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.

Wolf Henzler and Porsche win in front of record crowd

Stuttgart. Successful premiere for Porsche on the new Baltimore city course: In front of a record crowd of 150,000 spectators, Wolf Henzler celebrated his second win of the season at round seven of the American Le Mans Series. Co-driven by his American teammate Bryan Sellers, the German Porsche works driver won the GT class at a gripping two hour race in the US state of Maryland. As the most efficient GT race car in the field, their #17 Porsche also won the environmental Michelin Green X Challenge award.

“The race on this track was great fun. And we were able to prove that we can win even if it’s not wet,” said Wolf Henzler. “Our car was excellently set-up for the race and the Falken Tires didn’t deteriorate at all. That was certainly one of the keys to success. Apart from that I was lucky enough to make it through the turmoil of the first corner right at the start.” Bryan Sellers added: “As always, Wolf drove incredibly well. And for me personally, it was one of my best races. The entire team works very hard and they really earned this success.”

After their victory at the rain race in Mid-Ohio, Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers continued the upward trend of the Falken team in Baltimore. With a good start, which put him within striking distance of the front-runners in the first lap, Wolf Henzler launched a breathtaking chase through the field and grabbed the lead in lap 16 when he overtook the leader on the outside of a right-hand corner. Bryan Sellers, who took the wheel from Henzler after one hour and rejoined the race in third place, put in an impressive performance. Shortly after a caution phase, he moved back into the lead and pulled clear of the field by one lap when the chequered flag came out.

“This race in Baltimore is a fantastic addition to the American Le Mans Series. The spectators were treated to some super motorsport,” said Head of Porsche Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers drove a tactically clever and faultless race. And the Paul Miller Racing squad also performed impressively. Despite intense pressure, Sascha Maassen brought his fourth place safely home.” With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the US customer team, Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) reached the finish ahead of the best-placed Ferrari and rounded off a great weekend for Porsche in the streets of Baltimore. At the same time, it was their best result in the American Le Mans Series by now.

Another Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the top ten of the high-carat starter field was the Flying Lizard Motorsports racer with which Americans Darren Law and Seth Neiman yielded eighth place. Bad luck hit Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA): After a good start, the reigning champions had to pit with a broken drive shaft. This cost them 14 laps to the lead and they finished in eleventh place.

Two-time Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) clinched victory in the GTC class with his American teammate Tim Pappas at the wheel of their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Round 8 of the American Le Mans Series takes off on 17 September in Laguna Seca in the US state of California.

Statistics: 7th race in Baltimore, Maryland

Result class GT
1. Henzler/Sellers (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 71 laps
2. Müller/Hand (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 70
3. Magnussen/Gavin (DK/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 70
4. Maassen/Miller (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 70
5. Werner/Auberlen (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 70
6. Melo/Vilander (BRA/SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, 70
8. Law/Neiman (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 68
11. Bergmeister/Long (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 56

Result GTC class
1. Bleekemolen/Pappas (NL/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 67
2. Sweedler/Keen (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 67
3. Potter/Stanton (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 67

Points’ standings GT class
Drivers
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 124 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 99
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 88
4. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 77
5. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 72
6. Jorrg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 51

Manufacturers
1. BMW, 133 points
2. Porsche, 107
3. Chevrolet, 103
4. Ferrari, 91

Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 133 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 103
3. Team Falken Tire, Porsche, 77
4. Risi Competizione, 72
5. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 60

Porsche 911 GT3 R

Stuttgart. Amongst racing customers all over the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 R is extremely popular for its forgiving handling and basic speed. And it is exactly in this direction that the improvements for the 2012 model year have been targeted. The engine output has increased by 20 hp to now deliver 500 hp (368 kW). Paddle-shifts on the steering wheel ensure gear changes are even quicker and simpler, making it easier for pilots to concentrate on braking. Moreover, the transmission electronics, featuring an automatic throttle blip control, make it almost impossible to miss a gear and over-rev the engine. A softer anti-roll bar on the front axle reduces understeer.

The power increase of the four-litre, six-cylinder flat engine in the rear was achieved through optimisation of the intake system. The gearing of the sequential six-speed dog-type gearbox was adapted to the higher maximum output. In order to bring the power to the tarmac safely and to assist race drivers, the 911 GT3 R has featured a sophisticated ex-works traction control since the 2010 model year. An efficient race-ABS assists braking.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R will be delivered to teams around the world from November 2011. The vehicle costs 304,500 Euro plus the value added tax of respective countries. The Porsche 911 GT3 R from the 2010 and 2011 model years can be upgraded to the 2012-spec. An upgrade kit is available from Porsche Motorsport for 43,100 Euro.

The 911 GT3 R represents the mid-range of Porsche’s customer racing vehicles. The 911 GT3 Cup, as the top-selling race car in the world, serves as the basis. Ranking above the 911 GT3 R is the 911 GT3 RSR, built for GT2 racing, which competes in series like the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series and at the Le Mans 24 hour race.

Porsche’s crowd-puller: The new 911 Carrera

Stuttgart. With the new 911 Carrera, the next completely redeveloped generation of the sports car classic by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, celebrates its world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The sports car icon is stepping into the limelight with its flat, stretched silhouette, exciting contours and precisely designed details, yet from the very first glance it remains unmistakably a 911. True to the 911 tradition, the distinctive Porsche design language with its tendons and muscles exudes power and elegance. The 100 millimetre (3.94 inch) longer wheelbase and reduced height combined with the up to 20-inch wheels underpin the athletic appearance.

Setting the standard in its class, as it has for generations, the new 911 raises the performance and efficiency bar yet again. All Coupés get by with significantly less than ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Fuel consumption and emissions are up to 16 per cent lower compared with its predecessor. The Carrera with the new 350 hp (257 kW) 3.4-litre boxer engine and optional Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) consumes a mere 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres based on the NEDC – 1.6 l/100 km less than its predecessor. Also, at 194 g/km CO2, it is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km mark.

With the Carrera S as well, with its 3.8-litre boxer engine and what is now 400 hp (294 kW), fuel consumption when paired with the optional PDK is reduced by 14 per cent or 1.5 l/100 km to 8.7 l/100 km despite 15 hp (11 kW) more power. That equates to CO2 emissions of 205 g/km.

The all-new, lightweight body is an intelligent aluminium-steel construction. It is responsible for a significant proportion of the weight reduction of up to 45 kilograms. New active control systems elevate driving dynamics to an unprecedented level. The new electro-mechanical power steering offers Porsche’s typical precision and feedback, and also helps to economise on fuel. Moreover, the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission is featured as standard. Additional systems and functions such as auto start/stop, thermal management and electrical system recuperation further enhance the new Carrera’s efficiency.

Also celebrating a world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show is the Panamera Diesel, the long-range cruiser in Porsche’s Gran Turismo stable with an impressive turn of speed. With a range in excess of 1,200 kilometres on a full 80 litre tank, it is a good bet as a distinctly economical GT saloon thanks to its fuel consumption of only 6.3 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres based on the NEDC with optional low-friction tyres. The new Panamera Diesel is powered by a smooth-running, three-litre V6 250 hp (184 kW) engine and a brawny maximum torque of 550 Newton metres. Power transmission is handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission.

With the 911 GT3 RS 4.0, which is making its debut in front of an international public in Frankfurt, one of the most popular, coveted and successful Porsche racing pedigree production cars is entering the home straight. Limited to 600 vehicles, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 brings together in a road car all the attributes that have made the Porsche 911 GT3 a serial winner on the race track. The four-litre displacement sports engine, the largest engine ever used in a production 911, produces 500 hp (368 kW). At 125 hp per litre, the engine is also the most powerful naturally aspirated engine. This propels the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 7:27 minutes.

The Cayman S Black Edition limited to 500 units is also celebrating its debut in Frankfurt. The all-black, mid-engine Coupé boasts even better performance than the Cayman S and offers especially lavish equipment. The Cayman S Black Edition is powered by a 3.4-litre flat-six engine with power output increased by 10 hp to 330 hp (243 kW). The greater power feeds directly through into the two-seater’s performance. The acceleration times from nought to 100 km/h (62 mph) are improved to 5.1 seconds with the six-speed manual transmission and to 5.0 seconds with the optional Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK).

The world premieres are accompanied by two vehicles, which provide impressive proof of the tradition and future of Porsche Intelligent Performance. The Boxster E and the legendary “Semper Vivus”, the world’s first fully-functional, full-hybrid car. The Boxster E, with one electric motor apiece on front and rear axle, runs on purely electric power with four-wheel drive and is equivalent to a Boxster S in terms of driving dynamics. Together with two other Boxster Es, in which an electric motor drives the rear wheels, the prototype is being used to explore the everyday practicality of all-electric vehicles and how they are used, especially in terms of driving and battery charging.

The faithful reconstruction of the “Semper Vivus” pays tribute to the visionary invention of Ferdinand Porsche, who in building it in 1900 created the first ever functional vehicle with a series hybrid drive. The faithful replica, the visionary design of which impresses to this very day, was the outcome of a collaboration between Porsche Engineering and Karosseriebau Drescher, a coachbuilding company based in Hinterzarten (Germany).

Porsche looks forward to welcoming its visitors, prospective purchasers and customers at the IAA Motor Show in Hall 3.0, Stand A12. The press conference will take place on September 13th at the Porsche Stand.

Kuba Giermaziak fastest in rainy qualifying

Stuttgart. Kuba Giermaziak put in a strong performance on the wet Spa-Francorchamps circuit to secure pole position for round eight of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup. At the wheel of his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by VERVA Racing, which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS street sports car, the Budapest winner was 0.250 seconds faster than Supercup record-winner Patrick Huisman (Team Bleekemolen) from the Netherlands. The third grid spot went to points’ leader and last year’s Spa winner, Sean Edwards (Abu Dhabi by tolimit) from Great Britain.

Under the dark clouds hanging over the storied race track in the Ardennes, the qualifying took a surprising turn just three and a half minutes before the end of the session. Patrick Huisman, who celebrated the most recent of his 24 victories in the world’s fastest international one-make series at the 2007 Spa race, topped the time sheets. But the Dutchman, whose last pole position was in 2007 at Barcelona, had to settle for second on the grid. Kuba Giermaziak, the Nuerburgring pole-sitter, used the last chance before a caution phase to turn the quickest lap of the day.

More than one second adrift of the leading pair, Sean Edwards and his compatriot Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) claimed the second grid row for themselves. Suffering radiator problems, Tandy could only manage one quick lap. Breathing down their necks are two strong rivals: Four-time winner this season, René Rast from Germany (VELTINS Lechner Racing), and the two-time Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit) occupied positions five and six and take up the race from the third row. The seventh quickest time was achieved by Slovakia’s Stefan Rosina (VERVA Racing Team) ahead of Germany’s Christian Engelhart (Konrad Motorsport), the winner from the season-opening round in Istanbul. Rounding off the top ten of the grid are Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (Team Bleekemolen) from the Netherlands and Hermes Attempto Racing pilot and Supercup newcomer Kévin Estre from France, who surprisingly clinched pole position recently in Budapest.

Achieving 15th, Austria’s Mathias Lauda (Konrad Motorsport Austria), the son of racing legend Niki Lauda, made the most out of the very difficult weather conditions. His compatriot Norbert Siedler, currently ranking third in the championship, qualified just one position in front.

Kuba Giermaziak (pole-sitter): “A huge thank you to my team. They sent me out on the track at exactly the right moment. My lap wasn’t particularly great, but luckily good enough for pole. We’ve again shown that we know how it works in rain and so of course I’m hoping for a rainy race tomorrow. But don’t worry, we’ll be quick even in dry conditions. If you start from the first row here in Spa and you avoid any major mistakes, nothing can really go wrong.”

Patrick Huisman (second in qualifying): “I’m very pleased with second place. It was a good sign when it began to rain again before the session started because we were already fast on a wet track on Friday. At last I’m back on the front row. This is a great position to start the race.”

Sean Edwards (third in qualifying): “The yellow flag shortly before the end of the session ruined my chances of claiming pole position. That’s a great shame, but not the end of the world. On this track you can win from the second grid row. And that’s exactly what we will try to do.”

Qualifying result
1. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), VERVA Racing Team, 2:42.533 minutes
2. Patrick Huisman (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 0.250 seconds
3. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 1.156
4. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 1.240
5. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 1.312
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 1.430

The race on Sunday is broadcast live by TV stations Eurosport 2 (11.45 hrs) and Sky Sport 2 (11.40 hrs). Eurosport also televises highlights on Sunday at 23.30 hours in its “Motorsport Weekend Magazin” programme.

Richard Williams added a set of HRE P40′s to his Turbo Coupe. Beautiful!

The new Porsche 911 Carrera: Tradition meets modernity

Stuttgart. At 48, the Porsche 911 Carrera is younger than ever: The completely redesigned generation of the sports car icon is stepping into the limelight with its flat, stretched silhouette, exciting contours and precisely designed details, yet from the very first glance it remains unmistakably a 911. True to the 911 tradition, the distinctive Porsche design language with its tendons and muscles exudes power and elegance.

The 100 millimetre (~ 3.9 inches) longer wheelbase and reduced height combined with the up to 20-inch wheels underpin the athletic appearance. At the same time, the typical sports car compact exterior dimensions were retained. Seen from the front, the eye is drawn to the 911’s trademark wide-arched wings. They emphasise the wider front track, so that the new 911 Carrera models sit even more solidly on the road. The remodelled exterior mirrors are accommodated on the upper edge of the door and not as before on the mirror triangle. Not only is this aerodynamically advantageous, it also emphasises the new design line and visual impression of width.

The all-new, lightweight body is an intelligent aluminium-steel construction. It is responsible for a significant proportion of the weight reduction of up to 45 kilograms (100 lbs). Combined with significantly greater rigidity. Aerodynamic optimisation – including a wider, variably extending rear spoiler – enabled the new 911 Carrera’s lift to be reduced yet further while retaining a very good Cd value.

To complement the modern exterior design, the Porsche designers created an interior, the architecture of which takes its cue from the Porsche Carrera GT. The driver is now even more closely integrated with the cockpit thanks to the center console rising up to the front with the high-mounted shift lever or gear selector located especially close to the steering wheel in typical motorsport fashion. Classic Porsche elements are also to be found inside, as they are on the outside: the instrument cluster with five round instruments – one of them a high resolution multifunction screen, the central rev counter and the ignition lock to the left of the steering wheel.

Setting the standard in its class, as it has for generations, the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S raise the performance and efficiency bar yet another notch. All versions get by with significantly less than ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (28 mpg imp.). Fuel consumption and emissions are up to 16 per cent lower compared with its predecessor. Among other things, this is achieved by systems and functions such as auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission and – in conjunction with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) – sailing as it is called. The new electro-mechanical power steering offers not only Porsche’s typical precision and feedback but also helps to increase efficiency and reduce fuel-consumption.

For example, the 911 Carrera with the new 350 hp (~ 257 kW) 3.4-litre boxer engine and optional PDK consumes a mere 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres (~ 34 mpg imp.) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) – 1.6 l/100 km (~ 6 mpg imp.) less than its predecessor. Also, at 194 g/km CO2, it is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km mark. With the 911 Carrera S as well, with its 3.8-litre boxer engine and what is now 400 hp (~ 294 kW), fuel consumption when paired with the optional PDK is reduced by 14 per cent or 1.5 l/100 km (~ 5 mpg imp.) to 8.7 l/100 km (~ 32 mpg imp.) despite 15 hp (~ 11 kW) more power. That equates to CO2 emissions of 205 g/km.

At the same time there are performance improvements in both models. The 911 Carrera S with PDK manages to accelerate from nought to 100 km/h (~ 62 mph) in 4.3 seconds. Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono package cuts that to 4.1 seconds. The 911 Carrera with PDK needs only 4.6 seconds (Sport Plus 4.4 seconds) to sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h (~ 62 mph). Top-track speed for the 911 Carrera S and 911 Carrera is 188 mph and 179 mph, respectively.

The new 911 doesn’t just offer better longitudinal dynamics, however, but top performance at an unprecedented level in terms of transverse dynamics as well. In addition to the longer wheelbase, the greater agility, precision and driving stability are based, among other things, on the wider front track, the new rear axle and new electro-mechanical power steering. Depending on the model, there are other standard or optional active control systems available as well that further enhance the driving dynamics. That is especially true for the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilisation system, available for the first time on the 911 Carrera S. For example, the system reduces lateral inclination when cornering, the tires always being in the optimal position relative to the road surface and able to transmit higher lateral forces. Maximum cornering speeds are increased; even faster lap times on racing circuits are possible.

It has therefore been possible in the new model to extend yet further the span of apparently contradictory attributes such as performance and efficiency, sportiness and everyday practicality that has always typified the Porsche 911. That makes the 911 Carrera more of a 911 than ever. The new Porsche 911 Carrera celebrates its world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The launch of the new 911 models gets under way on 3 December 2011, the new cars can be orderd from September 1st. Prices in Germany are 88,038 euro for the 911 Carrera and 102,436 euro for the 911 Carrera S, including 19 per cent VAT and market-specific equipment.

The first new 911 models will arrive at U.S. dealerships beginning in February of 2012. The new 911 Carrera Coupe will have a base MSRP of $82,100, while the 911 Carrera S Coupe’s base MSRP will be $96,400 (excluding destination). Both models will include substantial additional equipment when compared to the previous models.

Best Porsche in fourth narrowly misses podium

Stuttgart. Just one second separated the Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) from their second podium result of the season at the four hour race in Elkhart Lake. In the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, the title defenders claimed fourth place in the GT class at round six of the American Le Mans Series on the legendary Road America race track. Porsche factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany), who recently won the race in Mid-Ohio with his American teammate Bryan Sellers, finished sixth in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by the Falken Tire squad.

Whenever the world’s fastest sports cars compete on this challenging circuit in the US state of Wisconsin, excitement is guaranteed. And this year was no exception. Especially in the fiercely-contested GT class, fans were treated to spirited fights for positions and spectacular overtaking manoeuvres. With just 13 minutes left to the flag, Joerg Bergmeister, five-time winner at Road America, was running in third after a strong performance and held hopes for his second podium result of the year after finishing second in Lime Rock. But he was unable to defend his position to the finish line.

“We had a good day and achieved the best possible result. We couldn’t manage better than fourth today. When an opponent is able to pass us on the outside in a place that is not a braking zone, well, that says a lot about the rule-makers grading of the Porsche,” said Joerg Bergmeister. Patrick Long added, “Our strategy put us in a position for a top placing, and our pit stops ran perfectly. We had hoped for a better result, but have to settle for what we achieved. The difference between the first and the fourth today came down to a reason that we have no influence over.”

Right at the start, Wolf Henzler made up four places and was at times on course for a podium spot. “That was our team’s best performance on a dry circuit,” he said. “Over much of the distance, our Porsche could match the pace of the best BMW, Ferrari and Corvettes – and we can be happy about this. The tyres are becoming increasingly better and our pit crew worked hard over the entire race distance to keep us in the top six.”

At his debut on the Road America circuit, Porsche works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) saw the flag in Flying Lizard’s second Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in ninth – two places behind Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA), who brought the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by Paul Miller Racing home in seventh.

Victory in the GTC class went to the two-time Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) with his American teammate Tim Pappas in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Britain’s Sean Edwards, the current points’ leader in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, led to the final lap until tyre damage robbed him of his win. He finished third.

Round 7 of the American Le Mans Series takes place on 3 September on the new street circuit in Baltimore in the US state of Maryland.

Statistics: 6th race in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Result GT class
1. Melo/Vilander (BRA/SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, 101 laps
2. Werner/Auberlen (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 101
3. Müller/Hand (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 101
4. Bergmeister/Long (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 101
5. Magnussen/Gavin (DK/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 101
6. Henzler/Sellers (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 101
7. Maassen/Miller (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 101
9. Holzer/Neiman (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 100

Result GTC class
1. Bleekemolen/Pappas (NL/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 96
2. Pumpelly/Ende (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 96
3. Edwards/Kauffmann (GB/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 96

Points’ standings GT class
Driver
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 108 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 86
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 80
4. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 66
5. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 57
6. Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 51

Manufacturer
1. BMW, 117 points
2. Chevrolet, 90
3. Porsche, 87
4. Ferrari, 85

Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 117 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 90
3. Risi Competizione, 66
4. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 57
Team Falken Tire, Porsche, 57

Joerg Bergmeister fastest Porsche pilot

Stuttgart. On the legendary race track of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Porsche works driver Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) secured a good starting position for the sixth round of the America Le Mans Series. In the GT qualifying for the four hour race on Saturday, he posted the fifth quickest time with his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, which he shares with his factory pilot teammate Patrick Long (USA).

“My fastest lap was good, but not good enough to get a spot further up the grid,” said Joerg Bergmeister, who with five wins is the most successful GT pilot on the storied race track in the US state of Wisconsin. “We concentrated on finding a set-up for the four hour race and on planning our strategy. After all, the race will be decided both on the track and in the pits.”

With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by the Falken Tire squad, Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany), the winner of the previous race in Mid-Ohio, clinched the tenth grid spot. A close one-tenth of a second faster was Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany). The Road America rookie drove the ninth quickest time in the second Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

The race starts on Saturday at 15.00 hours local time (22.00 hrs CEST) and runs over four hours. It can be seen live on the internet under www.americanlemans.com.

Qualifying Results 

GT class
1. Dirk Müller (D), BMW M3 GT, 2:05.447 minutes
2. Jan Magnussen (DK), Chevrolet Corvette, + 0.005 seconds
3. Toni Vilander (SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.240
4. Bill Auberlen (USA), BMW M3 GT, + 0.798
5. Joerg Bergmeister (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.932
6. Olivier Beretta (MC), Chevrolet Corvette, + 1.138
9. Marco Holzer (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.391
10. Wolf Henzler (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.474
13. Bryce Miller (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 4.651

GTC class
1. Sean Edwards (GB), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 2:44.627 minutes

Have a look at Chris Clark’s 2011 GT3 RS with HRE 593 RS Center Lock Wheels. As you can see HRE made up these wheels for Chris with White spokes, Red inner rim and a polished lip. These pictures do not do the wheels justice. When you see them in person the Red inner rim really stands out and works perfect with the Red graphics and accents on the car. Your eye picks up the Red and the polished lip and you notice just how wide these wheels are. We also installed a RSS Roll Bar and RSS X-Pipe.

Here are a few shots taken by Renato Bellote of a 993 Turbo in Brazil. Renato runs a blog called garagemdobellote.com and he lives in Sao Paulo. If you go to the link below you can see a couple more pictures of this beautiful Turbo and a video of it with a 993 C2 in Speed Yellow with Blue interior. Renato features not only Porsche’s but also many other rare and unusual cars. Some that we don’t have in the US. The car culture is alive and thriving in Brazil!

993 Turbo link

garagemdobellote link

Porsche pilots with new optimism after season’s first victory

Stuttgart. After the first American Le Mans Series win of the season, the Porsche teams head to the legendary Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake with new confidence. Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) and his American teammate Bryan Sellers will try to repeat their brilliant Mid-Ohio win with their Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Falken Tire. And with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by Flying Lizard Motorsports, title defenders Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) also have high hopes for the four-hour race in the US state of Wisconsin. After all, the pair have already clinched three victories in Elkhart Lake.

The race

This venue has been a regular fixture on the American Le Mans Series calendar since 2002. This season, the race runs over four hours.

The circuit

The 6.514 kilometre Road America circuit is one of America’s oldest race tracks and is regarded as the cradle of sports car racing in the USA. The circuit layout with its long finish straight and 14 corners has changed considerably since its foundation in 1955. Most fans watch the races from the hills surrounding the track. The first street race in Elkhart Lake, two hours’ drive north of Chicago, was run in 1950. The circuit of that time was awarded a place in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

The Porsche drivers

Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long drive the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports as reigning GT champions of the American Le Mans Series and three-time Road America winners. Their works driver colleague Wolf Henzler, who recently won in Mid-Ohio with Bryan Sellers, drives the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of the Falken Tire team. At his debut in Elkhart Lake, Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany) shares driving duties in the second Flying Lizard Porsche with American Seth Neiman. Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) take up the race for Paul Miller Racing in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

Quotes before the race

Joerg Bergmeister: “All year I look forward to this race. Road America is my all-time favourite circuit. It’s very fast, very hilly and very challenging – and those are all the things a race driver loves. The race track doesn’t really suit our car, but still the Porsche was very successful there in the last years. So I’m also feeling optimistic this time.”
Patrick Long: “The smallest mistake here always costs a lot of time. To be able to keep up at the front everything has to run perfectly. And of course the strategy plays a major role at a four-hour race.”
Wolf Henzler: “The characteristic of Road America with its long straights and fast corners is totally unlike any other circuit on the ALMS calendar. We tested there with very good results and in the race I hope we can now use what we learned. The whole team is highly motivated after winning in Mid-Ohio. We all want to show that this success is not a coincidence.”
Marco Holzer: “This marks my third race in the American Le Mans Series and the third on a totally unfamiliar circuit. I’ve watched several videos of Road America and I’m very much looking forward to racing on this extraordinary race track.”

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

Of the nine races that have been contested here as part of the American Le Mans Series, Porsche as the most successful manufacturer has won seven. Five victories in the GT/GT2 class went to Joerg Bergmeister, who triumphed with Timo Bernhard in 2002 and 2004, as well as with Patrick Long in 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2003, Craig Stanton and Johnny Mowlem won for Porsche, in 2008 Dirk Werner, Richard Westbrook and Bryan Sellers. In 2007, Timo Bernhard und Romain Dumas snatched overall honours at the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder.

The schedule

The race in Elkhart Lake takes off on Saturday, 20 August, at 15.00 hours local time (22.00 hrs CEST) and is broadcast live in the internet on www.americanlemans.com/live. The GT qualifying on Friday is shown on www.porsche.com/alms-live from 22.25 hours CEST.

The American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. All classes start together but are classified separately:

GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

Stuttgart. With July deliveries of 10,722 vehicles worldwide, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, came close to matching the very good result of 11,169 units in the same month last year. A total of 71,381 new vehicles were delivered between January and July 2011, 28.6 per cent more than in the same period of 2010.

Porsche turned in record figures in the Chinese market in July: Deliveries of 2,484 vehicles represent almost a fivefold increase compared with the same month last year and also the best monthly result in China ever. In total the sports car manufacturer delivered 14,751 vehicles in the current financial year in Porsche’s second largest market. This marks a 72.6 per cent increase compared with the period January to July 2010. The Cayenne especially is in strong demand in Asia.

Bernhard Maier, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing says: “Customer deliveries this year are exceeding our expectations. In July we almost rivalled last year’s record high. We are looking to the months ahead with confidence and believe that new vehicles such as the Panamera Diesel will boost European sales figures.”

In July 2011, Porsche posted significant increases in the Asia/Rest of the World region. Total deliveries of 3,998 vehicles translate into an increase of 79.4 per cent on last year. On the North American continent, the sports car manufacturer managed to sustain last year’s very good level of 2,968 deliveries (+ 0.6 %). 2,768 vehicles were delivered in the USA – an increase of 2.4 per cent compared with July 2010. Weaker sales in Europe were behind a 38.3 per cent decline in deliveries to 3,475 units compared with the same month last year. The successful market launch of the Cayenne Diesel in July 2010 provided a major shot in the arm. In July 2011, Porsche delivered a total of 1,292 vehicles in Germany.

The most successful model line worldwide was again the Cayenne. 5,483 vehicles were delivered in July 2011. This represents an increase of 16.1 per cent compared with the same month the year before. Gran Turismo Panamera deliveries of 2,352 in the reporting month were slightly up on last year’s result (+ 2.5 %). The 911 model line, facing an imminent change of model, posted a 35.1 per cent fall to 1,666 vehicles. 1,221 units of the mid-engine Boxster and Cayman sports cars were delivered (- 22.9 %).

Wolf Henzler claims first season win for Porsche after superb chase

Stuttgart. On the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Porsche factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany) celebrated a brilliant victory in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR: With a sensational charge through the field in torrential rain, he clinched the first win of the season for Porsche with his teammate Bryan Sellers on the traditional circuit in America’s Midwest in the fiercely-contested GT class of the American Le Mans Series. For his Falken Tire team, this marks the first ever win in the popular race series with the world’s fastest sports cars.

“What an unbelievable race. The rain came just at the right moment,” said Wolf Henzler after his second Mid-Ohio win against strong opposition from BMW, Ferrari and Chevrolet. “When they called me in to the pits to switch to wet tyres I didn’t really want to at first. I would have preferred to stay on slicks as I had enough grip. But the team made the right decision. Thanks to Falken for the super tyres. The boys work so hard. Now they are finally rewarded for their untiring efforts.”

When it comes to drama, the final phase of the race that started under sunny skies was unsurpassed. First a few raindrops fell causing a flurry in the pits. Then came a sudden heavy shower. That was the Wolf Henzler’s chance – and he used it: When the race restarted after a yellow flag and most of his rivals had their hands full keeping their cars on the flooded circuit, he charged from fifth to the lead in just one lap – even passing Porsche works driver Patrick Long (USA) who had led the field until that point after a strong drive with the Flying Lizard Motorsports-run 911 GT3 RSR.

“In the final lap many cars driving on the inside line of the track spun. I found grip on the outside and could overtake them all,” said Wolf Henzler. “Falken has tested in rain in Mid-Ohio. We trusted these tyres and they yielded us victory.”

Whilst Wolf Henzler brought home his first win of the season in heavy rain, Patrick Long struggled with the amount of water on the circuit. The teammate of Porsche factory pilot Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) took up the race from the second grid row, slid into the gravel trap and fell back to ninth place. Shortly afterwards, with ten minutes left to the finish, the race was red-flagged and not restarted due to the persistent rain. “Our car was good, the set-up and strategy worked well – that was our race,” said Patrick Long. “But when the rain arrived, we lost grip and everyone started sliding around, even those on wets.”

In front of the title defenders Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long, Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) finished in eighth place at the wheel of their Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Americans Seth Neiman and Darren Law planted the second Flying Lizard Porsche on tenth. Victory in the GTC class went to Americans Spencer Pumpelly and Duncan Ende in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Round six of the American Le Mans Series takes place on 20th August on the Road America race track in Elkhart Lake in the US state of Wisconsin.

Statistics: Race 5 in Lexington, Ohio

Result GT class
1. Henzler/Sellers (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 92 laps
2. Magnussen/Gavin (DK/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 92
3. Werner/Auberlen (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 92
4. Müller/Hand (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 92
5. Sharp/van Overbeek (USA/USA), Ferrari F458 Italia, 92
6. Beretta/Milner (MC/USA), Chevrolet Corvette, 92
8. Maassen/Miller (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 91
9. Bergmeister/Long (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 91
10. Law/Neiman (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 89

Result GTC class
1. Pumpelly/Ende (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 87 laps
2. Bleekemolen/Pappas (NL/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 87
3. Potter/Stanton (USA/USA), Portsche 911 GT3 Cup, 87

Points’ standings GT class
Drivers
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 80 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 73
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 59
4. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 46
5. Olivier Beretta, Tommy Milner, Chevrolet, 45
6. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 41
7. Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 36

Manufacturers
1. BMW, 96 points
2. Chevrolet, 77
3. Porsche, 72
4. Ferrari, 60

Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 96 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 77
3. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 60

Nick Tandy snatches back points’ lead after victory

Stuttgart. With two races left on the calendar the tension is mounting. With his second win of the season on the Nuerburgring, Nick Tandy reclaimed the top of the points’ table in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. The Briton profited from the bad luck of his compatriot Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit). Leading the field, the previous front-runner of Germany’s fastest one-make race series suffered tyre damage three laps before the flag and went home empty-handed. Presumably, he picked up a carbon piece on a collision site. Second place at the gripping race on the 3.629 kilometre Nuerburgring sprint circuit went to Jaap van Lagen (Netherlands, Land Motorsport) ahead of Norbert Siedler (Austria, Aust Motorsport) in third place.

For Sean Edwards, the winner of the sixth Carrera Cup round on the Norisring, his zero result is particularly bitter. Taking up the race from pole position, he nailed the start perfectly and drove a faultless race despite constant pressure from his rival Nick Tandy. The Konrad Motorsport pilot shadowed the leader over 20 race laps less than a second behind, sometimes with just three-tenths of a second between the two. Tandy, as winner of the season-opener and last year’s vice-champion, wasn’t prepared to jeopardise his championship chances.

Tandy wasn’t the only driver to celebrate his podium spot. After a spirited fight, Jaap van Lagen and Norbert Siedler were also delighted with their second and third positions. For the Dutchman, this marks his second best performance so far this season after his victory from the rain race in Spielberg. Siedler clinched a commendable second at the Porsche Carrera World Cup, but competed there for his Supercup team. For the rookie team Aust Motorsport, their Austrian pilot’s podium result is something very special.

After securing tenth on the grid in yesterday’s qualifying, the two-time Carrera Cup champion Uwe Alzen was more than happy with his fourth place in the race today. This marks his best result so far this year. Alzen belongs to the group of pilots who fought valiantly and fairly over many laps. The German (PZ Aschaffenburg Uwe Alzen Automotive) profited from guest driver Christopher Mies’s (Germany, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) extremely late braking which punted Jan Seyffarth (SMS Seyffarth Motorsport) out of the way, and slightly nudged Nicolas Armindo (Hermes Attempto Racing). This was particular tough for the German. Seyffarth had just seen his chance when Siedler massively flat-spotted his tyres in front of him and seemed like easy prey. Instead, it was ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ for the 2008 vice-champion. The French title defender Armindo was able to continue and saw the flag in fifth place.

Hermes-Attempto teammate Nicki Thiim from Denmark took home crucial points for sixth place from a non-eventful race. Poland’s Robert Lukas was delighted with his seventh place and his best result of the season. However, this was small consolation for his Förch Racing squad: Starting from second on the grid, his teammate René Rast was relegated far back in the field after a collision. This handed the current leader of the international Porsche Mobil1 Supercup and winner of the Carrera World Cup another disappointing result in the German brand trophy series. Martin Ragginger (Schnabl Engineering) from Austria secured eighth place after a messed-up qualifying. Uwe Alzen’s teammate David Jahn (Germany) concluded round seven in ninth ahead of Stefan Wendt (Germany, Attempto Racing) rounding off the top ten.

On 10 August, TV station Sport1 broadcasts a race review, interviews and reports from 22.15 to 22.45 hours in the Carrera Cup Magazin.

Nick Tandy (winner): “I had my share of bad luck this year. But today I was lucky. It’s crazy that I’m back at the top of the points’ table. The race was interesting. I was faster than Sean, but as soon as I got close to him I lost downforce. But at least I could put him under pressure.”

Jaap van Lagen (second): “My start was super and I could advance from sixth to fourth place. I pushed quite hard in the beginning, and that’s how I set the fastest race lap. Afterwards I realised I couldn’t close the gap to the front and I made sure I had enough space behind me. I just concentrated on bringing home a safe second.”

Norbert Siedler (third): “Third place is a great result for my team, but I’m not entirely happy about it. The race set-up of my 911 was anything but perfect. Early on it was okay, but then I experienced more and more understeer and later oversteering. Still, we’re on the right track with the team.”

Preview to the eighth of nine races in Oschersleben

For the eighth and penultimate race of this season on 18th September in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, only two drivers have a real chance at the title: Points’ leader Nick Tandy and Sean Edwards as his pursuer. Tandy is looking forward to the 3.667 kilometre circuit near Magdeburg in Germany, after the 26-year-old dominated there last year. Posting pole position, the fastest race lap and a lights-to-flag victory, he easily fended off his rivals – and held on to his title chances in his maiden Carrera Cup season. But Edwards, currently in second overall, also performed well last year on the twisty circuit, narrowly missing out on a podium place by just 0.4 seconds.

Race result Nuerburgring

1. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, 35:24.026 minutes (141.468 km/h)
2. Jaap van Lagen (NL), Land Motorsport, + 7.732 seconds
3. Norbert Siedler (A), Aust Motorsport, + 12.525
4. Uwe Alzen (PZ Aschaffenburg Uwe Alzen Automotive), + 13.790
5. Nicolas Armindo (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 14.153
6. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 15.599
7. Robert Lukas (PL), Förch Racing, + 20.404
8. Martin Ragginger (A), Schnabl Engineering, + 20.603
9. David Jahn (D), PZ Aschaffenburg Uwe Alzen Automotive, + 25.690
10. Stefan Wendt (D), Attempto Racing, + 26.566

Drivers’ classification after 7 of 9 races

1. Nick Tandy (GB), 102 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 98
3. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 84
4. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 74
5. Nicki Thiim (DK), 69
6. Martin Ragginger (A), 67
7. René Rast (D), 57

Team classification after 7 of 9 races

1. Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 157 points
2. Konrad Motorsport, 124
3. Hermes Attempto Racing, 86

Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long on the second grid row

Stuttgart. The Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) take up the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from the second row of the grid. With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Joerg Bergmeister, two-time winner at Mid-Ohio, set the fourth quickest time in the GT class qualifying on the 3.621 kilometre circuit in America’s Midwest.

“To start from the second row is not so bad considering the strong competition. If we get away well we could probably make up one or two positions,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “The 15 kilogram weight handicap that we were handed prior to Mid-Ohio costs us about two-tenths of a second per lap. But we’re still hoping that the better strategy of our Flying Lizard crew can make the difference over the race distance.”

At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by the Falken Tire squad, Bryan Sellers (USA) posted the ninth quickest time. Sellers shares driving duties for the race on Saturday with Porsche factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany). Sascha Maassen (Germany) claimed the 13th grid spot with Paul Miller Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Two places behind him is Seth Neiman from America in the second Flying Lizard Porsche.

The race starts on Saturday at 15.30 hours local time (21.30 hrs CEST) and runs over 2:45 hours, with a live broadcast on www.americanlemans.com.

Qualifying result

GT class
1. Joey Hand (USA), BMW M3 GT, 1:20.539 minutes
2. Dirk Werner (D), BMW M3 GT, + 0.116 seconds
3. Jaime Melo (BRA), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.206
4. Joerg Bergmeister (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.378
5. Oliver Gavin (GB), Chevrolet Corvette, + 0.405
6. Guy Cosmo (USA), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.529
9. Bryan Sellers (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.382
13. Sascha Maassen (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 2.545
15. Seth Neiman (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 4.173

GTC class
1. Spencer Pumpelly (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:29.521 minutes

Facts and figures

This is the American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race.

GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to their respective classes. This ensures exciting and diverse racing with many overtaking manoeuvres. Points are only awarded  for placings in each class.

Porsche Intelligent Performance

Stuttgart. The race outing of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0 was trend-setting. The innovative race car achieved the same quick lap times as its top rivals yet used considerably less fuel. Just two broken transmission flanges and a collision thwarted a possible podium spot. The next test under race conditions for the further development of the particularly efficient drive technology of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 is planned for the American Le Mans Series race on the Laguna Seca Raceway in California on 17 September. The vehicle is not eligible for championship points, as the hybrid technology is not yet a part of the GT regulations.

Two Porsche works pilots, Romain Dumas (France) and Richard Lietz (Austria) man the cockpit of the orange and white racer from Weissach. Dumas has already driven the world’s most innovative GT vehicle last year at the “Petit Le Mans”, the ALMS race on the Road Atlanta circuit. Lietz piloted the Hybrid-911 at the 24 hour races on the Nuerburgring in 2010 and 2011 as well as at various long distance races on the Nuerburgring.

“I’m so looking forward to showing this very special car at race speed to the spectators in California. Many Porsche fans live on the west coast of America, and some of them have already discovered the advantages of the hybrid system at the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid,” says Romain Dumas. “I’m very curious, because Laguna Seca is one of the most exciting race tracks on earth. I only know it from computer games and onboard videos. Its layout with a series of up and downhill passages should actually suit our 911 GT3 R Hybrid.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0, with two 75 kilowatt electric motors on the front axle supplementing the 465 hp four-litre, six-cylinder power unit at the rear, particularly embodies the philosophy of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”: The electric energy is generated during braking and stored in an electric flywheel in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0, which has undergone further development since 2010. During acceleration, this energy is automatically delivered to the front wheels, supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and increases the cruising range on the circuit. Moreover, drivers can manually utilise the stored energy with a boost-paddle on the steering wheel for overtaking. Compared to its predecessor, the weight of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was reduced from 1,350 to 1,300 kilograms.

Stuttgart. The Motorsport Newsletter regularly provides information on Porsche Motorsport around the world. More detailed information and additional photographs are available for accredited journalists from the press database.

American Le Mans Series: Race luck eludes swift Flying Lizards
After Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long’s second place in Lime Rock Park (9 July), the situation initially looked good for the title defenders to claim another podium spot at round four of the American Le Mans Series on the Mosport International Raceway near Toronto (24 July) in Canada. At the halfway mark, works driver Bergmeister lay in the top three with the Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and at times even led the field. Shortly before the scheduled pit stop, the race car lost power steering fluid. After lengthy repairs the duo finally saw the flag in twelfth. Works pilot Wolf Henzler and America’s Bryan Sellers crossed the finish line with the 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Falken Tire in fifth. Spencer Pumpelly and Duncan Ende won the GTC class in the TRG-run 911 GT3 Cup.

International GT Open: Gianluca Roda and Fabio Babini in second place at half time
After races seven and eight in Britain’s Brand Hatch (23/24 July), Italians Gianluca Roda and Fabio Babini rank second by just one point in the drivers’ classification of the “GTS” class for GT3 vehicles. Roda, an entrepreneur from Como who won the 2010 Porsche Cup as the best private driver, as well as Babini, a professional racer from Faenza, planted their Autorlando Sport 911 GT3 R on fourth place at Saturday’s 70-minute race and took second in their class at Sunday’s 50-minute sprint.

Grand-Am: Andrew Davis and Leh Keen lead with three races to go
Nine of the twelve Grand-Am races are over, and since the eighth race in California’s Laguna Seca (9 July), Andrew Davis with his teammate Leh Keen hold the points’ lead in the Grand Touring class. The two Americans started from pole to clinch their second win of the season with the Brumos Racing 911 GT3 Cup in Laguna Seca. After an alternator problem and twelfth place at the round nine in Millville, New Jersey (24 July), the title fight is still open.

British GT Championship: Richard Westbrook and David Ashburn win in Spa
At race five of ten in the British GT Championship on Belgium’s Spa circuit (9 July), reigning champion David Ashburn and teammate Richard Westbrook took home a hard-earned victory with Trackspeed’s 911 GT3 R. And at race six on the same day, the British team also looked on track to win until tyre damage in lap nine knocked the leading Westbrook out of contention. Tim Bridgman and Gregor Fisken in the sister Trackspeed Porsche finished second with a 0.88-second gap.

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: Kuba Giermaziak claims first win for Poland
After a turbulent rain race, Kuba Giermaziak celebrated his maiden win in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on the Hungaroring near Budapest (31 July), and notched up the first victory for a Polish and East European driver in the 19-year history of the world’s fastest international one-make series. With his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the VERVA Racing pilot pulled clear of second-placed Jeroen Bleekemolen from the Netherlands by an extraordinary 18.783 seconds. Third place was enough for Britain’s Sean Edwards to snatch the points’ lead from René Rast, who was forced to retire with technical troubles. Giermaziak is the 50th pilot to win from the 201 races contested so far.

Carrera Cup Asia: Rodolfo Avila takes the lead in the championship
Two premieres at the race weekend in China’s Ordos: First, Keita Sawa stormed to his first win ever in the prestigious championship at round five (9 July) in the 911 GT3 Cup run by LKM Racing. At race six (10 July), Rodolfo Avila from Macau clinched his first victory of the season in a GT3 Cup of the Jebsen team and shunted Alexandre Imperatori off the top of the points’ table.

IFX Carrera Cup Australia: “Kiwi” driver Daniel Gaunt unbeatable in Townsville
There was no answer to New Zealander Daniel Gaunt’s charge at the third of seven race weekends of the IFX Carrera Cup Australia in Townsville. The ‘Kiwi’ won all three championship races (9/10 July), with the win from race one also marking his first in the Australian series. In the meantime, with two second places, Johnny Reid swept past Craig Baird to take first place in the drivers’ classification.

Carrera Cup France: Kévin Estre is still the man to beat
With six straight wins – the latest at the “Endurance” race as part of the Porsche Festival on the Circuit Bugatti du Mans (17 July), 22-year-old Kévin Estre (AS Events team) is the dominant force in the Carrera Cup France. In the Gentleman class, reigning champion Henry Hassid secured another victory.

Carrera Cup Italia: Alessandro Balzan extends lead with another win
At race eight of the Carrera Cup Italia in Mugello (31 July), points’ leader Alessandro Balzan (Ebimotors – Centro Porsche Varese) beat his pursuer Vito Postiglione after 14 laps by 1.8 seconds. Race nine went to Massimo Monti (Antonelli Motorsport) after 16 laps, narrowly beating Alessandro Bonacini by 1.5 seconds. Balzan turned the fastest race laps at both meetings and with 133 points holds a clear lead over Postiglione (90 points).

Carrera Cup Japan: Hideto Yasuoka proving unbeatable
Hideto Yasuoka, the young driver of the Garmin Porsche squad, again demonstrated his skill at races six and seven at Sportsland Sugo (30/31 July). No sooner had the safety car left the track after a rainy start on Saturday, Yasuoka rocketed away to claim victory. When Sunday’s race was red-flagged after two collisions on the drying track, Yasuoka again lay in the lead and was awarded maximum points.

GT3 Cup Challenge Canada: Perry Bortolotti is the champion
The fight for the title in the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada has been decided after six races: With three victories to his credit, Perry Bortolotti (SpeedMerchants/Fiorano Racing) secured the title in the top ‘Platinum’ class. His main rival Marco Cirone won the two final races in Mosport (23/24 July), but was unable to catch Bortolotti. Shaun McKaigue won the Gold Cup, Robert Seitz the Silver trophy.

IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama: McKenzie increases pressure on Cisneros
After two wins in Mosport (23/24 July), pursuer Tim McKenzie (Kelly Moss Motorsports) trails points’ leader Henrique Cisneros (NGT Motorsport) by 23 points (victory: 20 points). Cisneros came second in the Platinum class at both races. With two second places behind Eduardo Cisneros, 15-year-old Madison Snow defended his lead in the Gold Cup class.

Race notes: Roger Lago, John Goodacre and Jeff Bobik are the winners of the third race weekend of the GT3 Cup Challenge Australia in Eastern Creek (16/17 July). Lago remains in the lead. +++ Second place for Sabine Schmitz, Niclas Kentenich and Arno Klasen in a 911 GT3 R at round six of the Nuerburgring VLN Long Distance Championship (30 July). The fight for overall victory came to an early end after just 15 laps due to a mass collision involving slower vehicles.

Most successful race car now suitable for wider range of motorsport

Stuttgart. It is the most successful race car on earth: The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. With over 2,200 units sold, it is the undisputed number one amongst customer racing teams all over the world. Now, the new 911 GT3 Cup features a 100-litre FT3 safety fuel tank, which is filled via an opening in the front bonnet. Compared to its predecessor, the vehicle is now suitable for an even wider range of endurance racing. Moreover, the new fuel tank contributes to a further improvement of the high safety standards.

The 2012-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS (997) street sports car. The power unit is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. A race exhaust system with a controlled catalytic converter keeps emissions to a minimum.

The flared wheel arches at the front axle accommodate light alloy rims measuring 9.5Jx18 with 25/64-18 Michelin race tyres. The light alloy rims at the rear measure 12Jx18 with 30/68-18 tyres. Depending on the type of racing, the new 911 GT3 Cup features different rim specifications. The blade-type anti-roll bars at the front and rear are adjustable in seven positions allowing an extremely precise set-up for each race track. Exclusive to the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup which runs as support to Formula 1 is the PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake. This is also available for Porsche’s road models. Compared to the composite cast brakes in the Carrera Cups and the GT3 Cup Challenges, PCCB reduces the weight of the car by around 20 kilograms. The cockpit of the new 911 GT3 Cup caters for the needs of the driver. The controls for the info display are positioned on the steering wheel which houses six switches. As in the production car, the reach and height of the steering wheel can be adjusted.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will be delivered to teams around the world from September and will be run in this specification for the 2012 and 2013 race seasons in selected one-make cup series. The price is 161,750 Euro plus value-added tax of the respective countries.

Currently, the 911 GT3 Cup competes in 19 Porsche brand trophy series worldwide. Moreover, it is run in various GT race series and at long distance events. The 911 GT3 Cup is the basis model of Porsche’s racing vehicle range. Additionally, Porsche Motorsport offers the 911 GT3 R for championships complying with GT3 regulations and the 911 GT3 RSR built according to GT2 rules.

Kuba Giermaziak 50th Supercup winner

Stuttgart. In a turbulent rain race, Kuba Giermaziak celebrated his maiden victory in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the Hungaroring near Budapest. With his win, the Pole goes down in the successful history of the world’s fastest international one-make race series as the 50th winner out of 201 races contested so far. At the wheel of his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS street sports car, the VERVA Racing pilot put in a brilliant drive to outpace Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit) by 18.783 seconds. Third place was enough for Bleekemolen’s British teammate Sean Edwards to snatch the championship lead.

Kuba Giermaziak claimed the maiden win for a Polish and East European driver by a huge margin, very rarely seen in this fiercely-contested championship. Many young pilots have used the one-make series run as support to the Formula 1 as a launching platform for extremely successful careers in international GT racing and attracted attention with performances similar to that of the youngest driver in the field at 21 years. Taking up the sprint from fifth on the grid, Giermaziak immediately shot past the first rivals and already after one lap had moved into third place. In lap four he had snatched the lead.

During the first laps on the wet Grand Prix circuit, positions changed almost by the second. Kévin Estre, the French Supercup newcomer driving for Hermes Attempto Racing, made the most of his pole position and initially defended his lead. When he visited the gravel in the lap one, René Rast (Germany) took his place at the front. But under such difficult conditions the points’ leader from VELTINS Lechner Racing made several mistakes and fell back in the field. Over the course of the race, the title defender had to let more opponents past. With four laps to the flag, technical problems forced the German into retirement, which robbed him of his overall points’ lead. Nick Tandy also came away from the seventh round with a disappointing result. Driving for Konrad Motorsport, the Briton spun in the second lap and lost touch with the front-runners. Crossing the finish line in ninth, last year’s vice-champion very likely has to bury his title aspirations completely.

Meanwhile at the front, Kuba Giermaziak continued to pull away from his pursuers. With his VERVA Racing team, he had previously tested in the rain on the Hungaroring. Team boss Timo Rumpfkeil could implement the insight gained from this almost 1:1 in the race. Behind the leader, Sean Edwards and Kévin Estre managed to fend off any attacks for quite some time before the Frenchman made some errors and lost contact to the front-runners to finish in fifth. For the Briton, this didn’t bring much relief. His teammate Jeroen Bleekemolen put him under immense pressure from behind to finally pass him shortly before the finish in the final lap to snatch second. For the two-time Supercup winner, this marked his first podium result so far this season.

Behind the Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit duo, Norbert Siedler’s stunning chase through the field was rewarded with fourth place. Taking up the race from tenth place after a poor qualifying, VELTINS Lechner Racing sent the Austrian as well as René Rast into the race on brand new rain tyres. With sixth, Robert Lukas yielded his best result this season behind his teammate Kévin Estre.

Kuba Giermaziak (winner): “I’m absolutely delighted with my first victory in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, and my biggest thanks go to my team. It’s incredible how hard the boys work to put a perfect car on the track for us at every race. We tested here in Budapest, luckily in rain, and that paid off. We knew we’d do very well on the wet circuit, but we hadn’t anticipated that we’d do it with such a huge advantage. Despite the awful weather conditions I didn’t make any mistakes. I’m particularly pleased for the many Polish fans who came so far this weekend to support us. Thank you all very much.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen (second): “What a great race. I started from seventh, struggled with grip at the start and lost two places. But I crawled my way up lap by lap with a couple of good overtaking manoeuvres – huge fun! I tried to be cautious with my tyres over the whole distance, even during the formation lap, and it proved very helpful at the end when the track dried up, particularly for overtaking Sean.”

Sean Edwards (third): “Now that was one crazy race. I had a lot of fun. The grip wasn’t really great over the distance and I had to fight hard to defend my position. But there was nothing I could do about Jeroen. Still, I’m totally happy. Both cars from Abu Dhabi by tolimit on the podium, the first time this season – that’s a great result. I’m hoping we can continue like this at the next race in Spa. The championship is really exciting now.”

Race result
1. Kuba Giermaziak (PL) VERVA Racing Team, 30:12.507 minutes
2. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 18.783 seconds
3. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 19.449
4. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 21.931
5. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 23.112
6. Robert Lukas (PL), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 24.539

Drivers’ classification after 7 of 11 races
1. Sean Edwards (GB), 106 points
2. René Rast (D), 105
3. Norbert Siedler (A), 97
4. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), 90
5. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 86
6. Nick Tandy (GB), 79

Round 8 of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place on 28 August as support to the Formula 1 race in Spa-Francorchamps/Belgium.

Strong newcomer Kévin Estre surprises with first pole position

Stuttgart. Kévin Estre’s first season in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup is going much better than he imagined. With the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Hermes Attempto Racing, the Frenchman secured his first pole position for round seven of the world’s fastest international one-make cup on the Hungaroring. In his last quick qualifying lap on the Grand Prix circuit near Budapest, he undercut the previous top time of Sean Edwards, the Barcelona winner from Great Britain, by 0.041 seconds.

Taking up Sunday’s race from the third spot is title defender René Rast from Germany. Currently leading the points after four victories so far this season, the VELTINS Lechner Racing pilot was a good tenth of a second adrift of the surprising top time of the Supercup newcomer Kévin Estre. Lining up alongside Rast on the second row is Christian Engelhart from Germany, Istanbul winner and Konrad Motorsport driver. Poland’s Kuba Giermaziak (VERVA Racing Team), who recently took up the 200th Supercup race from pole position on the Nuerburgring, posted the fifth quickest time ahead of Britain’s Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport). Last year’s vice-champion is still waiting to claim his first win in this season’s Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the flagship series of 19 Porsche makes cups worldwide.

The fourth grid row is firmly in the hands of the Dutch: Two-time Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit) in seventh starts next to Patrick Huisman, who with four championship titles and 24 race victories is the most successful pilot in Supercup history. On the Hungaroring, he has notched up three wins by now. Austria’s Norbert Siedler did not manage to secure a particularly good starting position for Sunday’s sprint: Currently ranking third, the VELTINS Lechner Racing driver only set the tenth fastest time.

Kévin Estre (pole-sitter): “I’m thrilled about my first pole position in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup. We were already pretty good during free practice and we were even better today. The team put a perfectly set-up car on the track for me and my lap was great – that’s how things should be. I’m feeling very positive about the race. This track suits me. If I don’t make any mistakes, then it should be possible for us to bring home a top result.”

Sean Edwards (2nd in qualifying): “Things ran much better today than yesterday. Our mechanics worked through the night after free practice and that paid off. The circuit only allowed one quick lap before the grip went. My lap was not optimal, otherwise it would have been good enough to set pole and earn the two extra points which I sorely need. Still, we’re satisfied. Now I’m hoping for a good start tomorrow, then anything is possible.”

René Rast (3rd in qualifying): “Well, I’m actually pleased that it’s Kevin and not Sean who got those two extra points for the pole. I’m happy enough with third place. I take up the race tomorrow from the clean, left side of the track and that surely gives me an advantage that I can hopefully use. With a view to my championship lead, I’d also be totally happy with third in the race.”

Qualifying result
1. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, 1:49.441 minutes
2. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 0.041 seconds
3. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 0.113
4. Christian Engelhart (D), Konrad Motorsport, + 0.179
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), VERVA Racing Team, + 0.211
6. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 0.272

The race on Sunday will be televised live by TV stations Eurosport 2 (11.30 hours) and Sky Sport 2 (11.40 hrs) on 31 July. Moreover, Eurosport broadcasts highlights of the race at 17.30 hrs in its “Motorsport Weekend Magazin” programme.

Porsche teams hope for a good start to the second half of season

Stuttgart. With the race on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on 6 August, the American Le Mans Series heads into the second half of the season. On the storied circuit in the Midwest of America, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) are eager to continue the success story with the Flying Lizard Motorsports-run 911 GT3 RSR that Porsche wrote over the last years.

The race

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge has been contested since 2001 – with a break in 2003 – as part of the American Le Mans Series. On this weekend, fans get two for the price of one: Aside from the world’s fastest sports cars, they are also treated to another very popular US championship – the Indycar Series.

The circuit

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is 3.621 kilometres long and features 13 corners. It is situated north of Cincinnati not far from Lexington in the US state of Ohio. The circuit opened in 1962 and was adapted to the latest safety standards in 1990.

The Porsche drivers

As reigning GT champions of the American Le Mans Series, Porsche factory pilots Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) compete with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR entered by Flying Lizard Motorsports. In the second car of this successful squad from California, American Seth Neiman teams up with his compatriot Darren Law. Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) shares the cockpit of Falken Tire’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with Bryan Sellers from the USA. Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) again start for Paul Miller Racing in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

Quotes before the race

Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport: “The changes to the Balance of Performance measures that were originally to be introduced at the last race in Mosport will now finally be enforced in Mid-Ohio. That’s why I expect some exciting race action.”
Joerg Bergmeister: “A classic race track with long straights and tight corners. It’s demanding and great fun. It’s important to get a good grid position in Mid-Ohio and above all to find the right set-up. We’ll have to work particularly hard with our engineers, because the Indycars leave a lot of rubber on the track and that constantly changes the grip level. You have to have the right touch.”
Patrick Long: “Our team has managed to find the right set-up for our car on every track to now. Hopefully, the boys will do it again in Mid-Ohio, even if it’s especially tricky there. We’ve already shown that this circuit suits us very well.”
Wolf Henzler: “Mid-Ohio is one of the venues where we tested during the Le Mans break. Thanks to this we’ve made great strides forward, and we reaped the rewards in Lime Rock. I just hope that will also be the case in Mid-Ohio. The circuit isn’t extremely demanding but it has several great corners.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The most successful GT race car of the last years takes off into the season with a raft of improvements. The output of the four-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine has increased to 455 hp (335 kW). Priority in the further 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

In the past, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has always proven to be excellent turf for Porsche. With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Joerg Bergmeister celebrated two victories in the GT2 class – in 2009 with Patrick Long, and in 2007 with Johannes van Overbeek. Wolf Henzler won here in 2006, also with Johannes van Overbeek, who triumphed in 2004 with Darren Law. In 2005, class victory went to Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, in 2002 to Kevin Buckler and B. J. Zacharias. Mid-Ohio is an important milestone in Porsche motorsport history primarily because Timo Bernhard und Romain Dumas brought home the first overall victory in 2006 with the Weissach-developed and built Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype.

Live on internet

The race in Mid-Ohio takes off on Saturday, 6 August, at 15.30 hours local time (21.30 hours CEST) and is broadcast live in the internet on www.americanlemans.com. The GT qualifying on Saturday will be shown from 20.40 hours CEST on www.porsche.com/alms-live.

The American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. All classes start together but are classified separately:

GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer tops the popularity scale with the Cayenne and Carrera

Stuttgart. American customers have awarded top marks to Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, for the seventh time in succession: according to the latest study entitled “Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL)” by J.D. Power and Associates, the renowned American market research institute, Porsche is still the most attractive car brand in the USA.

In regard to vehicle rating, the Cayenne SUV took first place in its segment. The Porsche 911 also gained the most points in its class. The overall ranking is calculated from ten different categories, including driving dynamics and design, but also suitability for daily use and comfort of the vehicles. This year’s survey is based on the information from around 73,000 new car buyers regarding a total of 234 different models which were registered between November 2010 and February 2011.

This outstanding result from the American market researchers is especially significant for the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer: North America is traditionally the world’s most important market for Porsche.

Sean Edwards aims to keep title fight open with second season win

Stuttgart. It’s all on in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup: Just one week after the race on the Nuerburgring, the world’s fastest international one-make series heads into the final phase of a thrilling season on the Hungaroring on July 31st. On the demanding Grand Prix circuit not far from Budapest René Rast from Germany aims to extend his lead in the overall classification with VELTINS Lechner Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

So far this season, the title defender has taken home victories from Monaco, the Nuerburgring-Nordschleife, Silverstone and last weekend from the Grand Prix circuit of the Nuerburgring. And now comes the 4,378 kilometre Hungaroring track as his all-time favourite. “This circuit suits me, I feel really good on this track,” says the 2009 champion and third place-getter last year. “At the moment our team is riding a real high. We have to take this momentum with us to Budapest, then we’ll be right up there again.”

There is one rival who is determined to put a spoke in the works, and that is Britain’s Sean Edwards driving for the Abu Dhabi by tolimit team. Currently ranking second in the championship with a victory in Barcelona to his credit, Edwards is eager to use all his skills to hamper René Rast’s charge and reduce the gap to the leader. “If René wins in Budapest,” he says, “then it’s going to be really, really tough to catch him. But I don’t give up that easily. As long as I have a shot at the title I’ll be out there gunning for it.”

On the circuit where the iron curtain was raised in 1986 for Formula 1 and on which the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup has raced every year since 1993, the competition has always been hot – and not just because of the sweltering summer temperatures in Hungary at this time of year. Overtaking is only possible if the driver in front makes a mistake, and the way to victory is tough on this track. Only one Supercup pilot has won on the Hungaroring more than once: Patrick Huisman. The Dutchman from the Bleekemolen squad has notched up five wins in Hungary. It’s no surprise that he is looking forward to the race. “The circuit offers extremely diverse challenges,” he says, “the chicanes are particularly interesting. That’s what I love.”

Christian Engelhart, the Konrad Motorsport pilot from Germany and winner of the season-opener in Istanbul, also likes the Hungaroring, in particular the flowing mid-section with its rapid succession of chicanes. “At times you have to turn very, very early in order to get through the next corner well,” he says. “I also like how the track follows the contours of the countryside and that in some places you drive straight towards the grandstands. This way, you get direct feedback from the fans.” Last year’s winner Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) would very likely welcome some good feedback. A lot is at stake for the Briton. Points alone will probably not be enough for last year’s vice-champion to pose any serious threat to front-runner René Rast and to stay in the race for the title. What he needs is his first win.

For Mathias Lauda (Konrad Motorsport Austria) a maiden victory in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup is still a distant prospect. Still, as a newcomer in the Supercup, the son of racing legend Niki Lauda is finding his stride. “It was hard at the beginning, I couldn’t do any testing. And on many of the circuits I simply didn’t have the experience,” says the Austrian, who seemed pleased with his improving form recently on the Nuerburgring where he narrowly missed out on a top ten placing with eleventh. “Racing against such strong competition teaches me a lot. One thing’s for sure: My really great races are still to come.”

The race in Budapest will be televised live by TV stations Eurosport 2 (11.30 hours) and Sky Sport 2 (11.40 hrs) on 31 July. Moreover, Eurosport broadcasts highlights of the race on Sunday at 17.30 hrs in its “Motorsport Weekend Magazin” programme.

Points’ standings after 6 of 9 races

Driver classification
1. René Rast (D), 105 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 90
3. Norbert Siedler (A), 83
4. Nick Tandy (GB), 72
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), 70
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 68

BBS rookie classification
1. Kévin Estre (F), 50 points

Team classification
1. VELTINS Lechner Racing, 182 points
2. Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, 156
3. Konrad Motorsport, 132

Go-ahead for the extension of the Porsche site

Stuttgart. With the symbolic turning of the first sod, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, today heralded the start of the extension of its Research and Development Center in Weissach (Baden-Württemberg). The site is being enlarged through the addition of a highly modern design studio, a high-tech wind tunnel and an electronics integration centre. Porsche is investing around 150 million euro in this respect. Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management, welcomed Ursula Kreutel, Mayor of Weissach, Thomas Fritsch, Mayor of Mönsheim, Roland Bernhard, Chief Executive of the Böblingen District, and Karl Röckinger, Chief Executive of the Enz District, at the sod-turning ceremony.

“The extension of our Development Center is a good, far-sighted investment in the future of Porsche”, said Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG. “The expansion being made by Porsche in Weissach also represents a clear commitment to Baden-Württemberg as an industrial location.” Uwe Hück, Chairman of the Group Works Council, added: “These investments which we agreed in July 2010 to safeguard the site – ‘Independence through competitive advantage’ – will not only protect the jobs of our permanent staff, but will actually increase the number of permanent jobs. This will strengthen the independence of Porsche.”

The new wind tunnel will also enable the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer to cope with technological challenges in vehicle development in future. “Good aerodynamics make a major contribution towards low fuel consumption and high performance – both of which are important aspects in implementing Porsche Intelligent Performance”, said Wolfgang Hatz, Board member in charge of Research and Development of Porsche AG. The new electronics integration centre will combine segments which were previously spread over several buildings. “Our objective is also to continue developing electric and hybrid technology. We are creating the ideal conditions for attaining this objective with our new electronics integration centre”, added Hatz.

“Thanks to Porsche, we have the highest per capita trade tax revenue in the whole of Germany. The town will also profit from the extension of the Development Centre”, said Ursula Kreutel, Mayor of Weissach with confidence. Thomas Fritsch, Mayor of Mönsheim, agreed with his fellow Mayor: “Porsche is a great addition for the surrounding towns. We are therefore now all the more delighted with the extension of the Research Center.”

In addition to the extension of the site, Porsche is starting a wide-ranging human resources campaign. In the first six months of 2011, the company recruited well over 100 new engineers. Over 100 new employees will also be appointed by the end of 2011 in order to support the around 3,400 staff currently working in Weissach.

The new offices and the design studio will probably be ready for occupation in summer 2013. The wind tunnel will be completed in the first six months of 2014.

Roy found these on carmagazine.co.uk. I like what I see so far.

To see interior pictures please visit: 991 interior

Off with the old

On with the new GMG system

This is Richard Williams 2007 Turbo Coupe getting a new GMG exhaust system. I will post pictures of the finished car and a video with sound when Patrick gets it finished. Can’t wait to hear it!

The stock intercoolers and turbo’s will stay - for now.

Abu Dhabi hosts 2011 season finale

Stuttgart. The Porsche Mobil1 Supercup race calendar is once again complete. On the Yas Marina Circuit, the ultra-modern Grand Prix track in Abu Dhabi, the world’s fastest international one-make series contests rounds ten and eleven on the 12th and 13th of November – replacing the two races in Bahrain that were cancelled last March.

“Our teams look forward to returning to Abu Dhabi,” says Uwe Brettel, Head of Motorsport Sales at Porsche. “And we can offer our partners and sponsors a real highlight to conclude an exciting and interesting season.”

The Porsche Mobil1 Supercup has already visited the capital of the United Arab Emirates for its final race back in 2009. On the newly-opened Grand Prix circuit, René Rast won the first race. Jeroen Bleekemolen, already crowned as champion, clinched victory at race two.

Disappointing race for the title defenders

Stuttgart. The detour of the American Le Mans Series to Canada was not rewarded with success for the Porsche teams: After their second position in Lime Rock, the Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) went home empty-handed from round four of the season on the Mosport International Raceway close to Toronto. The best-placed Porsche team was factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany) and America’s Bryan Sellers who secured fifth place in the GT class with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Falken Tire squad.

With Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, four-time Mosport winner Joerg Bergmeister made a clean start and at times even took the lead. But during a pit stop after the halfway point in the 2:45-hour race, the #45 vehicle lost fluid from the power steering unit. Following the repairs, Patrick Long rejoined the race with a nine-lap gap to the GT front-runners to finally see the flag in twelfth place. This yielded zero points for the title defenders.

“Our car ran very well over the whole weekend,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “During my stint we were always in the top three and even had the lead. But when I tried to avoid a slower competitor, I spun, we lost the lead and then the power steering went. It was simply bad luck.” Patrick Long said: “After the pit stop we collected a lot of data but unfortunately no points.”

At his maiden race in Mosport, Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany) took over the wheel of the second Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports from his American teammate Seth Neiman while in 14th and pushed through to finish eighth. The GTC class victory went to Americans Spencer Pumpelly and Duncan Ende in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Round 5 of the American Le Mans Series takes place on 6 August in Lexington in the US state of Ohio.

Statistics: 4th race in Mosport, Canada

Result GT class
1. Magnussen/Gavin (DK/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 121 laps
2. Melo/Vilander (BRA/SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, 121
3. Werner/Auberlen (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 121
4. Müller/Hand (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 121
5. Henzler/Sellers (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 120
6. Beretta/Milner (MC/USA), Chevrolet Corvette, 119
8. Holzer/Neiman (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 118
10. Maassen/Miller (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 117
12. Bergmeister/Long (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 113

Result GTC class
1. Pumpelly/Ende (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 112 laps
2. von Moltke/Pierce (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 112
3. Faulkner/Pappas (IRL/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 111

Points’ standings GT class
Drivers
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 80 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 57
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 46
4. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 41
5. Olivier Beretta, Tommy Milner, Chevrolet, 39
6. Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 34

Manufacturers
1. BMW, 83 points
2. Chevrolet, 61
3. Ferrari, 52
4. Porsche, 50

Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 83 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 61
3. Risi Competizione, 41
4. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 40

Visit Stand 21

“I would be reluctant to play a race driver”

Stuttgart. Most television viewers know him as chief of police Thorsten Lannert in ‘Tatort’, Germany’s most popular detective drama series. That he sometimes chases criminals in a Porsche is no coincidence: Richy Mueller, 55, loves fast cars. The passionate motorsport fan has previously raced cars and bikes himself. At the 200th race of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the popular and versatile actor is a guest of Porsche this weekend at the Nuerburgring.

Mr Mueller, what experience made you a motorsport fan?
“I grew up in Mannheim, that’s close to the Hockenheimring, and I always watched motorbike races. It was incredibly fascinating. But I never even considered giving it a go myself.

But still, you gave it a try.
“Eventually, about 20 years ago, I remembered my old motorbike enthusiasm and started to race – at an age when others were retiring. I quickly noticed though that it was much too dangerous for me as an actor. The risk of falling off and breaking bones was simply too high.”

But your passion for racing didn’t diminish totally.
“I wanted to continue racing, but not with the motorbike. So I approached Zakspeed at the Nuerburgring and attended a couple of courses for race drivers. That was fun. I got my international C-licence and raced cars, including drives in the Porsche Supercup. My last Supercup race was in 2003 in Hockenheim. I finished 17th, which wasn’t at all bad for someone who only drives every couple of years.”

Would you dare to do it today?
“It still appeals to me, even though much has changed over the years. Everything has become so much more professional, the Porsche is now a real race car and it’s not so easy to handle at the limit. But then again it wasn’t easy back then to race against the likes of Patrick Huisman. It was a fantastic experience.”

What interests you the most these days – Formula 1?
“Less so. I actually find the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup or the GP2 more interesting because the drivers play a much more important role. In Formula 1, they largely depend on the technology. Timo Glock is a good example, he’s driving with the back-markers with inferior material. If he had a good car he’d probably be up the front.”

Have you ever played the role of a race driver?
“No, I’d be reluctant to do that. It’s always a little embarrassing. Earlier there were good race driver films, for instance with Steve McQueen or Paul Newman, but that’s a long time ago. Afterwards there was only trash. A while ago there was a film with Till Schweiger and Sylvester Stallone, they were driving Formula cars wheel-to-wheel at racing speed, wearing helmets and for the entire time they were yelling at each other. That’s impossible, totally unrealistic rubbish.”

Are there any exceptions?
“Sure, the documentary film about Ayrton Senna that is currently playing in cinemas. It’s a film that I personally found very moving. If you want to know how it really is to be a race driver, what motivates them and what they think, go and watch this film. Then you’ll know.”

What project are you working on at the moment?
“I’m shooting a comedy with depth. I play a pianist. It’s an adaptation of the non-fiction book “Anleitung zum Unglücklichsein”. Interesting material. It’s about a woman who attracts disaster. And it’s about people who make their own lives difficult. They become distrustful after three days of happiness, thinking it can’t be possible that I’m happy for so long.”

And when can we next watch you chasing criminals?
“My next ‘Tatort’ is on 9th October.”

René Rast wins 200th Supercup race

Stuttgart. The hero of the day in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup is René Rast. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by VELTINS Lechner Racing, the title defender from Frankfurt in Germany won the 200th race of the world’s fastest international one-make series on the Nuerburgring. This marks his fourth win so far this season. In a gripping race under typical Eifel weather conditions, he relegated Poland’s Kuba Giermaziak (VERVA Racing Team) to second place and further extended his championship lead.

The anniversary race of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, which has run as support to the Formula 1 worldwide since 1993, started with a worried glance at the low-hanging clouds. When the rain stopped shortly before the start, the majority of drivers opted for slicks – with Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (Team Bleekemolen) in position 12 on the grid selecting rain tyres. On the partly wet track, the Dutchman fought his way through half the field in the first lap to promptly move into first place. But his blaze of glory was short-lived: The slowly drying circuit foiled any further plans.

Sharing this fate were Britain’s Nick Tandy and Frenchman Kévin Estre. The title aspirant from Konrad Motorsport and the Supercup newcomer driving for Hermes Attempto Racing had such a lively encounter in the second corner that they were thrown remorselessly to the back of the field and went home without any championship points. This was particularly bitter for Nick Tandy, who as reigning vice-champion has yet to notch up a victory this season and for whom this setback is possibly decisive in his bid for the title.
At the head of the pack René Rast and the first-time pole-sitter Kuba Giermaziak delivered a tough fight for victory right to the flag. Still, the Pole drove a cautious race to clinch his best Supercup result so far. Britain’s Sean Edwards, who eventually brought home third in his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, posed no threat from behind. Trailing the Barcelona winner, Austria’s Norbert Siedler (VELTINS Lechner Racing) secured fourth, but not before fending off a strong attack from Stefan Rosina. Driving for VERVA Racing, the Slovakian secured his best result to date with fifth ahead of Jeroen Bleekemolen (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit), two-time Supercup champion from the Netherlands.

Putting in their personal best Porsche Mobil1 Supercup performance to now at the anniversary race in the Eifel were William Langhorne and Mathias Lauda. The American, who races for SANITEC Aquiles MRS Racing, finished tenth with the Konrad Motorsport pilot from Austria and son of racing legend Niki Lauda in eleventh.

René Rast (winner): “That was a perfect race. The conditions were unbelievably tough. First it was totally wet, then dry again. When you’re at the front it’s very difficult to predict what’s going to happen. You never know what to expect in the next second. It’s a lot easier for the guys behind me. They can just wait to see what I do. Towards the end I slowed the pace a little to bring my victory home safely. With an eye on the championship, this was a great weekend for us.”

Kuba Giermaziak (second): “Congratulations to René. He drove a strong race under the most difficult conditions. As the track dried up I was quicker, in fact I could have won today. At least we had the speed. But René is not one to make silly mistakes when he’s under pressure. And I wasn’t prepared to risk anything. So now we just have to keep waiting for our first win, but I’m quite sure it’ll happen this season.”

Sean Edwards (third): “A great race. I started from seventh on the grid and finished in third – that’s not bad under such tough conditions. In the dry we simply didn’t have the speed to attack.”

Race result
1. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 30:00.552 minutes
2. Kuba Giermaziak (PL) VERVA Racing Team, + 1.001 seconds
3. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 5.288
4. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 8.042
5. Stefan Rosina (SK), VERVA Racing Team, + 8.628
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 9.964

Drivers’ standings after 6 of 9 races*
1. René Rast (D), 105 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 90
3. Norbert Siedler A), 83
4. Nick Tandy (GB), 72
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), 70
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 68

* It has yet to be decided if and when there will be a replacement for the cancelled Formula 1 race in Bahrain with two rounds of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup.

Round 7 of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup takes place on 31 July as support to the Formula 1 race in Budapest/Hungary.

Best Porsche third on the grid

Stuttgart. With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) take up round four of the American Le Mans Series on Sunday in Mosport/Canada from third place. In the GT qualifying on the 3.957 kilometre Mosport International Raceway on the outskirts of the city of Toronto, Joerg Bergmeister was just two-tenths adrift of the fastest time. The German has won this race four times so far with Porsche.

“Again today, the set-up and balance of our car were top,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “Regardless of what our competitors do, we have to stick to our plan. We’re feeling confident that we can bring home a podium result from the race tomorrow.”

With Falken Tire’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) turned the seventh quickest lap. Bryce Miller (USA) planted his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by Paul Miller Racing on the eleventh grid spot. Position 13 in qualifying is occupied by American Seth Neiman, who shares the second Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 GT3 RSR with Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany).

The race starts on Sunday at 15.05 hours local time (21.05 hours CEST) and runs over 2:45 hours.

Result Qualifying
GT class
1. Dirk Müller (D), BMW M3 GT, 1:17.083 minutes
2. Bill Auberlen (USA), BMW M3 GT, + 0.059 seconds
3. Joerg Bergmeister (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.229
4. Scott Sharp (USA), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.428
5. Toni Vilander (SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.460
6. Jan Magnussen (DK), Chevrolet Corvette, + 0.497
7. Wolf Henzler (D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.881
11. Bryce Miller (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 3.294
13. Seth Neiman (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 5.610

GTC class
1. Damien Faulkner (IRL), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:22.861 minutes

Facts and figures

The American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race.

GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

All race cars start together but are classified separately. This ensures exciting and diverse racing with many overtaking manoeuvres. Points are only awarded for placings in each class.

First pole position for Kuba Giermaziak at anniversary race

Stuttgart. At the 200th race in the successful history of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, Kuba Giermaziak from Poland starts from pole position on the Nürburgring on Sunday. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by the VERVA Racing team, he turned the fastest qualifying lap for the first time. At 21, Giermaziak is the youngest driver in the series and currently sits seventh overall in the championship. His teammate from Slovakia, Stefan Rosina, secured the second grid spot with a gap of 0.295 seconds for the anniversary race of the world’s fastest international one-make series and rounded off a strong team performance.

Behind the VERVA Racing team pilots, title defender René Rast from Germany had to settle with the third quickest time. Driving for VELTINS Lechner Racing, the current points’ leader and winner of three race this season tackles the anniversary event on the circuit in Germany’s Eifel region alongside his British opponent and title rival Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport). Notching up the fifth fastest time, Austria’s Norbert Siedler (VELTINS Lechner Racing) secured a good starting position for Sunday, just like Patrick Huisman (Team Bleekemolen), the Supercup record winner from the Netherlands with sixth.

Sean Edwards from Great Britain had to settle for the seventh grid position. Driving for Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, the current number two in the championship faces a tough task in his bid to make a dent in the points’ difference between him and front-runner René Rast. This also applies to his teammate Jeroen Bleekemolen. The double Supercup champion from the Netherlands occupies the eighth spot ahead of Supercup newcomer Kévin Estre (France) and Robert Lukas (Poland), the Hermes Attempto Racing duo.

Kuba Giermaziak (pole-sitter): “It couldn’t have been better. I’m so thrilled with my first pole position. But we already noticed in free practice that we had the speed. The entire team prepared everything brilliantly. The Nürburgring is my absolute favourite, in fact I’m always fast here. Achieving pole position is of course a fantastic effort. Now we will try everything to turn it into a fantastic race result.”

Stefan Rosina (2nd in qualifying): “A huge compliment to my team. With two of us on the first two grid spots, it shows just how well we prepared. The race will certainly not be easy, after all we have a couple of hot-shots breathing hard down our necks. But first we’re going to enjoy this wonderful result and tomorrow we’ll be ready to fight for a top place.”

René Rast (3rd in qualifying): “I’m satisfied with third place. More important is that Nick and Sean are behind me. If I manage to beat them in the race then I can extend my points’ lead. But it looks like rain tomorrow, so in that case anything can happen.”

Qualifying result
1. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), VERVA Racing Team, 2:01.791 minutes
2. Stefan Rosina (SK), VERVA Racing Team, + 0.295 seconds
3. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 0.376
4. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 0.433
5. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 0.568
6. Patrick Huisman (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 0.801

He is driving a Z06 and not a Porsche but the video is halarious!

I love this guy!

The highlights of a success story

Stuttgart. The Porsche Mobil1 Supercup has reason to celebrate: On 24 July, the 200th race of the world’s fastest international one-make series takes off at the Nürburgring. The series has run as support to the Formula 1 races since 1993. Some interesting facts and figures of a success story:

The first race was run on 25 April 1993 as support to the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola. Victory went to Uwe Alzen, who was eventually beaten in the fight for the title by Altfrid Heger.

The closest title decision came in 1997. Patrick Huisman and Oliver Mathai both had 128 points to their credit. The title went to Huisman who had won three races, whilst Mathai triumphed just once.

Two records were set by Wolf Henzler, the champion of the 2004 season: His nine wins and ten fastest race laps are unrivalled. He posted pole position eight times, matching Joerg Bergmeister’s record from the 2001 season.

The most successful VIP driver was Mika Häkkinen. The eventual two-time Formula 1 World Champion won the Supercup races in Monaco and Budapest in 1993.

The most victories were claimed by Patrick Huisman. To date, the Dutchman has won 24 races – the first in 1996 at the Hockenheim round, the most recent in 2007 at Spa. In 18 races he started from pole-position – more than any other driver. A total of 48 drivers have joined the list of winners from the 199 Supercup races contested so far.

The most titles were also secured by Patrick Huisman. From 1997 to 2000 he was crowned champion four times straight. Two championships have been clinched by Richard Westbrook (2006, 2007) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (2008, 2009).

As the sole drivers, Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen (2009/13 races) and Frenchman Emmanuel Collard (1996/9) climbed the podium at every race of a season. They both took five wins.

The most successful Supercup countries are Germany and the Netherlands, each with six championship titles. Next comes France with three outright wins.

The youngest overall winner was René Rast who was 23 years old when he secured the title in 2010. The oldest was Frenchman Jean-Pierre Malcher: He was 45 when he took home the championship in 1995.

The most Supercup races were held in Monaco. The Principality hosted the series 19 times, followed by Budapest and Silverstone (18 each) as well as Hockenheim (17). All in all, the Supercup has been contested on 19 race tracks around the world.

New confidence for Porsche pilots after first podium

Stuttgart. Once a year, the American Le Mans Series makes a detour to Canada. On the Mosport International Raceway near the major metropolis of Toronto, round four of the race series featuring the world’s fastest sports cars takes off on 24th July. On this demanding circuit, Porsche factory pilots Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) aim to continue their strong performance with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, with which they recently scored their first podium result of the season in Lime Rock.

The race

The Grand Prix of Mosport has been a regular fixture on the calendar since the American Le Mans Series began in 1999. It is the only race held in Canada.

The circuit

The 3.957 kilometre Mosport International Raceway with its ten corners is situated in Bowmanville, about an hour’s drive east of Toronto. It is regarded as one of the fastest and most demanding circuits on the American Le Mans Series calendar. Canada’s oldest permanent race track opened in 1961 with a sports car race that Stirling Moss won with a Lotus 19. From 1967 to 1977, the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix was also held in Mosport.

The Porsche drivers

With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long contest the particularly tough GT class. Their works driver colleague, Wolf Henzler, shares driving duties in the cockpit of the Falken Tire team’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with Bryan Sellers (USA). Joining forces with American Seth Neiman in the second 911 GT3 RSR of Flying Lizard Motorsports is again Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany). The 911 GT3 RSR run by Paul Miller Racing is manned by Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA).

Quotes before the race

Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of motorsport: “Mosport is a track where engine performance is more important than on any other circuit. For this reason we were thrilled to hear that the rule-makers in the USA want to revise the imbalance that disadvantaged our cars. I hope that Flying Lizard and the Falken and Miller teams can continue their upward trend that they showed in Lime Rock.
Joerg Bergmeister: “Last year we travelled to Mosport without high expectations and we won. It’s not normally a circuit that particularly suits us and it features too many straights. But if we can manage to make everything come together like in Lime Rock recently then we might bring home a podium result. I’d be very happy with this.”
Patrick Long: “It’s not easy making a reliable prediction for Mosport. The track is very fast, and very demanding for the driver. It’s unforgiving with mistakes. That should work in our favour. I hope we can use this to our advantage.”
Wolf Henzler: “The tests that we conducted since Long Beach have brought us a huge step forward. This was clearly apparent in Lime Rock. We’re now in the position to drive consistently quicker lap times over a race distance. This will also help us in Mosport. There are many fast corners there that we drive in fourth and fifth gear, so our average speed is correspondingly high. I hope that we can continue our good performance from Lime Rock.
Marco Holzer: “Like Lime Rock, Mosport is a circuit that I’ve never raced on. So I’ll be taking a look at the videos again to check out the track before the first practice. I quickly became familiar with the Lime Rock circuit, so I’m hopeful it’ll be the same in Mosport. With its very fast corners, the track is a real challenge. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The most successful GT race car of the last years takes off into the season with a raft of improvements. The output of the four-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine has increased to 455 hp (335 kW). Priority in the further 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

Since 1999 Porsche has scored a total of seven class wins in Mosport. Joerg Bergmeister contributed greatly to four of these: In 2005 and 2009 he won with Patrick Long in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, in 2003 and 2004 he triumphed with his works driver colleague Timo Bernhard.

The schedule

The race in Mosport starts on Sunday, 24 July, at 15.05 hours local time (21.05 hours CEST). The GT qualifying on Saturday will be shown from 21.50 hours CEST on www.porsche.com/alms-live.

The American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race. All classes start together but are classified separately:

GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG’s main plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen is the first plant in the German automotive industry to have successfully passed an audit in accordance with the new, globally applicable energy management standard ISO 50001. Porsche’s central parts warehouse in Sachsenheim near Stuttgart also successfully passed this audit, carried out by TÜV SÜD.

The new 50001 norm from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) governs the requirements on an energy management system enabling companies systematically and continuously to improve energy-related performance and increase energy efficiency. The energy management system was integrated with the existing environmental management regime at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen and Sachsenheim sites, an important partial aspect of which is the “Porsche Resources and Energy Management”.

Porsche’s goal is to be able to improve even further on recording and evaluating energy consumption and highlight potential improvements, thus enhancing the sites’ energy efficiency. Wolfgang Leimgruber, Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics, said: “We are delighted about the successful audit because it shows that we are on the right track to a production which is energy-efficient and saves resources. Highest levels of environmental compatibility and sustainability are enshrined in our environmental policies. We will, therefore, continue to work on improving our energy balance.“

Porsche’s Zuffenhausen and Sachsenheim sites have managed to improve their energy efficiency in recent years. The energy management centre has been completely overhauled and equipped with the latest technical facilities, and during construction of the cogeneration plants – one at the Zuffenhausen site and one at the Sachsenheim site – system engineering and equipment with very high efficiency was used.

In addition, the central parts warehouse roof at Sachsenheim is used to generate solar power: 8,500 photovoltaic panels generate approximately two million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. And in Zuffenhausen the new paint shop is on the verge of going into production. It employs the latest plant technology – especially for protecting the environment. This is the first time that innovative technologies have been used by a car manufacturer: lower emissions allied with reduced energy and resource consumption accompanied by higher quality.

Strong rivals pursue points’ leader René Rast

Stuttgart. After a successful guest appearance at the Porsche Carrera World Cup, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup now returns for the second time this season to the Nürburgring on 24th July. It’s the 200th race in it’s successful history and rather than on the Nordschleife it takes place on the Grand Prix circuit. But the change of track doesn’t at all faze René Rast. “We’re doing well at the moment,” grins the points’ leader driving for the VELTINS Lechner Racing squad. “I don’t really mind where I win.”

The title defender from Germany, who celebrated the greatest success of his career with the World Cup victory, is the man to beat in the world’s fastest international one-make race series. His start to the season was somewhat bumpy until he turned the corner with his victory in Monaco. Recently on the storied Silverstone circuit, the home track of his arch rival Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport), he celebrated his third straight win. This success saw his old self-confidence return: “Earlier on we had a couple of hiccups, but now we’re back in force.”

Despite Rast’s winning streak, the fight for the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup title is still wide open before the anniversary race on the Nürburgring. Competing for the Abu Dhabi by tolimit team, Britain’s Sean Edwards secured his place amongst the hot favourites with his win in Barcelona. Although he lost the points’ lead at Silverstone, he hasn’t lost his faith in claiming the title. “Despite this little misfiring we’re still looking good,” he says. “Now we just have to stick at it.” Germany’s Christian Engelhart (Konrad Motorsport), winner of the season-opener in Istanbul, also has new hopes. After a lengthy lean spell he finally yielded a good result with fifth in Silverstone.

Fighting to keep up with the front-runners are two drivers that started into the season as keen title aspirants: Nick Tandy and Jeroen Bleekemolen. The Briton fell from the top of the points’ table after retiring from the Porsche Carrera World Cup. He finished four of the five rounds contested by now in second place, but is still waiting for his first win. Ranking third overall, he needs every point to maintain his bid for the title, as does Jeroen Bleekemolen of Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, who lies behind Austria’s Norbert Siedler (VELTINS Lechner Racing) in fifth. Bleekemolen, the two-time Supercup winner from the Netherlands, experienced a slow start to the season. With fourth place in Monaco as his best result to now he knows only too well that he has to pull out all stops if he doesn’t want to miss the championship boat. “On the Nürburgring,” he says, “only a podium result can help. Obviously a win would be the best. But with the competition at the top so close it’s going to be tough.”

In light of the strong competition, the performance of Supercup newcomer Kévin Estre is even more remarkable. The French Hermes Attempto Racing pilot raised eyebrows in Silverstone with third in qualifying, which he turned into his best race result of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup season with fourth place. His next goal? “The podium,” he says confidently, “preferably on the Nürburgring.”

TV stations Eurosport (11.45 hours) and Sky (11.40 hours) broadcast the race on the Nürburgring live on 24th July. Moreover, Eurosport telecasts highlights at 23.00 hours in its “Motorsport Weekend Magazin” programme.

Points’ standings after 5 of 9 races*

Drivers’ classification
1. René Rast (D), 85 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 74
3. Nick Tandy (GB), 72
4. Norbert Siedler (A), 69
5. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 58
6. Christian Engelhart (D), 53

BBS rookie classification
1. Kévin Estre (F), 50 points

Team classification
1. VELTINS Lechner Racing, 148 points
2. Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, 130
3. Konrad Motorsport, 124

* It has yet to be decided if and when there will be a replacement for the cancelled Formula 1 race in Bahrain with two rounds of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup.

Growth trajectory in Germany – Porsche Consulting is looking for 50 new employees

Stuttgart/Atlanta. Porsche Consulting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart, is setting up a subsidiary in the USA. Porsche Consulting Inc. headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, will commence operations in October with ten consultants. It will be the third foreign subsidiary after Milan in Italy and Sao Paulo in Brazil. “In the past five years we have generated income of approximately 20 million US dollars with local customers in the USA. That is positively crying out for a local presence. We are pleased to be able to announce this step”, says Norman Firchau, President and CEO of the new subsidiary Porsche Consulting Inc. in the USA.

Porsche Consulting is also growing in Germany. Approximately 50 new consultants are to be taken on in the current year. The recruitment focus is on (industrial) engineers having majored in vehicle and automotive technology, mechanical engineering, manufacturing industry or aerospace but also economists having majored in production, logistics, procurement and purchasing, development or sales.

Porsche Consulting is a leading consulting company in Germany. Working on behalf of their customers – ranging from the global business group to the SME – consultants optimise processes from production to supplier management, in research and development, marketing, in sales and in administration. Customers hail from the most diverse sectors such as the automotive industry, mechanical and electrical engineering, the construction industry, the aerospace industry, the consumer goods industry, commerce, banking and insurance, the health sector, traffic and transport.

In addition to Lean Management, namely the reduction of activities that do not add value, the elimination of waste and the rise of value creation, the US subsidiary will focus on Supply Chain Management and on optimising research and development processes. In the process, Porsche Consulting Inc. aims to generate 20 per cent of its revenue with Porsche and Volkswagen and 80 per cent with existing and new customers in the USA. Previously, management consultancy in the USA catered first and foremost for customers from the automotive industry, aviation, electrical engineering and tourism sectors.

Additional information is available from: www.porsche-consulting.com