Ammermüller scores pole position

On the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, the German Michael Ammermüller (Lechner Racing Middle East) clinched pole position for round one of the international Porsche one-make cup series. “It couldn’t have gone better. You have to turn a perfect lap here because the tyres deteriorate quickly on this track, and I managed that perfectly,” declared Ammermüller. Lining up alongside the 29 year old on the first grid row for Sunday’s race is Frenchman Côme Ledogar (Martinet by Alméras), who planted his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on the second spot in the last minute of the qualifying. “I aim to go for victory,” said Ledogar (23) defiantly.

Porsche Junior Connor de Phillippi takes up the race from third place for his team VERVA Lechner Racing Team. “When we tested in Barcelona before the start of the season we experienced some difficulties with the setup. Our hard work on Friday paid off and I felt very good on the track today. Heading into the race from third puts me on course for the podium and that’s great,” said the 22-year-old American.

Catapulted to the top

Right at the start of the qualifying session, everything came together for Ammermüller: 1:50.349 minutes on the 4.627-kilometre circuit catapulted him to the top of the time sheet. The competition in the international field of 28 drivers from 13 countries is extremely tight: The best 13 in qualifying were separated by just one second. Posting fourth behind Ammermüller, Ledogar and de Phillippi was Jeffrey Schmidt (CH/The Heart of Racing by Lechner) from Switzerland ahead of Christian Engelhart (MRS GT-Racing) from Bavaria. Last year’s pole-sitter Philipp Eng (A/Market Leader Team) starts the race from sixth place.

The Porsche Junior Sven Müller (D/Lechner Racing Middle East) set the seventh quickest time on Saturday. “I found it tough out there. On my first set of tyres, a car in front of me cost me time in the third sector. In the end seventh place in such a strong driver field is okay,” said the 23 year old from Germany. Porsche Junior Matteo Cairoli (I/Market Leader Team), who contests his maiden season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, takes up the race from the tenth grid spot. “Unfortunately I don’t know where I lost time on the track. First I’ll have to analyse it, but I’ll do my best to make up positions in the race,” said the reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. The Porsche Juniors de Phillippi, Müller and Cairoli were selected at a talent search and are supported by Porsche for the 2015 season with a sum of 200,000 Euros each.

Live on TV

The race on Sunday over 14 laps (64.778 km) is broadcast by TV stations Sky Deutschland and Eurosport (each from 11.30 hrs) live.