class. This category, in which the 911 GT3 R starts, is based on the FIA GT3 regulations whilst the FIA GT2 regulations underlie the Super GT class. The top model of Porsche customer racing, the 911 GT3 RSR, is fielded in this category.
Germany’s Marco Seefried and the Austrian Thomas Gruber brought the 911 of the Deboeuf squad home safely. Eleventh went to the Spanish Drivex School team. Sharing the cockpit of the new 911 GT3 RSR are team owner Miguel Angel De Castro and Miguel Amaral from Portugal.
On the series’ website www.gtopen.net, the International GT Open provides Live-Timing and also Live-Streaming. The respective schedules, points’ standings and further information are also available there.
Inaugurated in 2006, the International GT Open features two races per weekend with identical points’ allocation – the first race on Saturday runs over 70 minutes, the second on Sunday over 50. Two drivers share the cockpit. A handicap system ensures more suspense at the head of the field. The top three drivers of each race are handed a 15, ten or five second penalty respectively for the following race. The calendar of the race series includes eight races on selective circuits like Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring.
One of the keys to success in the International GT Open is the stable technical regulations and the capping of costs, for instance through control tyres. The grid is divided into two classes, the stronger Super GT category and the GTS class.
Super GT: This class is based on the FIA GT2 regulations – the 911 GT3 RSR competes here. The particularly efficient six-cylinder boxer engine in the International GT Open version delivers significantly more than 500 hp.
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GTS: Based on the FIA GT3 regulations. The Porsche 911 GT3 R is fielded here, now delivering 500 hp after the new model year underwent improvements.
In 2007, Autorlando Sport won the overall classification for drivers and teams with Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) and Joel Camathias from Switzerland.
A variety of small exhibits from Porsche Clubs worldwide.
The Porsche Museum is presenting today, “60 Years of Porsche clubs”
This Porsche 911 Carrera S was brought out in a limited edition of 50 units exclusively for American Club members.
Stuttgart. The Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, museum is presenting a new anniversary exhibition: In 1952, 13 Porsche drivers founded the world’s first Porsche Clubs in Germany. The Porsche Club scene now numbers more than 181,000 members worldwide.
One highlight of the special exhibition is the Porsche 914/6 GT from 1970.
The special exhibition displays rare Porsche models like the 914/6 GT or the 968 Turbo S.
To mark this 60th club anniversary, the Porsche Museum is putting on a special exhibition until 26 August 2012 featuring, in addition to twelve vehicle exhibits, very rare photographs, personal documents and small exhibits from club members.
Exclusively to Porsche Club members: Porsche is offering the 911 Club Coupe, limited to only 13 units.
The sports car manufacturer is also using the anniversary as an opportunity to thank club members for their steadfast loyalty over the decades and their deep commitment: Based on the 911 Carrera S, Porsche is offering the 911 Club Coupe, limited to only 13 units.
This special “911”, available exclusively to Porsche Club members, will make its debut appearance in the Porsche Museum.
With an extensive optional equipment offering and the newly developed Powerkit upgrade to 430 hp (316 kW), the SportDesign package and the lavishly refined interior, Porsche Excusive is exploiting every angle of the extensive individualisation offering to the utmost. The 911 Club Coupe is painted “Brewster Green” as are the 20-inch SportTechno wheels.
The exclusivity of the 911 Club Coupe is underlined by the illuminated door entry guards bearing the model designation and anniversary logo.
The exclusivity of the 911 Club Coupe is underlined by the decorative trim with lettering individually created for each customer as well as the illuminated door entry guards bearing the model designation and anniversary logo.
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche provides a rare vehicle from his private collection for the special exhibition: a 911 Turbo S (993).
One vehicle will remain with Porsche in honour of the Porsche Club universe. Porsche Club members have until 16 July 2012 to register their right to purchase one of the twelve remaining unique vehicles at www.porsche.com/911-club-coupe. The twelve winners will then be determined by a legally certified draw. The 911 Club Coupe will be offered in all markets worldwide with the exception of China and India. In Germany the vehicle costs 142,831 euro excluding VAT.
Also on show in the Porsche Museum for the first time will be the 911 T Coupé.
Also on show in the Porsche Museum for the first time as part of the “60 years of the Porsche Club” special exhibition will be the 911 T Coupé. Last year, Porsche Classic experts were commissioned by the Porsche Club of America to restore a 1973 vintage US version of this model under the motto “Revive the Passion.” This unique vehicle was raffled among American Club members in a tombola.
Also the Porsche “Jagdwagen” Type 597 has proudly his own Porsche Club.
The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is eight euro for adults and four euro for concessions.
Risky Business (soundtrack) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Back in February 2012 I blogged about Tom Cruise’s 1979 Porsche 928 that fetched at the sum of $49,000. AllePorsche.com had reported that a 1979 Porsche 928 used during the filming of “Risky Business” was put up for sale by the Volo Auto Museum, located about an hour north of Chicago where the movie was set. In order to make room for a couple of new additions to its collection.The platinum metallic colored coupe was one of four 928s used during principal production of the film, according to museum director Brian Grams.
Its odometer reads 102,755 miles and it is in driving condition. It is expected to fetch $40,000 to $60,000.
The sleek Porsche 928 was the German company’s flagship model in the late 1970s and early 1980s. But today it is largely forgotten by all but two kinds of people: fans of front-engine GT cars and anyone who saw the 1983 coming-of-age classic “Risky Business.”
Cover of Risky Business
In the movie Tom Cruise plays Joel Goodsen, a high-school kid who wants to get into Princeton and have fun while his parents are away from home. Part of the fun includes an unauthorized spin in his father’s Porsche 928. Of course things go terribly wrong and the car winds up in Lake Michigan.
Auction houseProfiles in History said the car will cross the block at its Hollywood sale in July. Luckily this is not the vehicle that went underwater on screen. The auction company said the car for sale, a 1979 model with a five-speed manual transmission, is one of four used in the film three for driving and close-up scenes and one so-called “dump car” that went into the lake.
The auction company said this car is the only one from the movie known to have survived. Its odometer reads 102,755 miles and it is in driving condition. It is expected to fetch $40,000 to $60,000.
The estimate is several times the typical cost of a garden-variety ’79 928 these days. For $10,000 or so you can find a well-kept example of what is still a fairly advanced car. The auction will test the value of the car’s film connection.
Anyone remember the tow truck operator’s famous movie quote when pulling this Porsche out of Lake Michigan? “Who’s the U-Boat commander?” Classic!
On a damp track with dry patches, a complete Nordschleife rookie positioned himself at the front of the 24-strong field. Austria’s Philipp Eng, driving for the MRS GT-Racing squad, snatched pole position at just his fourth qualifying session with the 450 hp 911 GT3 Cup on the world’s most challenging circuit.
Eng lapped the 25.378 kilometre track combining the Grand Prix circuit and the legendary Nordschleife in 9:53.131 minutes.
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Philipp Eng (A) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
A mere 0.294 seconds shy of the pole-sitter, Nicki Thiim (Hermes Attempto Racing) posted the second quickest time.
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Nicki Thiim (DK) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
However, the Dane and winner of round three on the Lausitzring was relegated back to fifth starting position due to a collision at Sunday’s race in the Lausitz.
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Nicki Thiim (DK) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Instead, Sean Edwards (Great Britain, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit), the third qualifier and two-time winner this season, takes up the four-lap race from the second grid spot.
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Sean Edwards (GB)
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Sean Edwards (GB) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
The one-hour qualification session for the fifth race of the season run as support to the Nürburgring 24 hour race featured suspense from the first to the last minute as well as swaps at the top of the time sheets.
At first Philipp Eng was sixth but improved from lap to lap until in the dying minutes of the qualifying he popped up at the head of the list – and stayed there although everyone expected him to be ousted by a seasoned campaigner.
Eng is a Carrera Cup rookie with just one guest appearance at the 2011 finale to his credit. The 22-year-old did his mandatory training on the Nordschleife only two days ago at the wheel of his team boss Karsten Molitor’s Porsche 911 GT3. Yesterday’s free practice marked the first outing in a race car on this difficult circuit for the Austrian.
His namesake, Philipp Frommenwiler, is another unfamiliar name in the fiercely-contested one-make race series. Driving for Attempto Racing, the Swiss racer first contested the Carrera Cup in 2011 and concluded his first season as the best newcomer. Because of Nicki Thiim’s penalty, the 22-year-old takes up tomorrow’s race at 11.35 hours from the third grid spot.
Although last year’s Nürburgring winner, René Rast (Germany, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit), managed to secure the fifth fastest qualifying time despite scraping the barrier, he was also bumped down the grid by five positions due to the Lausitzring collision.
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 René Rast (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Jaap van Lagen (NL) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Sharing the third grid row are Kévin Estre and Michael Ammermüller (Germany, SWITCH IT Lechner Racing).
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Kévin Estre (F) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
The Frenchman driving for Hermes Attempto Racing currently leads the rookie classification, but he already has one season of experience under his belt. At the end of the 2011 season, Estre took home the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title.
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Michael Ammermüller (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Although the ex-Formula 1 test driver Michael Ammermüller is new to the Carrera Cup, he is not eligible to campaign for rookie honours, as the Bavarian is already 26-years-old.
Porsche-Junior Klaus Bachler made a good showing on the slippery surface in the Eifel after his previous difficulties at the Lausitzring race. At the wheel of the yellow Deutsche Post by tolimit 911, the 20-year-old Austrian takes up the highlight race from eleventh in front of huge crowds lining the Nordschleife.
The second Porsche-Junior, Michael Christensen (Denmark, Konrad Motorsport), was just 16th in qualifying after his sensational third place in the Lausitz.
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The Nordschleife race is aired live by Sport1 tomorrow from 11.35 to 12.35 hrs. Also on the official Porsche website (www.porsche.com), the race is broadcast live exclusively and in high quality – with editorial reports before the actual live-streaming, live-timing and commentary in Germany and English.
The broadcast begins at 11.10 hours. On May 21st, the Monday after the race weekend, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. Sport1 broadcasts Carrera Cup highlights on Saturday, 26 May, from 17.45 to 18.15 hours.
Philipp Eng (pole-sitter):
“I’m actually totally surprised and I can hardly believe it. I’ve only driven 15 laps on the Nordschleife in a road-legal 911 and yesterday was my very first attempt with a Cup car. My vehicle ran superbly. And I very probably had a bit of luck on my side. But when that happens to you on the Nordschleife then it’s something quite extraordinary.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Philipp Eng (A) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Sean Edwards (second in qualifying):
“That was a crazy session. At the beginning everything ran well, but later, on each lap, you had to overtake a couple of Clios which were practicing at the same time. I didn’t manage to get a clear lap where there wasn’t a yellow flag out. Still, I’m totally happy with second on the grid.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Sean Edwards (GB) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Philipp Frommenwiler (third in qualifying):
“My qualifying was not so bad. When I take a look at the gap to the top time I think it could have been me on pole position. But I’m actually quite pleased not to start as the leader. This way I can trail along behind at first and that’s not a bad thing.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 2012 Philipp Frommenwiler (S) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland – 03 – 24h Nürburgring 2012
Klaus Bachler (Porsche-Junior, eleventh qualifier):
“I’m very satisfied with my result. This was my first time on the wet Nordschleife. And it’s really hard because the circuit has all sorts of tarmac surfaces and every corner has a different level of grip. I felt my way step by step, but unfortunately I had to stop in the final lap because the circuit was too dry to turn a quick time with wet tyres.”
Michael Christensen (16th in qualifying):
“Whew, that was an extremely tough qualifying session, but it was certainly a good experience. I couldn’t get the most out of my new tyres when it became drier towards the end. I made the mistake of pushing too hard on the Grand Prix circuit during the warm-up. When I reached the Nordschleife the wet tyres were much too hot for the dry passages.”
Qualifying result
1. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, 9:53.131 minutes
2. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, +2.307 seconds
3. Philipp Frommenwiler (CH), Attempto Racing, + 2.455
4. Jaap van Lagen (NL), FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 3.745
5. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 4.104
6. Michael Ammermüller (D), SWITCH IT Lechner Racing, + 4.585
7. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 0.294*
8. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 6.491
9. Clemens Schmid (A), SWITCH IT Lechner Racing, + 6.491
10. René Rast (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 2.634*
* set back 5 grid positions
Amateurs
1. Peter Scharmach (NZ), GT3 Cup Middle East, + 14.336
2. Hoevert Vos (NL), Land-Motorsport, + 17.716
3. Pascal Bour (F), BG Racing, +25.630
Development of the Porsche super sports car enters next phase
918 Spyder prototypes commence trials
Stuttgart. The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has taken the driving trials of the super sports car of the future a step further with completion of the initial prototypes. The 918 Spyder will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first customers receiving their vehicles before 2013 is out.
“What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG.
The prototypes, their camouflage harking back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars, signal the final touches to the 918 Spyder. The focus is on the interplay between the highly sophisticated individual drive components. The combination of combustion engine and two independent electric motors – one on the front axle and one in the drive line, acting on the rear wheels – poses completely new demands on the development of the operating strategies.
“They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” said Wolfgang Hatz.
These operating strategies and the development of the software to go with them are one of Porsche’s core competences. Both of them have a major influence on the extreme driving fun to be had with the 918 Spyder and they make possible a unique combination of minimal fuel consumption and maximum performance. The initial results of the driving trials are in line with the high expectations placed on the 918 Spyder.
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The super sports car is designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for extraordinary performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a racing machine boasting more than 770 hp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the region of three litres per 100 kilometres. Moreover, Porsche is breaking yet more new ground with the technology demonstrator with spectacular solutions such as the full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque with unit carrier, fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and the upward-venting “top pipes” exhaust system. In the process, the 918 Spyder is offering a glimpse of what Porsche Intelligent Performance may be capable of in future.
SOURCE: Porsche AG Media database
Product and Technology Communication
Product Communication
Stuttgart. She came, saw and was victorious: Maria Sharapova, the glamorous world star of women’s tennis, hopped around the Porsche Arena’s Centre Court like an excited teenager. Overjoyed, she blew kisses to the crowd after crowning her first appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with a title. Playing the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Sharapova dominated the match between the world’s two most successful tennis players.
Matthias Müller, Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Porsche AG, Maria Sharapova
The world No. 1 didn’t get a sniff against the, on paper, No. 2. The audience in the full-to-capacity Porsche Arena were treated to some world class tennis during Sharapova’s 6-1, 6-4 win. It was thrill a minute tennis. Sharapova now leaves Stuttgart with 115,000 dollars prize money, a Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and the promise to return to Stuttgart to defend her title.
The tennis queen from Russia kicked off as if a match against the current world No.1 is the simplest thing in the world. Impressive considering she had lost her four previous finals against Azarenka, two of which came this year at the Grand Slam tournament in Australia and in Indian Wells.
Markus Günthardt, Turnierdirektor, Matthias Müller, Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Porsche AG, Maria Sharapova, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender der Porsche AG und der Porsche SE, Christian Dau, Leiter Corporate Social Responsibility Porsche AG, Anke Huber, Sportliche Leiterin (l-r)
But the Russian doesn’t rate statistics:
“The most important thing is what you do on the court,” she said.
And she moved Azarenka all around the Centre Court with powerful and accurate groundstrokes and hit aces at will when at the vital moments. 6-1 with three breaks after 30 minutes – it looked as if it was going to be a very short final.
Siegerin Maria Sharapova (RUS)
That things took a little longer was down to the number one, who didn’t want to say farewell to the Porsche Arena after a great week without putting up a fight, even though she was slightly hampered by a wrist injury.
Siegerin Maria Sharapova (RUS)
“Yes it’s true about the injury but I’m not going to look for any ex-cuses,” she said. Victoria Azarenka fought back and even saved four break points at 2-all but shortly afterwards was forced to admit defeat.
Sharapova broke Azarenka to lead 4-3 and soon afterwards closed out the match on her serve for a 6-1, 6-4 win in 84 minutes.
She was visibly overjoyed at winning on her debut at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. For minutes on end she celebrated with the crowd, hugged her crew and eventually drove her new snow white Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet onto Centre Court with Matthias Müller, the President and CEO of the Porsche AG beside her.
Matthias Müller, Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Porsche AG, Maria Sharapova
The key was given to her by Matthias Müller and the winner’s trophy was presented by Dr Wolfgang Porsche, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Porsche AG and the Porsche SE. The victor also had a presenta-tion to make. On behalf of her colleagues, she handed Dr Wolfgang Porsche the cup for the best and favourite tournament. The WTA players had once again voted the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as their favourite event in 2011.
“The week has been a lot of fun,” she said. “The crowd has been great to me and I was ex-tremely motivated to finally win a final against Victoria.” It was plain for all to see during the tournament week in Stuttgart.
Immediately before the match, the world renowned Stuttgart Ballet provided another tourna-ment highlight. The audience on Centre Court was enthralled by the four dancers belonging to the Stuttgart company performing the piece titled “Sit Back” which was specially choreo-graphed for the tournament by Louis Stiens.
Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet
Last year’s singles winner Julia Görges stood once again on Centre Court on finals day. To-gether with Anna-Lena Grönefeld, her Porsche Team Germany teammate, the world No. 21 was this time trying to win the doubles title. But the two Germans were however defeated 6-4, 7-5 by the Czech duo of Iveta Benesova/Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Sean Edwards (GB) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
In the end it was Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) who clinched a flag-to-flag victory.
With a 0.9-second advantage over Frenchman Kévin Estre (Hermes Attempto Racing) in second, the vice-champion of last year brought his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup over the finish line in first place.
Kévin Estre (F), Sean Edwards (GB), René Rast (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Third position went to René Rast (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit – Team Pole Promotion), who was able to extend his lead in Germany’s fastest one-make series after his victory at yesterday’s season-opening race.
Kévin Estre (F), Sean Edwards (GB), René Rast (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Making a superb getaway from the pole, Sean Edwards immediately took the lead and initially pulled slightly clear of his pursuers – but it didn’t take long for Carrera Cup newcomer Kévin Estre and seasoned campaigner René Rast to set out after the leader, taking turns in setting one fastest race lap after the other.
Sean Edwards (GB) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
But only once did the pursuers seem to have a slight chance when Edwards ran wide in the final corner. He briefly left the track but managed to rejoin the race. Edwards kept his cool all the way to the flag to claim his first win of the season. Estre finished in second place which also puts him second in the rookie classification.
Sean Edwards (GB) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Behind the leading three came two other makes cup professionals. In fourth place was Nicki Thiim. Driving for Hermes Attempto Racing, the Dane came under no pressure from behind but was unable to catch the top trio.
Nicki Thiim (DK) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
The same applied to Dutchman Jaap van Lagen (FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport), who brought home a secure fifth place and collected crucial points.
Jaap van Lagen (NL) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Austria’s Norbert Siedler, points’ leader of the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, repeated his result from race one securing sixth place. Starting from ninth on the grid, the Konrad Motorsport pilot made up three places through overtaking manoeuvres. Siedler stuck to the rear of Nicolas Armindo’s Attempto Racing Porsche over several laps.
When the Frenchman overtook guest driver Jeroen Mul (NED, Team Bleekemolen), Siedler grabbed his chance, stuck close on Armindo’s bumper, and slipped by as well. In his perfectly set-up 911, Siedler then proceeded to bag the Frenchman. The 2010 Carrera Cup champion finished seventh. Philipp Eng (Austria, MRS GT-Racing), Michael Ammermüller (Germany, SWITCH IT Lechner Racing) and Jeroen Mul trailed in positions eight to ten respectively.
The two Porsche Juniors concluded a rather uneventful race just shy of the top ten. Michael Christensen (Denmark, Konrad Motorsport) came 12th, with Austria’s Klaus Bachler (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) finishing 13th.
On 30 April, the Monday after the race weekend, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. Sport1 broadcasts Carrera Cup highlights on Tuesday, 1 May, from 16.30 to 17.00 hours.
Sean Edwards (winner):
“What a race! I nailed the start perfectly and managed to edge away from the field. But then Kévin caught me so I had to push to extend the gap. But he came again. This game went on over the entire time. It was really exhausting. With my two pole positions from the first two Hockenheim races I should have been able to bring home two wins. But I’m happy that at least today worked out well after yesterday’s bad luck. I’m hoping to fight for the title this year.”
Sean Edwards (GB) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Kévin Estre (second):
“I’m very pleased to climb the podium. My car was consistent from the start to the flag and this was the key to success. But I had to drive at the limit every second in order not to lose contact to Sean and to stay out of René’s way. So it’s all the more satisfying not to have made a mistake. My goal now is to be just as quick at the next round on the Lausitzring.”
Kévin Estre (F) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
René Rast (third):
“I’m very satisfied – victory for Sean and third for me. What a great team result. Yesterday’s win and today’s result gave me a very good start in the team. Third was all I could manage today. I was absolutely at the limit and I think the other two were as well. It’s great to head home from the first race weekend leading the points.”
Sean Edwards (GB), René Rast (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, 12th):
“Again my start was good, but unfortunately I was on the wrong side for the first corner. All in all it was a good race, and I made no mistakes. But we had problems with the car set-up, I didn’t have enough grip. Obviously I wanted to achieve more but I’m happy with my performance.”
Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, 13th):
“I had new tyres today and I actually expected more. But I have to admit that I made a few mistakes in the race and we just weren’t fast enough today. Now we have to analyse why I was not able to fully utilise my new tyres but at least I made it to the flag. I earned points and we continue next week. There we should take a step forward.”
Race 2 result
1. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 31:13.046 minutes
2. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 0.991 seconds
3. René Rast (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit/Pole Promotion, + 2.334
4. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 8.478
5. Jaap van Lagen (NL), FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 9.465
6. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 18.990
7. Nicolas Armindo (F), Attempto Racing, + 13.607
8. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, + 18.545
9. Michael Ammermüller (D), SWITCH IT by Lechner Racing, + 19.721
10. Jeroen Mul (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 21.266
Points’ standings after 2 of 17 races Driver
1. René Rast (D), 36 points
2. Nicolas Armindo (F), 27
3. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 26
4. Michael Ammermüller (D), 23
5. Nicki Thiim (DK), 23
Teams
1. Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 56 points
2. Hermes Attempto Racing, 41
3. Attempto Racing, 33
Rookie classification:
1. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, 20
2. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, 18
3. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, 12
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Preview for races 3 and 4 of 17 at the Lausitzring
Already this coming weekend, the Carrera Cup Deutschland heads to the Lausitzring, which is famous for its impressive main grandstand, for races 3 and 4. On the interesting 3.478 kilometre Lausitzring, Nicki Thiim celebrated his first victory in Germany’s fastest makes cup a year ago. Sean Edwards climbed the podium in second. After the first two races of the season, René Rast travels to the Lausitz region topping the points table.
Perfect start to the season for Porsche customer teams
(l.-r.): Olaf Manthey, Raymond Narac, Patrick Pilet, Marco Holzer, Nick Tandy, Marco Mapelli, Archie Hamilton
Stuttgart. Two races, two wins: the European customer teams headed into the new International GT Open season with great success.
(l.-r.): Marco Holzer, Nick Tandy, Raymond Narac
The big winners of the race weekend were Porsche works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain) driving for Manthey Racing. In the Autodromo do Algarve, the German-British duo won the 70 kilometre race on Saturday as well as the 20 kilometre shorter sprint on Sunday in the 911 GT3 RSR, the top model of Porsche customer racing.
(l.-r.): Marco Holzer, Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet, Marco Mapelli, Archie Hamilton
A triple victory to Porsche at Sunday’s race crowned the season-opening weekend. 35 vehicles from eleven different marques were at the start.
The French IMSA Matmut Performance team were delighted with their second place on Sunday. At the wheel of the 911 GT3 RSR, factory pilot Patrick Pilet and team boss Raymond Narac (both France) shared driving duties.
Position three went to the Italian outfit Autorlando Sport, who contests the series with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. At the same time, this handed the Italians victory in the GTS class which is based on the FIA GT3 regulations. The 911 GT3 RSR competes in the Super GT class which is for more powerful vehicles and is based on the FIA GT2 regulations.
“It’s just fantastic to kick off the new season with maximum points,” says a thrilled Marco Holzer.
Particularly on Saturday, the 22-year-old and his 28-year-old teammate Tandy, both GT Open rookies, gave a brilliant performance. Shortly before the start a rain shower flooded the race track. Holzer drove the first stint.
“It was very difficult not to make a mistake on the extremely wet then drying track. When Nick took over the cockpit it wasn’t really ideal for slicks. But he drove his stint perfectly.”
In Sunday’s race, the experience of team principal Olaf Manthey made itself apparent once again. Although the track was still wet, he sent Tandy out into the race on slicks. Whilst some of the opponents were still running wet tyres and lost time due to the extra pit stop, the German-911 kept racing.
“That was the key to success,” said Nick Tandy, the reigning champion of the Carrera Cup Deutschland, proudly.
With satisfaction, the French IMSA Matmut Performance squad also travels back to their team base in Rouen. Fourth at the first race and position two in the second – a good start to the season.
“It didn’t go perfectly for us in race one,” summed up Patrick Pilet. “Our set-up wasn’t the best and we were happy with fourth. Today went better for us. At the start our 911 proved difficult to drive. We didn’’t have enough tyre pressure for the track conditions. But it all came together towards the end of the race.”
Patrick Pilet
Autorlando Sport were also completely satisfied with third in the overall classification and victory in the GTS class as well as with the excellent job of both pilots Archie Hamilton (Great Britain) and Marco Mapelli (Italy). The Italians have notched up the most experience in the International GT Open.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Autorlando Sport: Marco Mapelli, Archie Hamilton
From 2008 to 2011, the Italians clinched vice-championship honours in the GTS category. The Spanish Drivex School team secured 13th place in the first race and eleventh in the second at the season-opening weekend with the 911 GT3 RSR.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Drivex School: Miguel Amaral, Miguel Angel de Castro
The cockpit of the new 911 was shared by Drivex owner Miguel Angel de Castro (Spain) and the Portuguese gentleman driver Miguel Pais do Amaral.
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On the series’ website www.gtopen.net, the International GT Open provides Live-Timing and also Live-Streaming. The respective schedules, points’ standings and further information are also available there.
Result race 1
1. Holzer/Tandy (D/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:10.59.359 hours
2. Broniszewski/Peter (PL/A), Ferrari 458 GT Italia, + 7.6 seconds
3. Bizzarri/Cadei (I/I), Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, + 25.343
4. Narac/Pilet (F/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 25.977
Race three and four of the International GT Open will be run on 25 to 27 May on the Nürburgring.
This is the International GT Open
Inaugurated in 2006, the International GT Open features two races per weekend with identical points’ allocation – the first race on Saturday runs over 70 minutes, the second on Sunday over 50. Two drivers share the cockpit. A handicap system ensures more suspense at the head of the field. The top three drivers of each race are handed a 15, ten or five second penalty respectively for the following race. The calendar of the race series includes eight races on selective circuits like Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring.
One of the keys to success in the International GT Open is the stable technical regulations and the capping of costs, for instance through control tyres. The grid is divided into two classes, the stronger Super GT category and the GTS class.
Super GT: This class is based on the FIA GT2 regulations – the 911 GT3 RSR competes here. The particularly efficient six-cylinder boxer engine in the International GT Open version delivers significantly more than 500 hp.
. GTS: Based on the FIA GT3 regulations. The Porsche 911 GT3 R is fielded here, now delivering 500 hp after the new model year underwent improvements.
In 2007, Autorlando Sport won the overall classification for drivers and teams with Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) and Joel Camathias from Switzerland.
Nicolas Armindo (F), René Rast (D), Michael Ammermüller (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Stuttgart. A perfect start to the season for René Rast (Germany).
René Rast (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
The one-make cup professional driving for Team Deutsche Post by tolimit – Team Pole Promotion won the first race of the Carrera Cup Deutschland in Hockenheim with an 8.851-second advantage.
Nicolas Armindo (F) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Second place went to Frenchman Nicolas Armindo (Attempto Racing). After a weak season last year, the 2010 champion has kicked of his 2012 campaign impressively.
Michael Ammermüller (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Michael Ammermüller (SWITCH IT Lechner Racing) from Germany was overjoyed with his third spot on the podium. Germany’s fastest one-brand series is contested with identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers.
Nicolas Armindo (F), René Rast (D), Michael Ammermüller (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
The 450 hp GT race car is based on the lightweight street-legal 911 GT3 RS sports car.
Taking up the race from pole position, Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) won the sprint to the first corner. The Briton lost his lead briefly to French newcomer Kévin Estre (Hermes Attempto Racing), but the stalwart quickly grabbed it back.
Kévin Estre (F) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Last year’s vice-champion drove a controlled race at the head of the field followed by his teammate René Rast and managed to pull clear of his pursuers bit by bit – until tyre damage in lap six threw him out of contention.
Michael Ammermüller celebrated a brilliant debut with position three after the ex-Formula 1 test driver narrowly missed out on a podium spot last weekend clinching fourth at the Porsche Supercup round in Bahrain.
Jaap van Lagen (NL) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Behind the Lechner pilot, Jaap van Lagen (FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport) came fourth over the finish line. The Dutchman, who made up one position on his qualifying result, was one of the six race winners last year with his victory at Spielberg in Austria.
Philipp Eng (A) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Philipp Eng was the surprise of the day in fifth. Driving for MRS GT-Racing, the Austrian has experience in a Carrera Cup race from one event as a guest starter at the 2011 finale in Hockenheim. With his fifth place, the youngster who has also tested a Formula 1 car, planted himself at the head of the newly-created rookie classification in the Carrera Cup.
Norbert Siedler (A) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Behind him came his compatriot Norbert Siedler, the current leader of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. After experiencing a difficult practice session, the Konrad Motorsport pilot was satisfied with his success in gaining ground and the first point.
Nicki Thiim (DK) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
The Dane Nicki Thiim (Hermes Attempto Racing) clinched seventh place ahead of newcomer Elia Erhart (Marschall Goebel Racing).
Elia Erhart (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
The Porsche Juniors, Klaus Bachler and Michael Christensen, made a good start to the season. Driving for the Deutsche Post by tolimit squad, the Austrian was running in eighth place when he had to pit with tyre problems. After a change of tyres, 20-year-old Bachler rejoined the race far down the field, but was able to match the pace of the frontrunners and saw the flag in 17th.
Klaus Bachler (A) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Driving for Konrad Motorsport, Denmark’s Klaus Bachler lost the front lip of his 911 in the turmoil of the race. Despite the heavy understeer that resulted from this, the 21-year-old still managed to bring home ninth place from his debut race.
Michael Christensen (DK) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
The grid line-up for race two on Sunday is determined by the fastest lap time from the qualifying session. Sean Edwards and Jaap van Lagen start from the first row, with Kévin Estre and René Rast sharing the second.
Taking up Sunday’s race from the third grid row are Nicki Thiim and Philipp Eng.
The race tomorrow starts at 9.30 hrs and is broadcast live on the official Porsche website (www.porsche.com) in high-quality – with editorial clips prior to the actual live-streaming, live-timing and commentary in German and English. On 30 April, the Monday after the race weekend, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. Sport1 broadcasts Carrera Cup highlights on Tuesday, 1 May, from 16.30 to 17.00 hours.
René Rast (D) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
René Rast (winner):
“I’m of course extremely happy with my race. I started from third on the grid and won. I had a little bit of race luck on my side, which was at the same time a shame for my teammate Sean and our squad. We don’t yet know where the tyre damage came from, but we still have a chance to secure a good team result tomorrow.”
Nicolas Armindo (F) Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Nicolas Armindo (second):
“It feels great to climb the podium again. It’s been a long time coming. I was certainly not the fastest today, but with some cleverness and a little luck it was enough for a podium result.”
Michael Ammermüller (third):
“I’m happy to have come from eighth and finished third at my first race. I hadn’t expected that. I had anticipated at best fifth place. I’m sure I had Lady Luck on my side today, but my car was also really well set-up.”
Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, ninth):
“After a difficult qualifying we managed to find a good race set-up for my car. I thought the start would be hard but it went really well. I got caught up in traffic, the front lip of my 911 ripped off in the turmoil and had to contend with understeer. I then had to cope with a puncture towards the end. So I told myself, just take it easy and get to the finish.”
Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, 17th):
“My start wasn’t that great, but afterwards I drove a steady race. I waited for the drivers in front of me to make a mistake and then made the most of it. In this way I could move up the field and was even running in eighth when a tyre problem forced me into the pits.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 01 Hockenheimring 2012
Race 1 result
1. René Rast (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit/Pole Promotion, 24:27.506 minutes
2. Nicolas Armindo (F), Attempto Racing, + 8.851 seconds
3. Michael Ammermüller (D), SWITCH IT Lechner Racing, + 10.772
4. Jaap van Lagen (NL) FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 13.446
5. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, + 14.151
6. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 18.990
7. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 22.755
8. Elia Erhart (D), Marschall Goebel Racing, + 27.711
9. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, + 35.981
10. Thomas Pivoda (CZ), Konrad Motorsport, + 38.091
Points’ standings after 1 of 17 races Driver
1. René Rast (D), 20 points
2. Nicolas Armindo (F), 18
3. Michael Ammermüller (D), 16
4. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 14
5. Philipp Eng (A), 12
Teams
1. Deutsche Post by tolimit, 24 points
2. Attempto Racing, 18
3. Konrad Motorsport, 17
Stuttgart. Pole position, fastest race lap, victory and points lead – round two of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup couldn’t have gone better for Austria’s Norbert Siedler of VELTINS Lechner Racing.
Norbert Siedler (A) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
In a repeat of his lightning start at the season-opener the previous day, he led the field to the first corner in his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which is based on the lightweight road-legal 911 GT3 RS sports car, and edged away from the field lap for lap. Siedler shared the podium with Christian Engelhart (Konrad Motorsport) and the winner of Saturday’s race, René Rast (Lechner Racing).
Podium Rennen 2: Christian Engelhart (D), Norbert Siedler (A), René Rast (D) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Christian Engelhart also made a virtually perfect start from position three on the grid and managed to outpace René Rast.
Christian Engelhart (D) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Early on in the race, Engelhart could shadow Siedler, but the Austrian then pulled away further. Only in the final phase of the race could Engelhart catch the leader, but he wasn’t close enough to launch a serious attack over the remainder of the race.
Norbert Siedler (A), Walter Lechner, René Rast (D) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Rast lost contact to the two frontrunners early on but he didn’t come under any threat from his pursuers.
René Rast (D) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
With his win, Siedler moves into the lead of the points in the world’s fastest international one-make cup.
Kuba Giermaziak (PL) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Estre’s teammate, Nicki Thiim, also duelled with Giermaziak for quite some time, but finally had to give in and settle sixth place.
Start Rennen 2 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
With this, Thiim was the best newcomer which put him at the top of the rookie classification. Also giving an impressive performance was former DTM pilot Renger van der Zande (Konrad Motorsport) who took up the race from the tenth grid spot and moved up through the field to finish seventh.
Nicki Thiim (DK) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (Team Bleekemolen), as well as Patryk Szczerbinski (VERVA Racing Team) as the youngest driver in the field at 18, and Stefan Rosina (FÖRCH Racing) finished in position eight to ten respectively.
Renger van der Zande (NL) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Fifth in qualifying, Sean Edwards (Konrad Motorsport), was forced into the pits when his right rear tyre valve tore off after contact with another competitor and he fell back to 14th place.
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (NL) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Ex-Formula 1 test driver Michael Ammermüller (VELTINS Lechner Racing) as well as Robert Lukas (Hermes Attempto Racing) touched in lap four. Lukas was able to continue albeit with the stewards of the race handing him a 30-second time penalty. Ammermüller, however, had to let his mechanics fix his loose rear apron which threw him back into 15th position.
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Norbert Siedler (winner):
“That was great! My start was much better than yesterday’s. I managed to control the race over the first seven laps, but in the last three my tyres were deteriorating badly. We need to improve this for the next race in Barcelona.”
Norbert Siedler (A) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Bahrain 2012
Christian Engelhart (second):
“I drove on new tyres today, yesterday’s were used and that makes a huge different on this circuit. My start was great and I was able to get around René Rast on the outside. I could catch up to Norbert towards the end but I wasn’t able to really go for him anymore. To do this, the race would have had to be a little longer. I’m very satisfied with the weekend in Bahrain. I’m now sitting in a good position for the championship.”
René Rast (third):
“I think that was the most we could get out of today with used tyres. I couldn’t do anything with the leaders and I had no pressure from behind, so it was a somewhat quiet race for me.”
Race result
1. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 20:55.702 minutes
2. Christian Engelhart (D), Konrad Motorsport, +0.654 seconds
3. René Rast (D), Lechner Racing, +8.086
4. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, +10.693
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), VERVA Racing, +10.880
6. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, +14.527
7. Renger van der Zande (NL), Konrad Motorsport, +17.654
8. Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (NL), Team Bleekemolen, +18.124
9. Patryk Szczerbinski (PL), VERVA Racing, +26.315
10. Stefan Rosina (SK), FÖRCH Racing, +30.063
Points’ standings after 2 of 10 races Driver
1. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 40 points
2. René Rast (D), Lechner Racing, 36
3. Christian Engelhart (D), Konrad Motorsport, 30
4. Sean Edwards (GB), Konrad Motorsport, 21
5. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, 21
Teams
1. VELTINS Lechner Racing, 53 points
2. Konrad Motorsport, 52
3. Lechner Racing, 45
Rookie classification
1. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, 19 points
2. Michael Ammermüller (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 16
3. Renger van der Zande (NL), Konrad Motorsport, 14
Preview for the 3rd of 10 races, 12/13 May in Barcelona
As points’ leader, Norbert Siedler travels to round three of the season on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Barcelona. From the 16 races run on the demanding Circuit de Catalunya since 1993, there have been 16 different winners. Last year’s winner Sean Edwards could be the first pilot to achieve a second victory, or even the 2010 winner Norbert Siedler. TV stations Eurosport and Sky broadcast the race live.
Stuttgart. Twenty years of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: The anniversary season of the world’s fastest international one-make race series takes off with a double-header round on 21 and 22 April on the Bahrain International Circuit.
Heading into the season as title favourite is reigning champion René Rast from Germany with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Lechner Racing. Rast is looking forward to returning to the desert nation. “The last time I competed in Bahrain I won both races. I’ll be doing everything within my power to repeat that result this year,” says the Supercup champion of 2010 and 2011.
René Rast (D) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Deutschland 2011
As the flagship series of the 19 Porsche one-make championships worldwide, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup boasts a healthy grid line-up again this season. “
We have a balanced field and we’re also looking forward to welcoming some new teams into the Supercup family,”
says Jonas Krauss, Head of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at Porsche Motorsport.
“Onboard are some eager young newcomers like Jeroen Mul coming from Formula 3, Renger van der Zande who contested the DTM in 2011, and ex-Formula 1 test driver Michael Ammermüller. This underlines once more just how attractive the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is as a spring board for a successful GT career or as a challenge for seasoned professionals.”
In Kévin Estre, the Supercup rookies have a shining example.
Kevin Estre (F) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Italien 2011
The Frenchman turned heads last year with his strong performances, not only claiming the Rookie of the Year title but also celebrating his first Supercup victory in Monza.
Kevin Estre (F) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Italien 2011
Now he is back as one of the hot favourites at the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS sports car.
Joining Kévin Estre (Hermes Attempto Racing) to throw a spanner in René Rast’s plans for a hat-trick are Austria’s Norbert Siedler (VELTINS Lechner Racing), Sean Edwards from Great Britain (Konrad Motorsport) as well as the VERVA Racing pilot Kuba Giermaziak.
Kuba Giermaziak (PL) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Italien 2011
Last year, the Pole dominated in Budapest, becoming the first eastern European winner in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and went on to claim victory from the Spa-Francorchamps round. Another name on the list of title aspirants is Germany’s Christian Engelhart (Konrad Motorsport), winner of the 2011 season-opener in Istanbul.
Christian Engelhart (D) Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup 2011
Denmark’s Nicki Thiim (Hermes Attempto Racing) is also a force to be reckoned with. The son of former DTM champion Kurt Thiim attracted attention last year with his strong performance in the German Carrera Cup.
Also making the switch from Germany’s most popular race series is the new Supercup team FÖRCH Racing.
The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers that are fielded in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup come off the assembly line in Porsche’s Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen plant and receive the final touches in the motorsport department at Weissach. All vehicles are technically identical. An important new feature of the 2012-spec is a 100-litre FT3 safety fuel tank.
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“The competition in the series has rarely been this high,” states Jonas Krauss at the start of the anniversary season. And he fully expects the fight for the championship to be as exciting as it was last year: Heading to the final round in 2011, six competitors still had the chance to claim the title.
The season-opening race in Bahrain is broadcast live by TV stations Eurosport and Sky – race 1 on 21 April at 11.20 hrs (Sky) and 11.30 hrs (Eurosport 2), race 2 on 22 April at 11.00 hrs (Sky and Eurosport 2). Eurosport also televises highlights at midnight on Sunday in its “Motorsport Weekend Magazin” programme.
Stuttgart. With the support of the crowd in the Porsche Arena, Porsche Team Germany will be looking to remain in the World Group in the Fed Cup tie against Australia over the weekend.
“We feel at home in Stuttgart,” said team captain Barbara Rittner, who will be appearing for the third time in a row in the state capital on 21 and 22 April. “Australia is a really tough opponent but with the fantastic spectators behind us, we’ll do everything we can to turn our home advantage into a win.”
Porsche Team Germany with Angelique Kerber, Andrea Petkovic, Julia Görges and Anna-Lena Grönefeld have been preparing in the Porsche Arena for the play-off since Monday. Just who she will send out on court against the strong Australians including their top player Samantha Stosur is something Barbara Rittner wants to decide after further practice sessions on Friday.
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Only Angelique Kerber is a certainty. The 24-year-old German won her first ever rubber for Germany in the Fed Cup first round tie against title-holders the Czech Republic in February and then her season really took off. In Paris, she celebrated her first ever WTA Tour title, she reached the semifinals at the million dollar tournament in Indian Wells and last weekend she won the indoor event in Copenhagen.
“The wins have given her masses of confidence and it doesn’t matter on which surface. I’ll obviously be nominating her,” said Barbara Rittner. Angelique Kerber showed herself to be a team player at the press conference in the Porsche Arena: “We want to have success together as a team and we support each other no matter who’s out on court.”
For the first time since her long injury break due to a stress fracture in her lower back, Andrea Petkovic is back in the Porsche Team Germany squad. Whether she will play or not is not something she is really thinking about.
She assured everybody:
“The most important thing is that I’m back to one thousand per cent fitness and that I’m not in pain any more. I’ll try to support the team as best as I possibly can, whether it’s on the court or on the bench, we’ll see. I’ve been practicing well over the past few days but practice is different to a real match.”
A lot speaks in favour of Julia Görges being chosen for the second singles on Saturday. She last year won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in the Porsche Arena and produced a top class performance against Petra Kvitovain the tie against the Czech Republic – additionally she has already won twice against Samantha Stosur, the world No. 5.
However, Barbara Rittner did not want to lay her cards openly on the table three days before the first balls are struck in earnest.
“In the end,” she said, “the form on the day will decide who will be nominated.”
Beginning at the same time as the Fed Cup play-off against Australia is the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Seventeen of the world’s Top 10 players, including Victoria Azarenka, the new world No. 1, and, for the first time, superstar Maria Sharapova will be competing at the 35th edition of the long-standing tournament in Stuttgart which goes on until 29 April.
Tickets for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Fed Cup are available via Easy Ticket Service (telephone +49 711-2555 555, Internet http://www.easyticket.de) or at the Porsche Arena box offices during the tournament week.
SOURCE: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Porsche Team Germany photo libraries Porsche Press Data Bank
Communication Porsche AG
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Claus-Peter Andorka
Something we all didn’t expect to stumble upon today: On 11 April 2012, the famed Nardò Technical Center with its high-speed ring in southern Italy will soon have a new owner as the Porsche Engineering Group announced that it would take over the facility from its current landlord Prototipo SpA in May. Italy’s famed high speed test track, located at more than 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-west of the town of Nardò, Italy, in the southern region of Apulia, in the province of Lecce.
Neither Porsche nor the track’s former owner, Italy’s Prototipo SpA, will say how much the deal went for, we can only guess. Porsche has been a regular at the circuit, along with other manufacturers.
Nardo Ring, Italy The Nardo Ring is a striking visual feature from space, and astronauts have photographed it several times. The Ring is a race car test track that is steeply banked to reduce the amount of active steering needed by drivers. The Ring lies in a remote area on the heel of Italy's "boot," east of the naval port of Taranto and encompasses a number of active (green) and fallow (brown to dark brown) agricultural fields. In this zone of intensive agriculture, farmers gain access to their fields through the Ring via a series of underpasses. Winding features within the southern section of the Ring appear to be smaller, unused race tracks. Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
The automotive proving ground that can be seen from space covers an area of more than 700 hectares and comprises a 6.2-kilometer (3.9 miles) long handling circuit, a 12.5-kilometer (7.8 miles) long oval circuit and facilities for simulating different road surfaces and changeable weather condition.
“The Nardò proving ground with its high-speed and vehicle handling circuit ideally complements our facilities in Weissach,” said Matthias Müller, President and CEO of Porsche AG.
“With the systematic development of the company in Nardò as part of Strategy 2018, Porsche is proving to be a reliable employer and business partner in Apulia as well.”
Porsche said that it plans to optimize the test facilities and make them available to its clients for testing and trials purposes.
“With its rich array of facilities, from dynamic surfaces to acoustic and off-road sections coupled with the numerous workshops, our clients can continue to make extensive use of Nardò for their vehicle trials in the future as well,” said Malte Radmann, CEO of Porsche Engineering.
Thanks to the mild Mediterranean weather, the track can be used throughout the year in three shifts around the clock, seven days a week.
The ring is banked to such a degree that, on the track’s outer lane, cars can travel 150 miles per hour. Presumably, that’s what Porsche will be doing with it—that, and loan it out to their co-members of the VW Group. We’re guessing Lamborghini and other brands will want to spend as much time there as they can.
Most of us are aware that Porsche is developing their next supercar model which is the 918 Spyder and it will be the world’s first hybrid supercar. Porsche has built three prototypes until now and recently, the German automaker invited the guys from Wired magazine to test drive one of them on the Nardo Ring high speed test track in Italy this last March..
Porsche 918 Prototype testing at Nardo Ring
The car may not look much or complete right now but it was in bits and pieces a few weeks ago and Porsche managed to assign a team to assemble the parts in time for the test drive on the Nardo Ring.
Porsche will use the Nardo Ring to test future models and rent to other makers for development
The track is 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) long and is round, has four lanes for cars and motorcycles totaling 16 metres (52 ft) in width and has a separate inner ring for trucks at a width of 9 metres (30 ft).
In the cars/motorcycle ring the lanes are banked at such a degree that a driver in the outer most lane need not turn the wheel while driving at speeds of up to 240 km/h (149 mph). In essence, at the so called neutral speed which is different for the four lanes, one can drive as if in a straight lane. However extremely fast cars still require the steering wheel to be turned when going faster than the maximum neutral speed.
For example the Koenigsegg CCRwhich set a speed record for a production car at the Nardò Ring did so with the steering wheel at a 30° angle. This speed record has since been beaten by the Bugatti Veyron at Volkswagen Group‘s private Ehra-Lessien straight line test track in Germany, and hence the CCR only holds the speed record for the Nardò Ring.
An example of a Highspeed racing in Italy on the Nardo racetrack
In the process of fighting a turn as needed when going faster than the neutral speed quite a bit of potential top speed is lost and hence a fast car will go faster in a straight line than what is possible on the Nardó Ring.
Even at the neutral speed in a banked turn a car runs a bit heavier than it would in a straight line, since the downforce created by the banking increases the rolling resistance on the tires. There has only been one fatality at the ring.
The neutral speed for the four car/motorcycle lanes are respectively:
Lane 1 – 100 km/h (62 mph)
Lane 2 – 140 km/h (87 mph)
Lane 3 – 190 km/h (118 mph)
Lane 4 – 240 km/h (149 mph)
During regular weekly working activity the maximum speed allowed on the circular track is 240 km/h (149 mph). Higher speeds are only allowed at times when a client gets the track for its exclusive use.
The neutral speed for the truck ring is between 80 km/h (50 mph) and 140 km/h (87 mph) over the width of the track, highest in the outer most part of the lane.
Press Release – Cayenne GTS with 420 hp and sporty chassis – Sitting like in an SUV, driving like in a sports car: the Cayenne GTS
Porsche Cayenne GTS
Stuttgart. The SUV with the driving fun of a sports car is entering its second generation. In Beijing, at the Auto China 2012, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is celebrating the world premiere of the new Cayenne GTS.
Its concept: concentration on sporty performance.
Its recipe: a more powerful engine, more dynamic power development, a tauter chassis with lower ride height, emphatically sporty equipment. In the process, the new Cayenne GTS doesn’t just fill the gap between the Cayenne S and the Cayenne Turbo but also differentiates itself clearly from the other models with its own special character.
The Cayenne GTS’s bonnet conceals a 420 hp (309 kW) uprated V8 engine, based on the Cayenne S power unit. Power transmission is ensured by the eight-speed Tip-tronic S with integrated auto start/stop function.
Porsche Cayenne GTS
An especially dynamically tuned en-gine and transmission design reinforces the emphatically sporty characteristics, ena-bling short bursts of speed at any time. The Cayenne GTS sprints from a standing start to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, reaching 160 km/h in 13.3 seconds. The top speed is 261 km/h and the NEDC fuel consumption 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres.
The specially tuned chassis ensures thrilling driving dynamics. It is more tautly tuned, equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and lowers the body by 24 mm relative to the Cayenne S. As a result, the new Cayenne GTS is even closer to the road and moves with the sports car’s trademark composure and agility.
The Cayenne GTS’s looks openly proclaim its pronounced sportiness with eye-catching features such as the front-end borrowed from the Cayenne Turbo, frames and trims in high-gloss black, prominent side skirts and wider wheel arches as well as a distinctive roof spoiler with twin-wing profile. The prevailing ambiance of the inte-rior is sporty elegance, the GTS features a leather interior with Alcantara elements as standard. Front sports seats with eight adjustment options are also featured as stan-dard in the new Cayenne GTS.
The Cayenne GTS will come to market in July 2012 with a price tag in Germany of 90,774 euro including value-added tax.
Matthias Müller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG, paid tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s services to the sports car manufacturer:
“We mourn the death of our partner, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. As the creator of the Porsche 911, he established a design culture in our company that has shaped our sports cars to this very day. His philosophy of good design is a legacy to us that we will honour for all time.”
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was born in Stuttgart on 11 December 1935, the oldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche.
Ferry Porsche (left) in his office with his son Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (ca. 1960)
Even his childhood was shaped by cars, and he spent much of his time in the engineering offices and development workshops of his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche. In 1943 the family accompanied the Porsche company’s move to Austria, where he went to school in Zell am See.
After returning to Stuttgart in 1950, he attended the private Waldorf school. After leaving school, he enrolled at the prestigious Ulm School of Design.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in his Design office (1963)
In 1958, F.A. Porsche, as he was known by his colleagues, joined the engineering office of what was then Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG. He soon proved his great talent for design by sculpting the first model of a successor to the 356 model line out of plasticine.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche next to Modell Typ 911 (1968)
In 1962 he took over as head of the Porsche design studio, creating a worldwide furore one year later with the Porsche 901 (or 911). With the Porsche 911, F.A. Porsche created a sports car icon whose timeless and classical form survives to this very day in what is now the seventh 911 generation.
Porsche Typ 901 (T8), next to model: Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1963)
However, in addition to passenger cars, F.A. Porsche also concerned himself with designing the sports cars of the 1960s. His best-known designs include the Type 804 Formula One racing car or the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, now considered to be one of the most beautiful racing cars ever.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1989)
In the course of the conversion of Porsche KG into a joint-stock corporation in 1971/72, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, along with all the other family members, stood down from the company’s front-line business operations.
In 1972 he founded the “Porsche Design Studio” in Stuttgart, the head office of which was relocated to Zell am See in Austria in 1974. In the decades that followed, he designed numerous classic gentlemen’s accessories such as watches, spectacles and writing implements that achieved global recognition under the “Porsche Design” brand. In parallel, with his team, he designed a plethora of industrial products, household appliances and consumer durables for internationally renowned clients under the brand “Design by F.A. Porsche”.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1965)
A strong and clear design concept typifies all product designs created in his design studio to date. The credo of his design work was:
“Design must be functional and functionality has to be translated visually into aesthetics, without gags that have to be explained first.”
F.A. Porsche: “A coherently designed product requires no adornment; it should be enhanced by its form alone.” The design’s appearance should be readily comprehensible and not detract from the product and its function.
His conviction was: “Good design should be honest.”
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche received numerous honours and awards both for his work as a designer as well as for individual designs. For example, in 1968 the “Comité Internationale de Promotion et de Prestige” honoured him for the outstanding aesthetic design of the Porsche 911 while the Industrial Forum Design Hannover (iF) voted him “Prizewinner of the Year” in 1992.
Ferry (right) and Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in the Porsche Design-Studio (ca. 1959)
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche retained a close lifelong association with Porsche AG as a partner and member of the Supervisory Board. For example, even after stepping down from front-line business operations, he contributed to the design of Porsche’s sports cars over many decades and repeatedly steered the company in the right di-rection. This was especially the case for the difficult period Porsche experienced at the beginning of the 1990s.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche with model 911 S Targa (1968)
From 1990 to 1993, F.A. Porsche served as President of the company’s Supervisory Board, thus playing a major role in Porsche A.G’s eco-nomic turnaround. In 2005, he stood down from his Supervisory Board role in favour of his son Oliver and assumed the mantle of Honorary President of the Supervisory Board.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche will be buried in the family grave at Schüttgut in Zell am See, attended by his immediate family. An official funeral service will be held in Stuttgart at a later date.
Stuttgart. The world’s top tennis players are ready for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska won the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the dress rehearsal for the world’s best in the run-up to the long standing tournament in Stuttgart, with a 7-5, 6-4 victory in the final against the Russian Maria Sharapova.
She duly celebrated the biggest success of her career. Together with the Miami finalists, 19 of the world’s Top 20 will be lining up in the Porsche Arenafor the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix from 21 to 29 April. It is a new record.
The million dollar tournament in Miami was also an important stopover en route to Stuttgart for the Porsche Team Germany members.
The player to progress the furthest wasSabine Lisicki, who, despite putting on a good performance against the world No. 8 Na Li from China, only narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal place.
Sabine Lisicki, Porsche Team Deutschland
“I played well and have moved another step forwards. It gives me extra confidence,” said the German. In Stuttgart last year, she won the doubles playing alongside the Australian Samantha Stosur and reached the quarterfinals of the singles.
This time around? “I’ll try to be more consistent in my play and win the important points. Then everything’s possible.”
Sabine Lisicki, Porsche Team Deutschland
Sabine Lisicki in Miami Seaquarium
Sabine Lisicki in Miami Seaquarium
Sabine Lisicki in Miami Seaquarium
And Angelique Kerber, who this year won her first ever WTA title in Paris and stood in the semifinals of the Indian Wells tournament, is also looking forward to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “It’ll be one of the highlights of my year,” said the 24-year-old.
Angelique Kerber, Porsche Team Deutschland
She’s certain the early loss in Miami, where she was defeated in her opening match by the strong Chinese Jie Zheng, won’t set her back:
Angelique Kerber, Porsche Team Deutschland
“There’s bound to be days when things don’t go well but I’ve learnt to deal with them. I look forwards.”
For Barbara Rittner, the Porsche Team Germany captain, the tournament in Miami was highly positive. She was especially pleased with the display of Mona Barthel, who swept aside Jelena Jankovic, the former world No. 1.
Mona Barthel
Mona Barthel
And naturally the news that there is nothing standing in the way of the long-injured Andrea Petkovic making a return in Stuttgart. With a view to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Fed Cup play-off against Australia, which will be played in the Porsche Arena on 21 and 22 April, she is also very confident:
“The girls are right on track, I’ve got no worries.”
Tickets for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Fed Cup are available via Easy Ticket Service (telephone +49 711-2555 555, Internet http://www.easyticket.de) or at the Porsche Arena box offices during the tournament week.
The tradition-steeped race on the airfield circuit of Sebring (17 March) marked the start of the new World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the American Le Mans Series. In the WEC, works drivers Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz and Patrick Pilet clinched second place in the GTE Pro class for Felbermayr-Proton at the wheel of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
Motorsports: Season: Season 2012 Title: Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Felbermayr-Proton: Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Patrick Pilet 12h Sebring
In the amateur GTE Am category, Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti made a faultless start to the season with a victory in last year’s 911 GT3 RSR. Bad luck, however, for the Porsche drivers in the ALMS: Flying Lizards Motorsports’ 911 GT3 RSR piloted by Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long and Marco Holzer was rammed by a Ferrari in the formation lap. Bergmeister and his colleagues still managed to yield tenth place.
Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers and Martin Ragginger claimed ninth in the Falken Tire Porsche after an engine change.
Tribute:Hans Herrmann inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame
Hans Herrmann in Sebring Hall of Legends - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
The organisers of the Sebring 12 hour race pay tribute to the performances of extraordinary race drivers by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.
Hans Herrmann in Sebring Hall of Legends - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
In the lead up to this year’s race, Hans Herrmann received this very rare honor.
Legendary achievements: Hans Herrmann and Porsche - Source: Porsche AG
The former Porsche works driver, born 1928, won the Sebring classic twice, contributed to Porsche claiming the manufacturers’ world title in 1969 and 1970, and clinched the first overall victory for Porsche at Le Mans with Richard Attwood in 1970.
Convalescence: Works driver Timo Bernhard on the way to recovery
Timo Bernhard - Source: Porsche AG
Porsche factory pilot Timo Bernhard has to take several weeks of time out. During testing with an Audi in Sebring (USA), he went off the track at high speed through no fault of his own and slammed backwards into the barrier. At hospital an injury to his cervical spine was diagnosed. An operation is not necessary. However, Bernhard has to remain in the USA for some time and is wearing a neck brace for support.
“I’ll take things easy so that I can get fit again quickly,” says the Porsche works driver. “My wife Katharina has joined me here in Florida and she’s helping me with the necessary check-up examinations. As soon as the doctors give me the clearance to fly, we’ll be back in Germany.”
Carrera Cup Asia: Tenth season features largest grid in history
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia - Season 2012 - Porsche AG
With 27 competitors, the Carrera Cup Asia enters its tenth season with the largest grid line up in its history.
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
In Shanghai and Singapore the Asian Carrera Cup runs as support to the Formula 1.
Carrera Cup Australia: Champion Craig Baird unbeatable in Melbourne
Motorsports: Season: Season 2012 Title: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: Craig Baird Carrera Cup Australia
Three races, three victories and the points lead. After a faultless weekend as support to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne (16/18 March), Craig Baird elbowed Alex Davison from the top of the points’ table. Davison had led the series after winning two races at the first weekend in Adelaide (3/4 March).
Todd Kelly of the Jack Daniel's Racing team March 03, 2012 Start Carrera Cup Australia - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
Ex-Formula 1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen gave an impressive performance at his guest drive in Melbourne yielding two fourth places. This marked the first time at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for the German. Next round: 4 to 6 May in Perth, WA.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen - Round 2 of the 2012 Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
Carrera Cup Deutschland: Additional race on Saturday
Start Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland - 04 Lausitzring 2011 - Source: Porsche AG
The German Carrera Cup takes off: In addition to the 80 kilometre race on Sunday, competitors in 2012 also contest a 60 kilometre sprint on Saturday. Also new this season is the B classification for amateurs as well as a rookie category for new-comers up to 25 years old. The price money increases by 100,000 Euro to now total more than half a million Euro. Nine race weekends with an event on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife as the highlight make up the calendar. The season kicks off on 28 April in Hockenheim.
Carrera Cup Japan: New junior driver – season highlight alongside Formula 1
Carrera Cup Japan - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
Again in 2012, a talented young driver is given the chance to launch his career in the Carrera Cup Japan. 18-year-old Ryo Hirakawa competes with the support of Porsche Japan in a 911 GT3 Cup fielded by the Garmin Team. Hirakawa comes from formula racing and contests his first GT season. He faces tough opposition from the likes of GT aces Igor Sushko and Shinichi Yamaji from the Japanese Super GT.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Garmin Team: Ryo Hirakawa Carrera Cup Japan - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
Two Porsche Centres join the series for the first time, with Excellence Motorsports running the 100th 911 GT3 Cup imported into Japan. Okayama hosts the first of eleven races on 1 April. Season highlight: The race as support to the Japan Grand Prix in Suzuka, 5/7 October.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: Shinichi Yamaji Carrera Cup Japan - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
Race notes: Record grids in the GT3 Cup Challenge USA
GT3 Cup Challenge USA - Season 2012 - Source: Porsche AG
and the GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil with 39 and 37 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup respectively.
Motorsports: Season: Season 2012 Title: GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil
+++ After just the tenth of twelve races in the GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East 2011/12, Abdulaziz Al Faisal from Saudi Arabia is the champion.
PORSCHE GT3 ROUNDS 7 AND 8 REEM CIRCUIT FEBRUARY 2012 - Season 2012 -Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: Abdulaziz Al Faisal GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East - Source: Porsche AG
+++ Manthey Racing contracted Porsche works driver Marco Holzer for the International GT Open to race a new 911 GT3 RSR in the pan-European championship. His teammate is Britain’s Nick Tandy. The pair competes against their works driver colleague Patrick Pilet, who shares driving duties with Raymond Narac in a 911 GT3 RSR run by the IMSA Performance Matmut squad.
iRacing.com today announced plans to add the Ruf RT12R to its lineup of virtual race cars and high performance automobiles. Manufactured by Ruf Automobile GmbH, the RT12R is among the world’s very fastest production automobiles.
iRacing.com, the world’s foremost online motorsport simulation service, today announced plans to add the RUF RT12R to its lineup of virtual race cars and high performance automobiles.
Manufactured by RUF AutomobileGmbH, the RT12R is among the world’s very fastest production automobiles.
“We’re excited to offer the RUF RT12R to iRacers around the world,” says Steve Myers, Executive Vice President and Producer, iRacing.com Motorsport Simulation, LLC.
“We’re proud of the assortment of virtual race cars we have available, but iRacers have made it clear they also want high-performance, exotic automobiles in our service. The RUF RT12R certainly fits the bill. It’s a superb piece of automotive sculpture, with performance that is nothing short of breathtaking.”
At the heart of the RUF’s performance is a 3.8 liter, twin-turbo, flat six engine producing 730 horsepower and nearly 700 lb/ft of torque. Coupled with a six speed transmission, the RT12R has a top speed of 230 mph.
“RUF is pleased to partner with iRacing.com in building a digital version of the RT12R,” said Estonia Ruf, Director of Marketing, RUF Automobile GmbH.
“For more than 70 years RUF has been recognized for the craftsmanship and cutting-edge engineering that goes into all of our automobiles. Although it is a young company, comparatively speaking, iRacing clearly shares those core values of craftsmanship and engineering excellence.”
iRacing vehicle dynamic engineers will begin the process of creating a digital prototype of the RT12R later this spring.
When completed, the prototype will undergo a rigorous testing and development process in order to insure the virtual RUF drives just like the real one.
iRacing expects to make its RUF RT12R available to iRacing members in the fall of 2012.
Stuttgart. For summer, Porsche Design is presenting interchangeable lenses in new color variants for the legendary P’8478 sunglasses. As of now, as well as the six classic shades of brown, light blue silver mirrored, grey gradient silver mirrored, green, dark orange silver mirrored and olive silver mirrored three more exclusive colorways – sulfur (yellow), steel blue (blue)and raspberry (red) – are available.
Porsche Design P'8478 Sulfur
A sought-after style icon, P’8478 sunglasses were Porsche Design’s first ever eyewear and today they are still one of the most successful models.
The design of this classic item has remained unchanged since 1978, the only difference being the use of ultra-light titanium to bring the P’8478 up to the technical state-of-the-art of the 21st century.
Porsche Design P'8478 Steel Blue
The revolutionary feature of these sunglasses was – and is – their innovative interchangeable lens mechanism which enables them to be adapted to various sight requirements and light conditions.
Thus the trendy aviator sunglasses not only stand for a sense of style; their appeal lies in their intelligent functionality.
Available in four sizes (S, M, L und XL), the P’8478 has become the ultimate classic, enhancing every shape of face.
In 1978 the sunglasses with the innovative interchangeable lens mechanism were not only the first glasses to be made by Porsche Design, but were also the luxury brand’s first contribution to the fashion world.
With the new color variants for interchangeable lenses in:
sulfur (yellow)
P'8478 Interchangeable Lens Sulfur
steel blue (blue)
P'8478 Interchangeable Lens Steel Blue
and raspberry (red)
P'8478 Interchangeable Lens Raspberry
Porsche Design again establishes a trend matching the height of contemporary fashion. The enlarged range of lenses is obtainable in four sizes, corresponding to the four available frame sizes (S, M, L and XL).
As of now, the new summer shades for the Porsche Design P’8478 sunglasses are
available exclusively from Porsche Design stores throughout the world, and from the
Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a special focus on technically-inspired products. The brand Porsche Design was founded in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The products are the embodiment of functionality, timelessness and purist design. They impress by the technical innovations they incorporate.
The product portfolio includes watches, sunglasses, luggage, a sport and fashion collection, electronic products, and a line of fragrances for men. All products of the brand are designed at the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria, and are sold worldwide in the company’s own stores, in franchise stores, shop-in-shops, high-end department stores and exclusive specialist retailers.
Production of the most anticipated Porsche starts at the company’s Stuttgart plant on Sept. 18, 2013 with only 918 units to be produced. Porsche will start selling the car for a starting price tag of $845,000 and the first customer cars will begin arriving in the United States near the end of 2013.
That’s quite a bit time. But before all that happens, Porsche decided to give a select few a first ride in a very early prototype for the 918 Spyder.
A ride in a 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder prototype, the only one in the world at a remote test track, a gaggle of Porsche engineers are at work, surrounded by all sorts of data-logging equipment. And there, in the middle of it all, is the 918.
The first ever Porsche 918 Spyder to run under its own means is nothing more than a rolling chassis pieced together so engineers can test its gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain.
Partly covered in modified Porsche 911 body panels and flaunting outrageous exhaust pipes that sprout up from the engine bay at the rear (a feature we’re assured will be retained for production), it is a long way from the 918 Spyder concept that basked in the spotlight at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
“The production version will be very similar to the concept car in overall appearance,” Frank Walliser, chief engineer for the 918 program.
“There will be some changes, like these tailpipes. This is really just a systems mule that we’re using to sort the various gasoline-electric hybrid components and its electronics package before we begin construction of road-going prototypes back in Weissach (Porsche’s research and development center in Germany).”
As we know the Porsche 918 Spyder by now. Mere months after its unveiling, Porsche confirmed it would put the supercar into production as a successor to the celebrated Carrera GT, starting on September 18, 2013.
Just 918 examples are planned, each running down a dedicated line that is being established in a former paint shop at the car maker’s Zuffenhausen headquarters in Germany. It is the same factory that builds the latest Boxster and 911 — a holy grail to true Porsche fans, no less.
Waking Up the Engine
The Porsche engineers make some adjustments to the prototype’s electronics, which are housed in a makeshift aluminum box strapped to an area that will eventually be occupied by the production car’s rear spoiler. Walliser’s boss, Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche’s chief of research and development, slides down into the driver seat and twists a key in the left-hand-mounted ignition. Odd whirring sounds rise up from underneath before the gasoline engine catches and fills the garage with a deep pulsating blare of exhaust from those prominent tailpipes.
The centerpiece of the new Porsche is its mid-rear-mounted V8 gasoline engine, seated on traditional rubber mounts (rather than the hydraulic mounts used on the 911) within a carbon-fiber cradle that is attached to the back of the main tub by six prominent mounting points.
Similar to the 90-degree V8 used in the Porsche RS Spyder successfully campaigned in the American Le Mans series between 2005 and 2008, the engine has gained 1.2 liters of displacement, going from 3.4 liters in race trim up to 4.6 liters in this application.
Walliser describes the engine as “entirely new,” noting that it features an all-new crankcase, cylinder head design and low-reciprocating-mass internals, plus that radical exhaust system that sees two pipes exit just behind the integral carbon-fiber roll hoops. The point of this arrangement is to keep hot exhaust gases well away from the car’s heat-sensitive battery pack mounted down low directly behind the tub.
Let’s Talk About the Numbers
The revamped V8 has been tuned to rev to a dizzying 9,200 rpm (though in its current state of tune, it has a lower redline), and owing to its racing gene, Walliser promises it will deliver the same razor-sharp throttle response as the Carrera GT’s 5.7-liter V10. Porsche engineers tell us the V8 makes about 562 horsepower.
But the 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder is a hybrid, remember, so it also has a pair of synchronous electric motors — one mounted up front acting exclusively on the front wheels with 107 hp, and a second, 121-hp motor attached to the rear of the gasoline engine providing drive to the rear wheels. We’re told total system power will be in the neighborhood of 759 hp, with 568 pound-feet of torque.
Barely containing his delight at finally getting to show off the 918 Spyder to someone other than an engineer, Hatz gingerly guides the prototype out of the garage. After prodding the throttle a couple times to release some heat into the engine and its peripheries, he speeds off into the distance. We scramble back into the Multivan and catch up with the prototype at the end of an immense test track. The engineering team has spent the 10 days here at the track methodically running through the first systems test of the new car.
This car will offer five driving modes. There’s “e power” for all-electric operation, a “hybrid” mode that allows either electric or gasoline operation, followed by “sport hybrid,” which is the first of three performance-oriented gasoline-electric modes. Beyond that, “race hybrid” calls up even further levels of performance, while “hot lap” unleashes all the battery’s remaining power for short periods of what Walliser describes as overboost.
How Quick Is It?
Nothing is official just yet, but Porsche is aiming for a curb weight around 1,700 kg (3,747 pounds), with 0-62-mph acceleration in less than 3 seconds.
Officials also hint at a 0-124-mph time of less than 9 seconds and zero to 186 mph in less than 27 seconds — quicker than the Carrera GT. Top speed, achieved with the help of a series of active aerodynamic functions including diffuser elements behind the front wheels and a multistage rear wing that extends to a maximum height of 4.7 inches, is pegged at 202 mph
The Chassis
The 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder prototype rides on a unique chassis made almost entirely from cast-aluminum components. The suspension is a combination of double wishbones at the front and a multilink setup in back, but unlike the system on the Carrera GT, which used a racecarlike pushrod system attached to the unit-body, the 918 has conventional springs and dampers sited outboard near the center-lock-style wheels, which measure 20 inches up front and 21 inches in the rear and are wrapped in 265/35R20 and 325/35R21 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup rubber.
Computer simulations suggest the production car will be capable of generating up to a 1.4g on the skid pad (though that’s a maximum figure, rather than the average lateral acceleration we customarily report). He also drops a Nurburgring claim: Porsche is targeting 7 minutes, 22 seconds on the Nordschleife — still well short of the Dodge Viper’s 7:12, but moving nonetheless.
Even in early prototype form, the 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder is hugely impressive. There’s still a long way to go — another 18 months of intensive development, no less. But as our ride comes to an end, we’re struck by just how far Porsche’s engineering team has come during just 10 days of development work on the rolling chassis.
evo’s Editorial Director and Founder Harry Metcalfe has a look at the future of the supercar.
From Top Gear: The performance headlines are this. Acceleration from 0-62mph in ‘less than three’ seconds. Zero to 125mph in a time that almost matches a Bugatti Veyron. And a Nürburgring lap time (so far verified only on Porsche’s supernaturally accurate simulators), of 7.22. That’s 10 seconds faster than the old Carrera GT, and 10 seconds.
From AutoWeek: As if that’s not enough, Porsche also says its new supercar will boast a combined city/highway fuel-consumption figure of more than 78.4 mpg (U.S.) on the current European cycle. By comparison, the Carrera GT returned just 13.2 mpg (U.S.) under the same test procedure.
From Wired: Porsche pulled a variant of the 4.6-liter V8 originally fitted to the three-time ALMS LMP2 Championship-winning RS Spyder. That engine put out a comparatively paltry 503 horsepower, but fitted to the 918, output is up to 570 hp. That figure is before you account for the 918′s two electric motors, and it’s also where the similarities to past supercars ends.
Porsche Everyday Dedeporsches Blog 