On Friday, Norwegian Egidio Perfetti crossed the finish line in first place at the Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar Weekend in the Porsche 935 ahead of Germans Jan-Erik Slooten and Klaus Abbelen. On Saturday, Perfetti won against Slooten and Christian Ried.
The field treated spectators to spectacular races with spirited duels on the 7.004-kilometre racetrack. Among the 15 drivers were two Le Mans GTE-Am class winners, Perfetti and Ried, as well as the VIP driver, the six-time Olympic gold medallist in track cycling, Chris Hoy (GB). “The Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar Weekend was an absolutely successful event for us. It began on Wednesday with the popular drivers’ parade and finished on Saturday with Stéphane Ratel and Fritz Enzinger handing the participants their trophies. The spirit of the Porsche family was alive and well in the GT2 paddock and we’re satisfied in every respect,” declared Oliver Köppen, Manager Sales Europe South at Porsche Motorsport and Porsche Project Manager of the Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar Weekend.
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport and Porsche 935 rolled onto the grid as the most powerful vehicles of the weekend and thrilled fans at the racetrack. Three models of the new Porsche 935, limited to only 77 units, competed featuring a body reminiscent of the legendary Porsche 935/78, which fans dubbed “Moby Dick” due to its elongated shape and massive fairings. The newly developed Porsche 935 and the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport also underlined their competiveness on the racetrack. The clubsport car’s technology is based on the 911 GT2 RS high performance sports car. Both the road and the racing versions are mounted with the same powerplant: a state-of-the-art 3.8-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo-charged boxer engine.
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, was delighted with the smooth roll-out and success of the event: “We witnessed two great GT2 races at Spa this weekend. I hope that was just a foretaste of a new GT2 format next year. The fans were thrilled with the spectacular vehicles and the feedback from the organisers was also very positive.”
Egidio Perfetti, Mentos Racing (Porsche 935): “Two wins on one weekend, you can’t ask for more than that. Of course I’m absolutely delighted. My car was super and despite the changing conditions with sun and hot temperatures on Friday and cooler, even rainy conditions on Saturday, the team put a perfectly set-up car on the track for me.”
Jan-Erik Slooten, Iron Force Racing (Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport): “That was a really cool weekend here in Spa. It was an historic occasion with the Porsche GT2 races. I’m pleased to have climbed the podium twice. It was so much fun driving the new car.”
Christian Ried, Proton Competition (Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport): “We only took possession of the car two weeks ago and everything ran smoothly at Spa. We had to work on the setup during the practice and qualifying, but it ran well in the race. A fantastic weekend with a great car!”
Chris Hoy, Porsche AG (Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport): “That will definitely be a weekend that I’ll always remember. Being a part of the first Porsche GT2 event with the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport was fantastic. The car was perfect and I’m very grateful and happy to have been given the chance to be here.”
Result race 1
1. Egidio Perfetti (N), Mentos Racing, Porsche 935
2. Jan-Erik Slooten (D), Iron Force Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
3. Klaus Abbelen (D), Frikadelli Racing Team, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
4. Christian Ried (D), Proton Competition, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
5. Chris Hoy (GB), Porsche AG, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
6. Philipp Neuffer (D), Huber Sport, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
7. Georg Bernsteiner (D), Aquarius Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
8. Steffen Görig (D), Herberth Motorsport, Porsche 935
9. Frank Kräling (D), Spirit Race Team Uwe Alzen Automotive, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
10. Vincent Floirendo (RP), Ensport Motors by Absolute Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
11. Mark Ineichen (CH), GRT Grasser Racing Team, Porsche 935
12. Luc Vanderfeesten (B), Porsche Racing Experience by Manthey-Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
13. Jason Bell (USA), Spirit Race Team Uwe Alzen Automotive, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
14. Frank Gelf (D), Iron Force Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
15. James Sofronas (USA), Spirit Race Team Uwe Alzen Automotive, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Result race 2
1. Egidio Perfetti (N), Mentos Racing, Porsche 935
2. Jan-Erik Slooten (D), Iron Force Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
3. Christian Ried (D), Proton Competition, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
4. James Sofronas (USA), Spirit Race Team Uwe Alzen Automotive, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
5. Klaus Abbelen (D), Frikadelli Racing Team, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
6. Chris Hoy (GB), Porsche AG, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
7. Frank Kräling (D), Spirit Race Team Uwe Alzen Automotive, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
8. Steffen Görig (D), Herberth Motorsport, Porsche 935
9. Philipp Neuffer (D), Huber Sport, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
10. Georg Bernsteiner (D), Aquarius Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
11. Vincent Floirendo (RP), Ensport Motors by Absolute Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
12. Mark Ineichen (CH), GRT Grasser Racing Team, Porsche 935
13. Luc Vanderfeesten (B), Porsche Racing Experience by Manthey-Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
14. Jason Bell (USA), Spirit Race Team Uwe Alzen Automotive, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Frank Gelf (D), Iron Force Racing, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport: DNS
Preview to the GT2 Supersportscar Weekend
Two special GT2 models will make their debut on the occasion of the 24 Hours of Spa. In the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport and Porsche 935, ambitious private drivers will go head-to-head. The 15-strong international field will contest a 30-minute race on both Friday and Saturday. Several well-known drivers line up on the 7.004-kilometre Ardennes rollercoaster circuit: FIA-WEC drivers Christian Ried (D) and Egidio Perfetti (N) celebrate their GT2 debut along with the American driver James Sofronas, who contests the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge America, as well as the two Creventic 24h Series drivers Steffen Görig (D) and Mark Ineichen (CH). The six-time Olympic gold medallist in track cycling, Chris Hoy (GB), will also take the wheel of a GT2 vehicle.
911 GT2 RS Clubsport und 935
“The Spa 24-hour race is the perfect stage for the race debut of these spectacular GT2 models” Fritz Enzinger
The “Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar Weekend” is a one-off event. “The Spa 24-hour race is the perfect stage for the race debut of these spectacular GT2 models. Both vehicles can be fielded at Clubsport level and at selected motorsport events. We’re currently involved in fruitful discussions for the coming year,” says Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. At Spa, customer teams will campaign the GT2 vehicles, with the list including Manthey-Racing, Herberth Motorsport, Frikadelli Racing Team, Iron Force Racing and Motopark.
“We’re delighted that fans get to witness great drivers, professional teams and two incredibly spectacular vehicle types on the racetrack. This GT2 event, run exclusively with Porsche models, is the perfect chance for us to showcase just how competitive our clubsport vehicles are,” explains Oliver Köppen, Manager Sales Europe South at Porsche Motorsport and Porsche Project Manager of the Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar Weekend. Lining up alongside the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport on the grid are three models of the new limited edition Porsche 935.
Porsche unveiled the new Porsche 935 in autumn 2018 on the occasion of the Rennsport Reunion VI at the Laguna Seca Raceway (USA). The 515 KW (700 hp) racer featuring a body reminiscent of the legendary Porsche 935/78 will be produced in a small run of just 77 units. The spectacular cutting-edge aerodynamics is a completely new development and pays tribute to the Porsche 935/78 Le Mans race car, which fans dubbed “Moby Dick” due to its elongated shape, massive fairings and white base colour. The racing car’s technology is also based on the 911 GT2 RS high performance sports car.
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport celebrated its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018. The 515 KW (700 hp) racing version of the road-legal 911 GT2 RS sports car is limited to 200 units. The technology of the most powerful car from Weissach is also based on the high performance 911 GT2 RS sports cars. The racing car shares the same powerplant as its road-going cousin: a state-of-the-art 3.8-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo-charged boxer engine.
Preview to Total 24 Hours of Spa
Porsche and its international customer teams take on the race with an impressive fleet of 911 GT3 R. A total of nine GT3 racing cars from Weissach will tackle the event at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on 27/28 July, six of them in the GTE-Pro class. The tradition-steeped event in the Ardennes counts towards the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and is also round three of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. The customer squad ROWE Racing fields three Porsche 911 GT3 R with nine drivers from the factory squad of the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer. KÜS Team75 Bernhard, GPX Racing and Dinamic Motorsport also campaign a 500+hp Porsche 911 each in the top category.
“With six pro vehicles and three contesting the Pro-Am class, we’re very well represented in the 72-strong field. There has never been this many GT3 cars at the 24 Hours of Spa. We’ve ticked everything off our to-do list at the official test. The lap times, vehicle handling over longer distances and the feedback from our customer teams have all been very positive,” says Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “We’re as well prepared as we can be, and we’re excited to tackle the biggest GT3 race of the year. We’re expecting a strong performance with our experienced partner teams at the classic in Belgium.”
The race
The 24 Hours of Spa enjoys a long tradition. The first marathon event took place in 1924, at that time on a 14.863-kilometre course between the towns of Malmedy, Francorchamps and Stavelot. In 1979, the race was held for the first time on today’s permanent racetrack measuring around seven kilometres. Porsche has celebrated six overall victories in the long and illustrious history of the Belgian endurance race for GT vehicles. More than 70 cars take up this year’s race in four different classes. Professional teams contest the Pro class, predominantly with works drivers sharing the cockpits. In the Am-category, ambitious amateurs share driving duties with professionals, and the Silver Cup is reserved exclusively for gentlemen drivers.
The Porsche teams and drivers
Sharing the wheel of the No. 98 car fielded by ROWE Racing are Germany’s Sven Müller with the two French drivers Romain Dumas and Mathieu Jaminet. The three recently secured third place at round two of the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Laguna Seca (USA) and currently rank fourth in the overall classification. Sharing the cockpit of the No. 99 sister car are the Porsche Young Professionals Dennis Olsen (Norway) and Matt Campbell (Australia) as well as works driver Dirk Werner (Germany). This crew line-up won the season-opening round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Bathurst (Australia) and now sits second in the drivers’ classification after round three. “At the official test everything ran smoothly,” says Campbell. “Our chances look good to bring home more vital points towards the IGTC overall classification from the season highlight. This will be my first time contesting the 24 Hours of Spa. I love the track and I very much look forward to a close and exciting race.”
At the wheel of the third Porsche 911 GT3 R (No. 998) run by the German customer team sits the Frenchmen Patrick Pilet and Frédéric Makowiecki with their British factory driver teammate Nick Tandy. “I haven’t contested the Spa event since 2016, so I’m really excited to go back. I won the Pro-Am class there once. Now it’s time to take the overall win,” says Pilet. In the identical No. 117 car fielded by the KÜS Team75 Bernhard, team owner Timo Bernhard (Germany) joins forces with Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Earl Bamber (New Zealand). “The 24-hour race at Spa is the highlight of the year for me and for my entire team. The competition at the top will be incredibly tough again this year. We’re tackling the race with the same driver line-up as the last two years and our pit crew is also virtually unchanged. This consistency combined with the strengths of the new Porsche 911 GT3 R should give us good chances in the race,” says Bernhard. “Spa will be a very special race for me, as well,” declares Vanthoor. “It’s my only home race this year and I definitely want to win there with Porsche.”
Die Teams und 911 GT3 R in Spa
In the No. 20 car, GPX Racing relies on the two world endurance champions Kévin Estre (France) and Michael Christensen (Denmark) as well as the Austrian Richard Lietz, who won the FIA WEC title in 2015. “It’s always tricky driving amongst more than 70 GT3 cars on a seven-kilometre racetrack. We have to try to get through the heavy traffic unscathed and without making any mistakes,” says Estre. “I get the chance to drive the Porsche in the Gulf livery for the first time. That makes this weekend extra cool.” Klaus Bachler (Austria), Andrea Rizzoli (Italy) and Zaid Ashkanani (Kuwait) man the No. 54 car campaigned by Dinamic Motorsport. The trio won the season-opening round of the GT Series Endurance Cup in Monza (Italy).
The Modena Motorsports team fields a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Pro-Am Cup. The Canadian John Shen shares the wheel of the No. 16 car with Mathias Beche (Switzerland), Benny Simonsen (Denmark) and Philippe Descombes (France). In the same category, the German brothers Alfred and Robert Renauer join forces with their compatriot Ralf Bohn and the Swiss driver Daniel Allemann in the No. 91 Porsche 911 GT3 R run by Herberth Motorsport. OpenRoad Racing lines up on the grid with an identical GT3 racer (No. 121) shared by Francis Han Joe Tija (Netherlands), Michael William Soeryadjaya (India), Remo Arnaldo Ruscitti (Italy) and Antares Au (Great Britain).
The Porsche 911 GT3 R
The Porsche 911 GT3 R was newly developed for the 2019 season. Improvements in the areas of aerodynamics, kinematics, efficiency and driveability were systematically implemented from the insights garnered from the many race outings of its predecessor. The six-cylinder engine in the rear of the GT3 customer racer produces over 368 kW (500 hp). The successful predecessor has notched up victories in numerous international racing series, for example in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, the World Challenge, the ADAC GT Masters, at the Nürburgring 24-hour race and the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The schedule
The 24-hour race gets underway on Saturday, 27 July, at 4:30pm. The event can be viewed by live stream on the internet website of the Blancpain GT Series as well as on the homepage of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
This is the Intercontinental GT Challenge
The 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge is the most important racing series for GT3 vehicles and is made up of five races on five continents. While the teams were only permitted to field 2018-spec GT3 cars at the season-opening round in Bathurst (Australia), the latest spec is sanctioned for the Laguna Seca (USA), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Suzuka (Japan) races and the season finale in Kyalami (South Africa). Porsche does not contest the international racing series for GT3 cars with a factory squad, but instead supports various customer teams in their campaign.
The Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
The Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, also run by the SRO Motorsports Group, is reserved exclusively for GT3 vehicles. Storied racetracks, cost-effective conditions of participation and equality in terms of technology thanks to the Balance of Performance form the foundations of this customer-oriented championship. The season highlight of the championship, the 24 Hours of Spa, is run alongside the Intercontinental GT Challenge. In the pan-European series, there are overall classifications for teams and drivers.
