Keagan Masters wins heat battle at the Lausitzring

After nine races, five different drivers have already stood on the top step of the podium in the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland.

“I’m extremely happy to score my first win of the season, even if it came rather unexpectedly after Flynt Schuring received a three-second penalty shortly after the finish. With the temperatures we had today, the cockpit felt like a sauna. As a South African, I probably had a small advantage,” said a delighted Masters after receiving his trophy from DTM driver Bastian Buus.

Armed with wet towels, fans and cooling vests, the drivers battled the heat before the start. Once the race got underway, however, they had to keep cool heads despite cockpit temperatures reaching around 65 degrees Celsius. Amand made a strong start and took the lead from pole-sitter Schuring. The Finn led until lap 22, when both Schuring and Masters launched a surprise attack at the end of the start-finish straight and overtook him simultaneously. The leading trio crossed the finish line in the order Schuring, Masters and Amand.

However, Schuring was handed a three-second penalty for an incorrect overtaking manoeuvre shortly after the finish, promoting Masters to his maiden victory of the season. Amand was classified second. “Of course, I’m disappointed not to have brought home the win. The heat certainly wasn’t the problem – I work on my fitness every day for conditions like these,” explained the Porsche Junior. Following the penalty, Schuring collected the trophy for third place.

On the 3.478-kilometre circuit, located around 60 kilometres from Dresden, Theo Oeverhaus (D/ID Racing) finished fourth. Alexander Tauscher (D/Target) crossed the line in fifth place, collecting enough points to retain the lead in the overall standings. Tauscher now has 150 points, while Schuring is second with 142. Oeverhaus follows closely in third on 138 points. Lausitzring winner Masters holds fourth place with 132 points.

Sam Jongejan (NL/Team75 Bernhard) finished sixth and was the highest-placed rookie as well as the top Talent Pool driver. Rookie championship leader Chester Kieffer (L/Schumacher CLRT) held on to third place when the lights went out but was handed a penalty lap for a false start. Combined with a later pit stop caused by a slow puncture, the Luxembourger dropped to the back of the field. Nevertheless, Kieffer continued to fight and set the fastest lap of the race in his 520 hp Porsche 911 Cup with a time of 1:22.857 minutes. The driver who records the most fastest laps over the course of the season will receive the “Fastest Lap Award” at the end of the year.

Round ten of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland gets underway on Sunday, 21 June, at 11:28 am. Live coverage on the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland YouTube and Facebook channels as well as on the Porsche Motorsport Hub begins 15 minutes earlier with a pre-race programme.

Result race 9, Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland

1. Keagan Masters (ZA/Proton Competition)
2. Marcus Amand (FIN/Proton Competition)
3. Flynt Schuring (NL/Schumacher CLRT)
4. Theo Oeverhaus (D/ID Racing)
5. Alexander Tauscher (D/Target)
6. Sam Jongejan (NL/Team75 Bernhard)
7. Matheus Ferreira (BR/Team GP Elite)
8. Joseph Warhurst (UK/Target)
9. Dirk Schouten (NL/Looping by CarTech)
10. Caleb Sumich (AUS/Target)

Points standings after 9 of 16 races

Drivers’ classification
1. Alexander Tauscher (D/Target), 150 points
2. Flynt Schuring (NL/Schumacher CLRT), 142 points
3. Theo Oeverhaus (D/ID Racing), 138 points

Rookie classification

1. Chester Kieffer (L/Schumacher CLRT), 158 points
2. Sam Jongejan (NL/Team75 Bernhard), 151 points
3. Caleb Sumich (AUS/Target), 122 points

ProAm classification

1. Michael Essmann (D/Team75 Bernhard), 177 points
2. Sören Spreng (D/GP Elite), 171 points
3. Samer Shahin (AUS/GP Elite), 137 points

Teams’ classification

1. Proton Competition, 237 points
2. Target, 209 points
3. Schumacher CLRT, 194 points