Dylan Pereira extends championship lead with third win of the season

Race

The German finished third on the Formula 1 circuit in the Ardennes behind the defending champion Larry ten Voorde from the Netherlands. His rivals had been warned. “I’ll get off the line perfectly and immediately put some space between me and the rest of the field,” Dylan Pereira revealed his race strategy already before start. On Saturday, the Luxembourger posted pole position for the Supercup race at Spa-Francorchamps. For Sunday’s race, Pereira then implemented this plan perfectly: Right after the start, he defended his front spot at the wheel of his ca. 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by the BWT Lechner Racing team. Lap by lap, he then continued to pull clear of his pursuers. At the finish line after twelve laps, Pereira had built up an almost seven-second advantage over Dutchman Larry ten Voorde – a small eternity by Supercup standards. The defending champion from the GP Elite squad managed to overtake the second-placed Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich (SSR Huber Racing) on the final lap. 

“I even managed to conserve my tyres because I wanted to be ready for the restart after a safety car phase. I only picked up my pace a little on the last laps. Then it was just a matter of not making any mistakes,” declared Pereira. Thanks to his third win of the season, he has extended his championship lead to twelve points. “My chances of winning the title look really good now. At the moment, I think we’re strong enough as a team to tackle the last two races feeling optimistic.”

All hopes for title defender Larry ten Voorde are pinned on the upcoming home race in Zandvoort. With two races left on the calendar, he lies 15 points behind Pereira. “If I want to have a chance against Dylan, I have to win next weekend,” said the Dutchman. “But we need to do better. He was simply too fast at Spa-Francorchamps.” With an impressive overtaking manoeuvre, the GP Elite driver snatched second place from Germany’s Laurin Heinrich. “I figured Laurin had problems. When he braked for the hairpin corner at the end of the start-finish straight, he opened the door for me and I grabbed my chance,” says ten Voorde, describing the decisive moment. 

Heinrich took it in his stride: “My whole race didn’t go so smoothly. I knew Larry would try to attack near the end. If I’d fended him off once, I’m certain he would have succeeded the next time. Under such circumstances, I’m pretty happy with third place.” The 20-year-old from Germany maintains his second place in the standings.

Oliver Schwab, Project Manager of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, looks ahead to the remaining Supercup races at Zandvoort in the Netherlands and Monza (Italy) with interest: “As the 30th Supercup season draws to a close, a three-way fight is unfolding. Three drivers from three different teams are very close in the overall standings. We’re sure to witness a very interesting final phase.” 

The possible title decision in the rookie classification was deferred. Denmark’s Bastian Buus from the BWT Lechner Racing team continued his flawless streak and set a new record with his sixth straight victory. Finishing sixth overall, Buus, however, did not collect enough points to take home an early crown. Lorcan Hanafin threw a proverbial spanner in the works. The UK driver from the FACH AUTO TECH squad delivered his best performance to date with seventh place. As a result, Hanafin still has a chance, albeit small, of catching Buus in the race for the rookie trophy. 

First place in the ProAm category went to Aaron Mason from the Pierre Martinet by Alméras team for the second time this season. Mason’s Norwegian teammate Roar Lindland defended his lead in this class with third place. 

Next Supercup round already this coming weekend at Zandvoort

The Spa-Francorchamps race marked the start of a so-called “triple header” for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. This coming weekend (2 to 4 September 2022) Zandvoort hosts round seven of the season. A week later, the finale will be contested at Monza in northern Italy (9 to 11 September 2022). 

The Circuit Zandvoort is the most recent addition to the list of racetracks on which the Supercup has made guest appearances in its 30-year history. In 2021, the international one-make cup was contested for the first time on the 4.259-kilometre racetrack in the dunes on the North Sea coast. The debut concluded with the first Supercup victory for today’s Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich. “To compete in Zandvoort watched by around 100,000 spectators is an incredible experience. I won my first Supercup race there last year – with the same team I’m competing for now. So we’re perfectly prepared,” said the SSR Huber Racing driver. 

Four-time winner of the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia as a guest driver

One of the guest drivers at the Supercup race in Zandvoort is Lukas Sundahl. The 25-year-old receives support from Porsche Sweden and tackles the race for Fragus Motorsport. For Sundahl, this is just his second outing in the international one-make cup. In his homeland, however, he is one of the most experienced – and fastest – 911 drivers: between 2018 and 2021, Sundahl won the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia title four times in a row. 

Result race 6 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Spa-Francorchamps (B)

1. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing), 28:49.835 minutes
2. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), +6.943 seconds
3. Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing), +8.077 seconds
4. Marvin Klein (F/CLRT), +9.031 seconds
5. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), +9.963 seconds
6. Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), +14.144 seconds

Points’ standings 2022 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (after 6 of 8 races)

1. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing), 117 points
2. Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing), 105 points
3. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 102 points
4. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), 92 points
5. Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 83 points

Qualifying

Dylan Pereira has secured a promising grid position to achieve his third Supercup win in Spa-Francorchamps after 2019 and 2021: The Luxembourger from the BWT Lechner Racing squad qualified on pole position on the Belgian Formula 1 circuit. 

The second fastest time was set by Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich. Driving the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by his SSR Huber Racing team, the German was just 0.364 seconds off pole position. Frenchman Marvin Klein (CLRT) and defending Supercup champion Larry ten Voorde (Team GP Elite) from the Netherlands lock out the second grid row. Round six gets underway on Sunday (28 August) at 12.05 pm right before the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.

Heading into the qualifying, Dylan Pereira was not sure if the fastest time would even be in his best interest. The reason for this is that the Formula 1 circuit in the Ardennes has a special characteristic: Shortly after the start, following the spectacular Eau Rouge/Raidillon combination, comes the ca. two-kilometre-long Kemmel straight. “It’s the perfect place to overtake out of a slipstream, especially on the first lap when all the cars are still relatively bunched up,” explains Pereira. “Whoever is in the front has a huge disadvantage there.” 

Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich, the second fastest qualifier in the 911 GT3 Cup, adds another critical factor: “Before Eau Rouge is the La Source hairpin. Things usually get pretty chaotic here after the start. The further down the grid you are, the greater the risk. If I had a choice, I’d rather start from pole position,” states the 20-year-old German. 

Pereira and Heinrich belong to a group of five who have pulled slightly clear of the rest of the field in the overall classification. Another is the reigning Supercup champion Larry ten Voorde (GP Elite), who, clinching the fourth place on the grid, also has an excellent chance for a top result in Sunday’s race. Currently ranking third in the standings, the Dutchman shares the second grid row with Frenchman Marvin Klein (CLRT). Third row went to rookies Lorcan Hanafin (FACH AUTO TECH) from the UK and Bastian Buus (BWT Lechner Racing). After five races, the Dane is currently fifth overall in the championship. 

Bad luck plagued Harry King from England. Ranking fourth in the overall standings, the BWT Lechner Racing driver was on his way to setting a top time in the final seconds of the dry qualifying session. Shortly before the finish line, he became involved in a collision while overtaking a slower competitor. King had to settle for his previously set eighth fastest time. 

To avoid similar problems on Sunday, pole-setter Pereira has come up with a simple plan: “I’ll get off the line perfectly and immediately put some space between me and the rest of the field.” 

Round six of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on TV and the Internet

The 12-lap race on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps takes off on Sunday (28 August 2022) at 12:05 pm CEST. The TV station Eurosport and the streaming service f1tv.formula1.com provide live coverage.

Qualifying result, round 6 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Spa-Francorchamps (B)

1. Dylan Pereira (Luxembourg/BWT Lechner Racing), 2:20.471 minutes
2. Laurin Heinrich (Germany/SSR Huber Racing), +0.364 seconds
3. Marvin Klein (France/CLRT), +0.414 seconds
4. Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Team GP Elite), +0.466 seconds
5. Lorcan Hanafin (United Kingdom/FACH AUTO TECH), +0.664 seconds
 

The preview

With three races left on the 2022 calendar, the battle for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup title heats up. A leading pack of five drivers have pulled well clear of the rest of the field in the overall rankings of the international one-make cup contested with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Dylan Pereira travels to round six in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) this coming weekend as the series leader. Thanks to his wins in Imola (Italy) and Spielberg (Austria), among other point-scoring results, the BWT Lechner Racing driver has eked out a narrow four-point advantage over Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich. Competing for the SSR Huber Racing squad, the German has clinched one victory at Silverstone in England so far this season. The GP Elite driver from the Netherlands, Larry ten Voorde, currently ranks third overall. The reigning Supercup champion won the race in Monaco. 

Harry King from the UK in fourth place is the only driver in the group of five who has not yet won a race. His BWT Lechner Racing teammate Bastian Buus turned heads at the previous race in Le Castellet (France): At just his fifth Supercup race, the Dane outpaced the rest of the field in his 911 for the first time. Thanks to this victory, the rookie has moved to within 19 points of the series leader Dylan Pereira in fifth place overall. With 25 points up for grabs for a race win, he too has joined the circle of title aspirants. 

“The fact that five drivers from three teams are fighting for the championship lead shows just how fiercely competitive the Supercup is. I’m particularly pleased that the rookie Bastian Buus is in the top group,” states Oliver Schwab, the Project Manager of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Thirty-two drivers have registered for the upcoming race at Spa-Francorchamps. The statistics show two favourites: Dylan Pereira and Laurin Heinrich. Pereira, the current series leader in the Supercup, clinched victory at the 2019 race on the Belgian Formula 1 circuit and also won the 300th anniversary race there in 2021. Almost four months ago, Porsche Junior Heinrich claimed a double victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland doubleheader event on the 7.004-kilometre racetrack. 

“In a way, this is a home race for me. I have many friends and sponsors coming to watch,” explains Pereira. “Plus, I like this track. Driving through Eau Rouge is always a lot of fun.” The Luxembourger has not yet decided how he would like to tackle the qualifying session, which determines the grid line-up and is normally critical in the Supercup. “Pole position isn’t necessarily crucial here – you often get others using your slipstream to overtake on the long Kemmel straight.” 

Laurin Heinrich shares Pereira’s enthusiasm for the racetrack in the Ardennes. “It’s perhaps the biggest challenge on the Supercup calendar and I’m really looking forward to it. The unpredictable weather can make things even trickier. A perfect weather forecast is probably just as important as a good grid position,” the Porsche Junior asserts. Heinrich knows what he’s talking about: In the 2021 season, he achieved his first podium result in the Supercup at Spa-Francorchamps – in torrential rain, he catapulted from tenth on the grid to third place at the flag. 

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)

At its opening in 1921, the racetrack was a 15-kilometre triangular course consisting of public country roads between the towns of Spa, Stavelot and Malmedy. The first Belgian Grand Prix was held in 1925. The circuit hosted a Formula 1 race in the 1950 debut season of the championship. In 1979, safety issues led to the former “fastest open road circuit in the world” being shortened to a permanent racing circuit, which today measures 7.004 kilometres in the Grand Prix version. The latest upgrades have improved the run-off areas in the legendary Eau Rouge/Raidillon combination. Additional grandstands were added here and at other locations along the racetrack.

In its inaugural 1993 season, the Porsche Supercup made its first appearance at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which has earned itself the nickname “Ardennes rollercoaster” due to its hilly layout. In 2021, the 300th race of the international one-make cup was held here with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Driving for BWT Lechner Racing, Dylan Pereira crossed the finish line first. 

TV and internet coverage of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup

Round six of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes off on Sunday (28 August 2022) at 12:05 pm CEST and runs over 12 laps. Among others, TV channel Eurosport and the streaming service f1tv.formula1.com provide a live broadcast. Independent of the race weekends, media and fans can also follow the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup action on the social media networks Twitter (@PorscheSupercup and @PorscheRaces), Instagram (@PorscheSupercup) and Facebook (@PorscheSupercup).

Schedule round 6, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (all times CEST)

Friday, 26 August
7:25 – 8:10 pm: Practice

Saturday, 27 August
2:30 – 3:00 pm: Qualifying

Sunday, 28 August
12:05 pm: Race (12 laps)

Points’ standings 2022 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (after 5 of 8 races)

1. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing), 92 points
2. Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing), 88 points
3. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 82 points
4. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), 80 points
5. Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 73 points

Full race results and championship standings:
motorsports.porsche.com/germany/de/category/mobil1supercup/pmsc-2022-results

2022 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup calendar (subject to change)

22 – 24 April, Imola (Italy)
26 – 29 May, Monte Carlo (Monaco)
01 – 03 July, Silverstone (Great Britain)
08 – 10 July, Spielberg (Austria)
22 – 24 July, Le Castellet (France)
26 – 28 August, Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
02 – 04 September, Zandvoort (Netherlands)
09 – 11 September, Monza (Italy)