Porsche secures vice-championship with second place

Stuttgart. A strong season finale for Porsche in the American Le Mans Series: At the thrilling 1,000 mile Petit Le Mans race in Road Atlanta, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Patrick Long (USA) and Patrick Pilet (France) snatched second place in a heart-stopping final. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, the trio were a mere six seconds shy of a GT class victory after more than nine and a half hours packed with tough fights for positions and many changes at the lead. Their second position secured the vice-championship for Porsche in the race series featuring the world’s fastest sports cars.

On the time-honoured circuit in the US state of Georgia, Joerg Bergmeister again showed nerves of steel, waiting until the penultimate lap before making his decisive move on the BMW in front of him. “In my last stint I speculated that I would be able to snatch the BMW,” said the five-time Road Atlanta winner. “I used the traffic after the safety car phase, took a risk and overtook him on the outside through Turn six. I’m pleased that I secured the decisive points to win the tyre manufacturers’ classification for Michelin.”

His teammates Patrick Long and Patrick Pilet had laid the foundation for this success with their faultless performances. “It was a fantastic experience to contest the Petit Le Mans for Flying Lizard Motorsports,” said Patrick Pilet. “Over the course of the race the balance of our car became better and better and towards the end it was virtually perfect. I’m totally happy.” Patrick Long added: “We stuck to our plan and kept out of any trouble so that we could attack in the last ten laps. This plan worked.”

Another decisive factor in this good result aside from the strong performance of the drivers was the perfect work of the pit crew. “The entire Flying Lizard squad did a tremendous job. Every single pit stop was incredible,” commented Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “Through their excellent effort, the team compensated very well for the handicap from the Balance of Performance measures that were again in place here. In a sensational push at the end, Joerg Bergmeister secured second place and this gave our partner Michelin the tyre manufacturers’ title. Well done to all those who contributed to this success.”

Rounding off the excellent team result for Porsche at the 1,000 mile classic was Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) and his teammates Bryan Sellers (USA) and Martin Ragginger (Austria). Driving the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Falken Tire, they brought home fifth place. “I’m very pleased with this,” said Wolf Henzler, winner of the races in Mid-Ohio and Baltimore together with Bryan Sellers. “We drove a controlled race and didn’t take any unnecessary risks. I can look back on a good season with two victories to our credit. That was more than we had expected.” His factory pilot colleague Marco Holzer (Germany) and his American teammates Seth Neiman und Darren Law saw the flag in eighth place in the second Flying-Lizard Porsche.

Victory in the GTC class went to Porsche Supercup pilots Jeroen and Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (Netherlands) together with American Tim Pappas, who won the title. Petit Le Mans, which counts as a round of the GTE Am class of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, brought no luck for Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria): With the Proton Competition-run Porsche 911 GT3 RSR he lay in the lead, but had to retire after 163 laps with a damaged drive system.

Statistics: 9th and final race in Road Atlanta, Georgia

Result GT class
1. Fisichella/Bruni/Kaffer (I/I/D), Ferrari F458 Italia, 367 laps
2. Bergmeister/Long/Pilet (D/USA/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 367
3. Werner/Auberlen/Farfus (D/USA/BRA), BMW M3 GT, 367
4. Magnussen/Gavin/Westbrook (DK/GB/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 366
5. Henzler/Sellers/Ragginger (D/USA/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 365
6. Sharp/van Overbeek/Farnbacher (USA/USA/D), Ferrari F458 Italia, 365
8. Holzer/Neiman/Law (D/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 361
11. Maassen/Miller/Collard (D/USA/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 357

Result GTC class
1. J./S. Bleekemolen/Pappas (NL/NL/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 346 laps
2. Sweedler/Keen/Wong (USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 346
3. Pumpelly/Ende/Ludwig (USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 345

Final standings GT class
Drivers
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 161 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 135
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 129
4. Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 102
5. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 97
6. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 83

Manufacturers
1. BMW, 180 points
2. Porsche, 162
3. Chevrolet, 139
4. Ferrari, 127

Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 180 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 139
3. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 115
4. Team Falken Tire, Porsche, 97

Fifth grid spot for fastest Porsche

Stuttgart. With his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Joerg Bergmeister takes up the 1,000 mile race in Road Atlanta on Saturday from position five on the grid. In qualifying for Petit Le Mans, the final round of the American Le Mans Series, the Porsche works driver from Germany was only eight-tenths of a second shy of the top GT-class time on the storied circuit in the US state of Georgia. In the race, the five-time Road Atlanta winner shares driving duties in the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche with his factory pilot colleagues Patrick Long (USA) and Patrick Pilet (France).

“We are actually in a better position ahead of the Corvettes than we expected,” said Joerg Bergmeister, who is the reigning GT champion of the American Le Mans Series with Patrick Long. “That was the fastest lap that we’ve ever driven in Road Atlanta. I’m not surprised that the BMWs are faster than us here because at this race, which also counts towards the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the Balance of Performance rules from Europe apply and this means an even greater power handicap for us. But I hope that we’re more up with the play during the race than we were in qualifying. Then anything is possible.”

Bryan Sellers (USA) posted the twelfth quickest time at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Falken Tire squad, which he shares with Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany), the winner of Mid-Ohio and Baltimore. For the race they receive support from Martin Ragginger (Austria). American Darren Law, teammate of Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany) and Seth Neiman (USA) in the second Flying-Lizard Porsche, secured the 14th grid spot.

In the GTE Am class of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Porsche works pilot Richard Lietz clinched the third quickest time with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Proton Competition. “That was a decent lap. Aside from a little understeer it was actually perfect,” said the Austrian who joins forces with Christian Ried (Germany) and Mark Bullitt (USA). “This track reminds me more of the Petit Nordschleife than the Petit Le Mans. It’s my first time here but my teammates and I have almost ten hours to familiarise ourselves with the circuit.”

The 1,000 mile race starts on Saturday at 11.30 hrs local time (17.30 hrs CEST) and is broadcast live in the internet on www.americanlemans.com.

Qualifying result

GT class
1. Gianmaria Bruni (I), Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:18.669 minutes
2. Dirk Werner (D), BMW M3 GT, + 0.087 seconds
3. Jörg Müller (D), BMW M3 GT, + 0.520
4. Jaime Melo (BRA), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.548
5. Jörg Bergmeister (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.812
6. Johannes van Overbeek (USA), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.820
12. Bryan Sellers (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 2.078
14. Darren Law (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 2.391
16. Sascha Maassen (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 2.878

GTE Am class
1. Rui Aguas (P), Ferrari F430, 1:20.619 minutes
2. Niclas Jönsson (S), Ferrari F430, + 0.261 seconds
3. Richard Lietz (A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.278

GTC class
1. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:24.543 minutes

Porsche teams claim podium spots, win and championship

Stuttgart. That was close. Just 0.183 seconds separated Porsche’s works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) in the 911 GT3 RSR from their first win of the season. At the final round of the Le Mans Series, the title defenders celebrated their best result of the year clinching second at Estoril in the GTE Pro sports car category. Factory pilots Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France) were delighted with their best result of the season in third place. And there was wild elation in the GTE Am class in which just one professional driver may compete per vehicle. Frenchmen Nicolas Armindo and Raymond Narac crowned their season with another victory with the 2010-spec 911 GT3 RSR, and took home the drivers’ championship title.

“It was a really great race,” said Marc Lieb. “As expected, there was a very close fight between us and Ferrari. Our 911 remained consistent over the entire six hours. Richard, the team and I gave our very best. We fought to the flag. During the last pit stop, Richard experienced a bit of bad luck when he encountered traffic. That cost us the decisive seconds and handed the lead to the Ferrari.”

Taking up the race from fourth, Richard Lietz managed to move into second position after almost an hour. Lap for lap, Lieb and Lietz then reeled in the front-runner. It was Lietz who finally closed the gap during his second stint – and the Felbermayr-Proton pit crew played their hand in the success: Their eight-second faster pit stop catapulted Lieb into the lead with the 911 GT3 RSR. Trying to defend this, however, was no easy task. Lieb could fend off his pursuers, but not really shake them. The Felbermayr-Proton squad’s last pit stop also worked perfectly, but back on the track Lietz hit traffic – and the Ferrari snatched back the lead. Although Lietz stuck like glue to the bumper of the leader he wasn’t able to overtake on the narrow circuit. “The last phase was sensational,” Richard Lietz said. “In the last lap we were panel to panel twice and touched several times. But there was no way I could pass without crossing the line of fairness. When you have victory in sight and are beaten by such a close margin, well, your joy over second place is somewhat overshadowed.” After winning the drivers’ championship in the last two years, the pair finished the season in third.

For works drivers Wolf Henzler and Patrick Pilet, who contest the GTE-Pro class for the IMSA Performance Matmut team, the race was no less exciting. Start driver Pilet took an early lead before having to relinquish it after five laps. Suffering problems with the nut gun at two pit stops, the German/French duo fell back to third place. “Holding on to third took a huge effort,” said both Henzler and Pilet. “We tried out all variations of set-up possibilities,” explained Henzler. “But we simply didn’t manage to find a decent balance. With fresh tyres we could easily hold the pace, but after a couple of laps the 911 become difficult to drive. And we lost a lot of time in the pits. This is something we have to work on.” Pilet added: “But this makes it all the more wonderful that, despite everything, we claimed out first podium result. We’re happy.”

For IMSA Performance Matmut, there were two reasons to celebrate at the finale. Aside from third place for the GTE Pro pilots, there were joyous celebrations over the race victory and win of the championship title in the GTE Am class. This marks the first international title for the team based in the northern French town of Rouen. The reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, Nicolas Armindo, and team owner and amateur racer Raymond Narac, yielded the brilliant balance of four wins from five races. As stipulated by the regulations, the pair competed with the 2010 version of the 911 GT3 RSR. The squad also secured the team championship title which serves as an entrance ticket to the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2012. “I simply can’t express how happy I am,” said Armindo with a wide grin. “At the beginning of the season everything was new for me. But thanks to my team I quickly found my feet in this new environment and it didn’t take me long at all to get familiar with the 911 GT3 RSR. It makes me proud that in my first year of LMS I can contribute to bringing home the championship trophy for this warm and wonderful team.”

Felbermayr-Proton team owner Christian Ried (Germany) and Austria’s Horst Felbermayr Junior were also pleased. The winners of the season-opener in Le Castellet concluded the year with a podium result in the GTE Am class.

For the third Porsche team contesting the GTE-Pro class with works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) and Marc Goossens (Belgium), the race came to a premature end in lap one when an opponent crashed into the right front wheel of their ProSpeed Competition 911 – broke the steering gear and knocked them out of contention. “It is such a shame that the season ends like this,” said Marco Holzer. “We’d qualified a decent fourth yesterday and thought our chances for second in the GTE Pro classification looked good. Unfortunately the overzealous move of a competitor robbed us of this chance. For our team, who had worked so incredibly hard, this was a particularly bitter conclusion to the year.”

Statistics: 5th of 5 rounds of the Le Mans Series in Estoril/Portugal

Result GTE Pro class
1. Bell/Walker (GB/GB), Ferrari F458 Italia, 209 laps
2. Lieb/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 0.183 seconds behind
3. Henzler/Pilet (D/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 207
4. Melo/Vilander (BR/FIN), Ferrari F458 Italia, 206
5. Hancock/Dolan (GB/GB), Aston Martin Vantage, 204
6. Rodrigues/Ballay/Ayari (P/F/F), Ferrari F458 Italia, 197
7. Farnbacher/Simonsen (D/DK), Ferrari F458 Italia, 99

Result GTE Am class
1. Armindo/Narac (F/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 205 laps
2. Hummel/Christodoulou/Quaife (NL/GB/GB), Ferrari F430, 203
3. Ried/Felbermayr Jr. (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 202

Porsche teams keen to stay on course at finale

Stuttgart. The title defenders are back: With the first victory of the season under their belts, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) travel with optimism to the final round of the American Le Mans Series on 1 October on the time-honoured Road Atlanta circuit. At the 1,000 mile classic in the US State of Georgia, the Laguna Seca winners aim to conclude the season with another success with their Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. One of their strongest rivals comes from their own camp: Porsche factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany) has already notched up two victories so far this season from Mid-Ohio and Baltimore.

The race

Petit Le Mans, which takes off during the day and finishes at night, is traditionally one of the season’s highlights. It has been a permanent fixture on the American Le Mans Series calendar since the championship’s foundation in 1999. This year, it also counts towards the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

The circuit

It was on this challenging 4.087 kilometre race track near Braselton that the success story of the American Le Mans Series began back in 1999. With its twelve corners, Road Atlanta is one of the most venerable and challenging circuits in the United States.

The Porsche drivers

Tackling the GT class with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports are Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Patrick Long (USA) and Marc Lieb (Germany). Wolf Henzler, their factory pilot colleague from Falken Tire, shares driving duties with Bryan Sellers (USA) and Martin Ragginger (Austria). In the second Flying Lizard Porsche, works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) teams up with Americans Seth Neiman and Darren Law. Sascha Maassen (Germany) joins forces with Bryce Miller (USA) in Paul Miller Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Richard Lietz (Austria), as the sixth factory driver for Porsche, contests the GTE Am class of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for the Proton Competition squad, with Germany’s Christian Ried and Porsche Cup winner Gianluca Roda from Italy.

Quotes before the race

Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of Motorsport: “With three wins from four races, our drivers have impressively demonstrated the potential of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR against strong competition. The way Wolf Henzler won in the rain at Mid-Ohio and then Joerg Bergmeister in the dramatic closing laps at Laguna Seca – now that was some of the best action fans have witnessed in the American Le Mans Series this year. This makes them hungry for more. However, the character of the Road Atlanta course and the additional race cars contesting the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup make it difficult to judge how things will go.”
Joerg Bergmeister: “Our luck finally changed in Laguna Seca. Our first victory this season is just the right boost we need for Road Atlanta. We will do everything in our power to try and win this classic on one of America’s most beautiful race tracks. In the past it has always worked in our favour.”
Patrick Long: “Road Atlanta is a very picturesque, but extremely difficult race track. It demands a lot from drivers, and that’s what makes it one of the greatest challenges in the American Le Mans Series.”
Marc Lieb: “I can’t wait to drive in the USA again and hope that we can wind up the season with another good result at Road Atlanta. A 1,000 mile race is somewhat of a very special format – and it’s great fun.”
Wolf Henzler: “I hope we can finish well after our retirement in Laguna Seca. One of the many characteristics in Road Atlanta is the temperature differences: When we take off at midday the temperatures are predominantly warm, but when the sun goes down it becomes markedly cooler. That requires a great deal of skill and also a little bit of luck in the choice of tyres.”
Marco Holzer: “I was given the chance to gain crucial experience on many tracks that were new for me this year. Now I’m looking forward to racing on a track I’m familiar with. Road Atlanta is a fascinating venue.”
Richard Lietz: “I’m looking forward to my first race in Road Atlanta. We started the season with second place in Sebring and now we’re pinning our hopes on a good result at the second US race of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. It won’t be easy because there are many good teams competing, but we’ll do our best.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The most successful GT race car of the last years took off into the season with a raft of improvements. The output of the four-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine was increased to 455 hp (335 kW). Priority in the development of the car was given to the newly designed aerodynamics at the front and rear. In 2010, the 911 GT3 RSR again won the environmental “Michelin Green X Challenge” classification as the GT vehicle with the best overall efficiency in the American Le Mans Series.

Porsche successes

Porsche, as the most successful manufacturer at Road Atlanta, has collected nine GT victories since 1999. And Joerg Bergmeister is one of the most successful drivers: From 2003 to 2007 he set the benchmark with five victories in a row. He clinched two of these wins with Patrick Long in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Moreover, with the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype, developed and built in Weissach, Porsche celebrated three straight victories in the LMP2 class from 2006 to 2009.

The schedule

The 1,000 mile race in Road Atlanta starts on Saturday, 1 October, at 11.30 hrs local time (17.30 hrs CEST) and is broadcast live on www.americanlemans.com. The GT qualifying can be seen on www.porsche.com/alms-live on Friday from 20.55 hrs CEST.

Porsche sets new standards with ecological production processes

Stuttgart. The opening of the new paint shop marks a new milestone for Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, in the modernisation of its traditional Zuffenhausen location. The innovative plant, organised on ecological lines, was officially commissioned today in the presence of the Baden-Württemberg Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Supervisory Board Chairman, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, accompanied by numerous guests.

The new workshop area, which was completed on time to coincide with the beginning of production of the new Porsche 911, is where the body shells are painted inside and out in the desired colour using cutting-edge technology. This takes place in a totally dust-free environment – thanks to the plant being completely enclosed. At the same time, a new electrostatic paint droplet removal system and a wet-chemical exhaust air purification plant cut solvent and particulate emissions to a minimum. That means that Porsche can dispense with the otherwise obligatory 60 metre high paint exhaust air collecting stack on the new building. What is more, the very efficient operation, with 70 per cent air recirculation, makes for especially economical energy consumption. The environmentally-friendly technology enables Porsche to undershoot the statutory limits by orders of magnitude.

“The new paint shop is typically Porsche: As is so often the case, we are pushing back the previously prevailing technological boundaries, breaking new scientific ground and pioneering inventions that subsequently serve the common good”, said Matthias Müller, Porsche AG’s Chairman of the Board of Management. But at the same time he sounded a reminder of the challenge involved in operating and maintaining over the long-term a sustainable industry in a densely populated area such as Zuffenhausen: “What Porsche is doing here is reconciling economy and ecology, creating leading-edge jobs for specialist experts, thereby bolstering this world-famous location over the long-term.”

The 192 metre long and 52 metre wide paint shop building is where the body shells of the Porsche 911 and Boxster/Cayman model lines receive their anti-corrosion protection, are painted and surface-sealed in a multistage process. This is performed precisely in sync with the sports car production process as a whole. The plant makes Porsche even more efficient, increases the premium car manufacturer’s flexibility and underpins the achievement of the high quality standards the company sets itself.

In building the plant, in which approximately 200 million euro were invested, Porsche called on internationally acknowledged specialists, also located in Baden-Württemberg, renowned for its automotive industry. These include the Stuttgart-based machinery and plant engineering group Dürr AG. As the prime contractor, it equipped the paint lines with ultramodern application technology, dryers for hardening the paint as well as control and conveyor technology. Böblingen-based system supplier Eisenmann provided the pre-treatment system and the cathodic dip-coating plant, together with new conveyor technology and the electrostatic paint droplet removal system.

Baden-Württemberg‘s Minister President Winfried Kretschmann paid tribute to Porsche AG’s commitment at the inaugural ceremony: “It is our goal to promote sustainability while at the same time ensuring that the domestic economy remains internationally competitive at a high technological level. Porsche is on the right track in this regard. The new paint shop complies with stringent ecological standards and is the fruit of collaboration between companies here in Baden-Württemberg. On the one hand, industry in this state is underlining its capacity for innovation. On the other hand, industry is demonstrating that high technological standards and the goal of protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive.”

Stuttgart’s Lord Mayor Dr. Wolfgang Schuster emphasised the development of the headquarters location: “The fact that Porsche is investing a lot of money in a new paint shop enhances Stuttgart as a location and is at the same time a statement of faith in Stuttgart, where the Porsche success story began. The company is already present in numerous locations throughout Stuttgart and its engagement is exemplary. As a city, we wish to support Porsche if, for example, the company is thinking about expanding its location.”

Uwe Hück, Chairman of the Group Works Council, saw long-term prospects and an additional source of motivation for the workforce: “The new paint shop is proof that co-determination in Germany works. It is precisely the top-quality craftsmanship of our colleagues that contributes to Porsche’s long-term success. They require the best tools for the job – such as this paint shop. This is how we can not just secure jobs in Zuffenhausen but create even more of them.”

“Colección Goméz”

Stuttgart. The Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, museum is paying tribute to 24 very special works of art with a new special exhibition. The exhibits in question, which will be on public display from 20 September 2011 until 8 January 2012 are paintings from South America. However, instead of resorting to conventional art materials, Porsche 911 GT2 sports car bonnets have been pressed into service as a “canvass”. The project is the brainchild of Argentinian Jorge Gómez. As both art lover and big fan of the Porsche brand, he came up with the idea of simply combining his two biggest passions, linking two fascinating art forms in the process.

19 important artists from Uruguay and Argentina, including for example Pablo Atchugarry, Rogelio Polesello and Jorge Ferreyra Basso, accepted Gomez’s invitation to lend Porsche bonnets their very own signature and put a creative twist on them. The work on the skin of a racing car inspired the artists to very different works, offering the beholder a great variety of styles and materials employed – from acrylic to enamel, from mosaic tiles to tire rubber. But from time to time the works of art still fulfil their original purpose as car bonnets, because Gómez occasionally insists on fitting them on his own Porsche 911 GT2 and taking the artworks for a spin. The collection is now making its European debut in the Porsche museum, being exhibited against the impressive backdrop of 23,000 hp.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For further information please visit www.porsche.com/museum.

Nick Tandy extends points’ lead with win

Stuttgart. His lightning start was the key to his victory: From second on the grid, Nick Tandy brought home his third win of the season from the eighth and penultimate round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. With his triumph in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, the Konrad Motorsport pilot from Great Britain extended his lead in Germany’s fastest one-make race series to twelve points heading to the finale. The sole remaining rival for the prestigious title, compatriot Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) salvaged fifth place in a dramatic race under the most difficult conditions and, with this, retained his chance to become champion in five weeks at Hockenheim.

Shortly before the start of the 22-lap sprint, a light drizzle began which then became heavier over the course of the race – making the track extremely slippery. Even for Tandy who had pulled away from the field, this provided some adrenaline-filled moments with minor offs towards the end of the race. When the safety car was deployed shortly before the flag because a car had stranded in a gravel trap, the reigning vice-champion brought home a safe victory behind the safety vehicle.

In second place, the defending champion and current leader of the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, René Rast (Germany), was pleased with the safety car phase. Like Tandy, the Förch-Racing pilot had pulled past pole-sitter Nicki Thiim at the start. Early on, Rast was able to match Tandy’s pace, before gradually losing contact. Luckily, however, he had space behind him. In the final lap, Nicki Thiim trailing Rast saw his chance. On the wet surface, the Dane of Hermes Attempto Racing put in a final spurt making up half a second per lap to catch Rast. For the winner of the Lausitzring race, the arrival of the safety car was mistimed, robbing him of his chance to clinch second place. Third place at his home race in front of a large crowd of Danish fans catapulted Thiim into third overall in the championship.

For Jan Seyffarth as well, Oschersleben is his home race. The vice-champion of the 2008 Carrera Cup was thrilled to achieve his second fourth result after a difficult season. Although the narrow circuit doesn’t offer many chances to overtake, the race was marked with frequent changes of positions between the pilot from SMS Seyffarth Motorsport and reigning champion Nicolas Armindo – a duel that Seyffarth eventually won. Driving for Hermes Attempto Racing, the Frenchman lost what he thought was a secure fifth rank in the final phase through a journey off the track.

Profiting from Armindo’s misfortune was Sean Edwards, who gained a position. The Briton drove a spirited race which saw him and Nicki Thiim swap places twice in the first laps. With seven laps left to race, the situation for the Deutsche Post pilot became dramatic: When Edwards scraped his front spoiler off on a track kerb, he rose to the challenge to clock the same lap times as his competitors on a damp track. Finishing in fifth, Edwards limited the damage for his title bid.

Armindo saw the flag in sixth, followed closely by Poland’s Robert Lukas (Förch Racing) in seventh and Robert Renauer (Germany), who competed as a guest starter for the Deutsche Post by tolimit team in Oschersleben, in eighth. The final top ten spots went to Spielberg winner Jaap van Lagen (Netherlands, Land Motorsport) and Hannes Plesse (Germany), who replaced Schnabl Engineering’s regular pilot Martin Ragginger.

On 23 September, TV station Sport1 broadcasts a race review, interviews and reports from 17.05 to 17.35 hours in its ‘Carrera Cup Magazin’.

Nick Tandy (winner): “Super! But it’s not over yet. A twelve-point advantage is of course good. This was one of the most difficult races this year. With each lap, the track became more and more damp and slippery – and I was in the lead so the others could just watch what happened to me. I left the track a couple of times but there was no need to panic. I’d managed to build up a gap early on from which I later profited.”

René Rast (second): “I’m pleased with second place. Nicki’s start wasn’t that great, so Nick and I managed to get past him. Early on I could keep up with Tandy because he kept making small mistakes, but then he pulled away. In the end the rain was so heavy that it was the right decision to bring out the safety car.”

Nicki Thiim (third): “It was an eventful and very tough race. Unfortunately I messed up my start. The conditions were very difficult, you had to use all the tricks of the trade. I found it annoying that the safety car came out, otherwise I could have taken René and maybe even Nick. We’re sitting third in the championship, and after a year’s break that’s pretty good.”

Race result Oschersleben
1. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, 37:19.587 minutes (130.704 km/h)
2. René Rast (D), Förch Racing, + 1.265 seconds
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 1.565
4. Jan Seyffarth (D), SMS Seyffarth Motorsport, + 2.208
5. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 2.426
6. Nicolas Armindo (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 3.925
7. Robert Lukas (PL), Förch Racing, + 4.513
8. Robert Renauer (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 5.404
9. Jaap van Lagen (NL), Land Motorsport, + 6.445
10. Hannes Plesse (D), Schnabl Engineering, + 7.734

Drivers’ classification after 8 of 9 races
1. Nick Tandy (GB), 122 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 110
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), 85
4. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 84
5. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 81
6. René Rast (D), 75

Team classification after 8 of 9 races
1. Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 177 points
2. Konrad Motorsport, 147
3. Hermes Attempto Racing, 112

Preview to the final of nine rounds in Hockenheim

Like last season, the title decision has to wait until the final in Hockenheim on 23 October. The question is: Tandy or Edwards. With a twelve-point advantage, Nick Tandy holds the better cards. The winner of the season-opener had led the championship until the Carrera World Cup. There he relinquished the lead to Sean Edwards who then further extended it with his first Carrera Cup win on the Norisring. Exceptionally bad luck at round seven with tyre damage robbed Edwards of victory and catapulted Tandy back to the top.

The two title favourites, however, have unpleasant memories of last year’s finale on the 4.574 kilometre Hockenheim circuit. They collided in the first lap and retired. For Tandy as five-time winner that season and title aspirant, this was particularly bitter because fifth place was enough for Frenchman Nicolas Armindo (Hermes Attempto Racing) to secure the championship.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – efficiency yields success

Stuttgart. It beat them all – on the track and at the gas pump. At its first outing on the West Coast of the USA, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid beat all other GT vehicles in Laguna Seca. With Porsche works drivers Romain Dumas (France) and Richard Lietz (Austria) at the wheel, it turned the fastest race lap on the challenging course in Monterey/California and conquered the six hour distance with just three pit stops, while its fastest opponents in the GT class had to stop five times: An impressive demonstration of Porsche Intelligent Performance.

Porsche’s strong performance at the riveting eighth round of the American Le Mans Series was rounded off by Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA): With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the title defenders won the GT class in a photo finish final and secured their first win of the season featuring the world’s fastest sports cars. For Porsche, this marked victory number three after Mid-Ohio and Baltimore.

Interest from the fans for the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid was enormous in California, as well. And the way the innovative sports car from Weissach – which started from the rear of the grid and was not eligible for points – chased through the field in just a few laps to snatch the lead caused a sensation in the grandstands. The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid convinced with its consistently fast lap times and low fuel consumption and finished ahead of all other GT vehicles thanks to its ground-breaking drive concept.

“The start phase was huge fun, because it was relatively easy to overtake the slower competitors,” said Romain Dumas. “But it’s even more fun because we can apply superior tactics thanks to the lower fuel consumption. We are much more flexible and we made the most of this today.” Richard Lietz stated: “We had the least pit stops of all the teams and showed clearly what the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid can do. We didn’t experience one technical problem and left all the other GT vehicles behind us. Our expectations have been far exceeded.”

Thrills and spills also characterised the fight for victory in the fiercely-contested GT class as always. Spectacular tussles for positions on the track and in the pits as well as frequent changes at the lead were played out over the entire race – and in the last two hours, long after darkness had fallen on the Laguna Seca Raceway, events began to heat up: In the penultimate lap, Joerg Bergmeister squeezed past a BMW into second place with his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports. But the most successful GT pilot in the American Le Mans Series wasn’t yet finished. He wanted victory – and in the final lap he pushed fast the leading Ferrari.

“That was our first win this season. We did it at last and it was high time for that,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “We didn’t have the fastest car in the field today, but we fought to the flag. That paid off. To go from third to first in the last laps – you don’t experience this every day in such a strongly-supported series.” Patrick Long added: “Joerg won the race today. Our tactic was to keep out of any squabbles as much as possible and to have the car in one piece at the end to fight for victory. This worked, but the driving style of several competitors was clearly too tough today. It almost cost us the race.”

In the second Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany) joined forces with American Seth Neiman to bring home ninth place. “The track was new for me and has to be one of the most beautiful in the USA. The race was a fantastic experience,” he said. “I’m pleased that we finished well. It was great fun.” Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) saw the flag in tenth with Paul Miller Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

After wins from Mid-Ohio and Baltimore, luck evaded Wolf Henzler in Laguna Seca. The Porsche works driver from Germany had taken over the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR from his teammate Bryan Sellers (USA) and was lying within striking distance of the top when a rival hit his rear shortly before the halfway point of the race. The impact damaged the water pump and put a stop to Falken Tire’s recent run of successes. “Such a retirement is of course hugely disappointing, especially after our wins of the last weeks,” Wolf Henzler said. “Now we have to roll up our sleeves and try to turn the best season for our team so far into a happy ending at Road Atlanta.”

The ninth and final round of the American Le Mans Series takes place on 1 October on the Road Atlanta race track at Braselton, in the US State of Georgia.

At the same time as the penultimate race of the American Le Mans Series, Porsche teams were also fighting for championship honours in the equally as popular Grand-Am Series which held its final race on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington/Ohio. With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by the successful customer team Brumos Racing, which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS sports car, Americans Leh Keen and Andrew Davis secured the title with fourth place. The highlight of the exciting season was the Daytona 24 hour race in Florida, where Porsche kicked off the season with a double victory for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Statistics: 8th race in Laguna Seca, California

Result GT class
1. Bergmeister/Long (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 236 laps
2. Müller/Hand (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 236
3. Melo/Vilander (BRA/SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, 236
4. Sharp/van Overbeek (USA/USA), Ferrari F458 Italia, 236
5. Werner/Auberlen (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 236
6. Magnussen/Gavin (DK/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 236
9. Holzer/Neiman (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 230
10. Maassen/Miller (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 224

Result GTC class
1. Pumpelly/Ende (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 222 laps
2. J. Bleekemolen/Pappas/S. Bleekemolen (NL/USA/NL), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 222
3. Le Saffre/Faulkner (USA/IRL), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 221

Points’ standings GT class
Drivers
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 145 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 110
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 101
4. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 90
5. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 77
6. Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 76

Manufacturers
1. BMW, 145 points
2. Porsche, 132
3. Chevrolet, 114
4. Ferrari, 109

Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 145 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 114
3. Risi Competizione, 90
4. Team Falken Tire, Porsche, 77
5. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 75

 

 

Porsche pilots look forward to time-honoured British circuit

Stuttgart. The tradition-steeped Silverstone race track hosts the fourth and penultimate round of this year’s Le Mans Series. The goal for Porsche works drivers and title defenders Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) is a podium spot in the GTE Pro class. In the GTE Am category, Frenchmen Nicolas Armindo and Raymond Narac aim to defend their lead in the drivers’ standings with the 2010-spec Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The race also counts as the fifth round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

The race
The 1,000 kilometre race on the Grand Prix circuit situated near Birmingham in the British Midlands has been a highlight on the Le Mans Series calendar since 2004. It is the last race before the season final on 25th September in Portugal’s Estoril. Sports car racing has a long heritage on the former airfield. And the enthusiastic British motorsport fans lend a very special atmosphere.

The circuit
After undergoing modifications last year, the circuit now measures 5.891 kilometres. Legendary corners like Copse, Stowe and Brooklands are part of the Silverstone myth that fascinates drivers and fans alike.

The Porsche drivers
Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz (Felbermayr-Proton) are joined by four other Porsche factory drivers in Silverstone. Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France) share driving duties in the cockpit of IMSA Performance Matmut’s 911 GT3 RSR. Their works driver colleague Marco Holzer (Germany) joins forces with Marc Goossens from Belgium for ProSpeed Competition. These driver pairings contest the GTE Pro category with the 2011-version of the 911 GT3 RSR. In the GTE Am sports car class, in which only one professional driver per vehicle is permitted to compete, three other 2010-spec 911 take up the race. In this category, all races have been won by Porsche teams by now. Thanks to their success in Spa-Francorchamps and Imola, Raymond Narac and Nicolas Armindo (IMSA Performance Matmut) travel to Great Britain as leaders of the drivers’ championship. Felbermayr team owner Christian Ried (Germany) and Horst Felbermayr Junior (Austria) also have one victory to their credit from Le Castellet. In the third 911 contesting the GTE Am class, Patrick Long as the sixth Porsche works driver as well as Porsche Cup winner Gianluca Roda (Italy) fight for points in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for their Proton Competition squad.

Quotes before the race
Marc Lieb: “I’ve always enjoyed driving in Silverstone, it’s a great circuit. But after the last modifications, I miss my previous favourite corner ‘Bridge’ which ran under one. A podium result would be great for the team, particularly since the season was anything but easy.”
Richard Lietz: “Silverstone is one of my favourite circuits, most of all the fast combination after the finish straight makes every lap a challenge. I like the whole atmosphere and the British fans. They are always so incredibly well informed. A podium placing will be tough, but that’s our goal.”
Wolf Henzler: “2004 was the last time I drove in Silverstone and I’ve won a Porsche Supercup race there. Since then the track has of course changed, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Our sights are set on the podium. My victory at the ALMS race in Mid-Ohio gives me that extra motivation.”
Marco Holzer: “Last year we concluded the season in Silverstone with a fantastic second place. I really like the new section of the track with its two quick corners and the following slow curve. In fact, I like fast circuits very much and hope we can follow up on our good performance here last year.”
Patrick Pilet: “The many high-speed corners make Silverstone one of my favourites. And now the new section offers several places to overtake. Okay, maybe the track characteristics are not ideal for our 911, but because of its unpredictable weather, anything is possible in Silverstone.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
The most successful GT race car of the 2010 season received some improvements for 2011. The output of the four-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine increased to 455 hp.

Porsche successes
Silverstone is particularly good turf for Porsche. At the seven final races of the Le Mans Series since 2004, Porsche works driver Marc Lieb has celebrated four championship titles in the 911 GT3 RSR – in 2009 and 2010 with Richard Lietz. Moreover, several team titles and the coveted manufacturers’ title of 2010 in the fiercely-contested sports car category went to Porsche. In the LMP2 class, Porsche swept the trophy pool in 2008: This successful season concluded with a double victory for the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype – with titles claimed for driver, team and manufacturer.

The schedule
The six hour race starts on Sunday, 11 September, at 11.35 hours local time (CEST 12.35 hours). Qualifying for the GTE classes takes place on Saturday from 13.35 to 13.55 hours local time.

TV tip
Eurosport broadcasts the start and the initial phase from 12.30 to 14.00 hours CEST live and returns with coverage towards the end of the race (17.45 to 18.30 hrs CEST). In between, Eurosport 2 shows 60 minutes of live coverage in Silverstone from 15.00 hrs.

The Le Mans Series
Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) is open for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations are based on those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. Five six-hour races are contested this season throughout Europe.
GTE Pro class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers (previously known as the GT2 class) is traditionally the best supported: Modified standard sports cars with up to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms.
GTE-Am class: Like the GTE-Pro, but with the 2010-vehicle specifications. Moreover, the regulations stipulate that each vehicle may have just one professional driver.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp, GT-class homologated engines and a 900 kg minimum weight.
FLM class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all five classes. With four title wins in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, Porsche works driver Marc Lieb is the most successful pilot in the series.