Race 7
The second Supercup race in Zandvoort this weekend, and the second home win: After Morris Schuring’s victory on Saturday, another Dutchman dominated round seven of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on Sunday. Driving for GP Elite, Loek Hartog celebrated his maiden Supercup victory at the wheel of the 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Fending off attacks from Porsche Junior Bastian Buus over the entire race distance, he remained resolute and relegated Buus to second place with a lead of half a second. Behind the Dane from the BWT Lechner Racing squad, Hartog’s teammate and fellow countryman Larry ten Voorde crossed the finish line in third place.
With this, the two-time Supercup champion has kept the title decision for this season open – albeit theoretically. Buus travels to next weekend’s finale in Monza holding a 21-point lead over ten Voorde, his only remaining rival for the crown. However, the Dutchman must win on the Formula 1 racetrack in northern Italy to secure the 25 points. In this scenario, eleventh place would be enough for Bastian Buus to take home the title.
“I had a great duel with Bastian. We both went for it but kept it fair at all times,” said Hartog. “A dream has come true for me with my first Supercup victory. I grew up not far from Zandvoort and I’ve driven all kinds of race cars at this track. To win here in front of my home crowd is unbelievable.” Thanks to his first victory, the 20-year-old Dutchman advanced to sixth place overall.
“Larry’s attempts to attack kept me as occupied as my attempts to overtake Loek. Of course, I didn’t take any major risks. Second place also means that my lead heading to the final in Monza is pretty reassuring,” concluded Bastian Buus. “But it’s also about the Teams’ championship, which I’d obviously like to win for BWT Lechner Racing.” In this classification, the Porsche Junior’s team leads the standings with a 31-point advantage over the GP Elite team with its drivers Loek Hartog as the Zandvoort winner and Larry ten Voorde. In the Teams’ classification, a maximum of 45 points are still up for grabs in Monza.
Ten Voorde remains realistic about his chances and aims to focus on the Teams’ championship crown at Monza. “I did my absolute best but I couldn’t achieve more than third place today. My goal is to win at Monza next Sunday. Even if I only have an outside chance of clinching the title, I’d like to use it to score points in the team classification,” he stated.
Fourth place went to Morris Schuring. The 18-year-old Dutchman put in a strong drive and made up five positions from his grid spot in Fach Auto Tech’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Despite two victories so far this season, he is out of contention for the title. The same applies to UK driver Harry King (BWT Lechner Racing), who finished fifth.
Scoring sixth place, Alessandro Ghiretti won the Rookie classification for the fourth time. Competing for the Martinet by Alméras squad, the Frenchman has the best chance of securing the title in the Supercup newcomers’ class at the finale. He was joined on the Rookie podium in Zandvoort by South African Keagan Masters (Ombra) and Australian Harri Jones (BWT Lechner Racing).
“Once again, the Zandvoort weekend was fantastic. We witnessed two thrilling races, where Morris Schuring and Loek Hartog were cheered for their victories by tens of thousands of their home crowd fans. Congratulations to Loek as a new addition to the circle of Supercup winners. I’m now looking forward to our finale in Monza, which should again be a nail-biter with all three categories still open,” commented Oliver Schwab, Project Manager Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Results
Result race 7 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Zandvoort (Netherlands)
1. Loek Hartog (NL/Team GP Elite), 28:35.594 minutes
2. Porsche-Junior Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), +0.451 seconds
3. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), +0.786 seconds
4. Morris Schuring (NL/FACH AUTO TECH), +1.630 seconds
5. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), +2.005 seconds
6. Alessandro Ghiretti (F/Martinet by Alméras), +2.473 seconds
Standings 2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (after seven races)
1. Porsche-Junior Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 118 points
2. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 97 points
3. Morris Schuring (NL/Fach Auto Tech), 91 points
4. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), 85 points
5. Dorian Boccolacci (F/CLRT), 80 points
Full results and championship standings:
https://motorsports.porsche.com/international/en/category/mobil1supercup/pmsc-2023-results
Next weekend’s season finale with guest driver Timo Glock
Monza hosts the eighth and final round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this coming weekend (1 to 3 September 2023). In the race held as part of the Italian Grand Prix support programme, the ex-Formula 1 driver and now TV commentator Timo Glock will contest his second Supercup race this season. As part of a documentary being made for the Sky Sports TV station about the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the German will again drive the No. 911 VIP 911 GT3 Cup. This very special racer is the 5,000th Cup 911 that Porsche Motorsport has built since 1990.
Schedule Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Monza/I (all times CEST)
Friday, 1 September
6:35 – 7:20 pm: Practice
Saturday, 2 September
10:50 – 11:20 am: Qualifying
Sunday, 3 September
11:55 am: Race 8 (15 laps)
Race 6
With a flawless lights-to-flag victory, Morris Schuring presented his Fach Auto Tech team with the most perfect anniversary gift: At its 100th Porsche Supercup race, team principal Alex Face could celebrate the 18th win for the Swiss squad. Claiming the second and third podium spots, the two GP Elite teammates Loek Hartog and Larry ten Voorde underlined the strength of the Dutch team on its home turf on the Formula 1 circuit at the North Sea. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus defended his championship lead with fourth place. Round seven of the international one-make cup with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will be contested already tomorrow (Sunday, 27 August 2023) in Zandvoort.
Already in the very first metres, Morris Schuring made it clear that this was his race: Starting from pole position, he catapulted off the line and refused to relinquish his lead spot despite two safety car phases: “My car was unbelievably good today. I put my foot down and simply left my pursuers in my dust,” Schuring said about the path to clinching his second Supercup win of the season. Four weeks ago, the 18-year-old made history: In Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, he was crowned the youngest-ever winner in the history of the Porsche Supercup, which has been held since 1993.
“I’m exceptionally proud of my team and of course of my drivers, who are only 18 and 20 years old and who have already won three Supercup races this year,” said team boss Alex Fach. The Swiss squad has been an integral part of the Porsche Supercup since 2013 and claimed the championship crown in 2014 with New Zealander Earl Bamber. “I never would have dreamed that we would get this far when we joined the series ten years ago,” claimed Fach.
GP Elite teammates Loek Hartog and Larry ten Voorde battled it out for second place over the entire race distance. After 16 laps, Hartog beat ten Voorde over the line by a mere three-tenths of a second. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus crossed the finish line right behind the two Dutchmen and thus defended his championship lead with fourth place. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t do more today. I hope things will go better for me tomorrow,” said the 20-year-old Dane from the BWT Lechner Racing team, as he looks forward to the seventh race of the season. Loek Hartog will tackle round seven on Sunday from pole position with Bastian Buus starting alongside him on the front grid row.
Misfortune struck Buus’s teammate Harry King and CLRT driver Dorian Boccolacci. The Briton and the Frenchman, who ranked second and third in the standings before the race, got caught up in collisions. Boccolacci only finished in midfield, while King had to throw in the towel. As a result, Larry ten Voorde has advanced to second overall and Zandvoort winner Morris Schuring has moved up to third in the standings.
Fifth place went to Alessandro Ghiretti. With this result, the Frenchman extended his lead in the Rookie classification. “The atmosphere in Zandvoort with the avid Dutch fans is incomparable. I hope I can give them another good show on Sunday,” commented the Martinet by Alméras driver. Finishing sixth, Dutchman Huub van Eijndhoven (GP Elite) also climbed the Rookie podium. Third in this classification went to the South African Keagan Masters (Ombra).
Round seven of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup kicks off tomorrow, Sunday (27 August 2023) at 11:55am directly before the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix. The TV channels Eurosport and Sky Sport and the streaming service f1tv.formula1.com will broadcast live.
Results
Result race 6 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Zandvoort (Netherlands)
1. Morris Schuring (NL/FACH AUTO TECH), 28:23.600 minutes
2. Loek Hartog (NL/Team GP Elite), +1.777 seconds
3. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), +2.059 seconds
4. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), +3.541 seconds
5. Alessandro Ghiretti (F/Martinet by Alméras), +5.973 seconds
6. Huub van Eijndhoven (NL/GP Elite), +6.119 seconds
Standings 2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (after six races)
1. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 98 points
2. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 80 points
3. Morris Schuring (NL/Fach Auto Tech), 77 points
4. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), 71 points
5. Dorian Boccolacci (F/CLRT), 71 points
Full results and championship standings:
https://motorsports.porsche.com/international/en/category/mobil1supercup/pmsc-2023-results
Preview
With two races on one weekend, the 2023 season of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup heads into the decisive phase. Rounds six and seven of the international one-make cup contested with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will be held in Zandvoort as part of the Dutch Grand Prix support programme (25 to 27 August 2023). Porsche Junior Bastian Buus from Denmark is determined to score some serious points on the Formula 1 circuit on the North Sea coast and thus extend his lead in the overall standings ahead of the finale in Monza, Italy.
Doubleheader here we come! Next weekend, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will contest two races as part of the Dutch Grand Prix support programme in Zandvoort. The originally scheduled seventh round will be held on Sunday, with an additional race on Saturday as a replacement for the planned event in Imola, Italy, which at the time was cancelled due to severe weather. The international one-make cup with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup heads into the critical phase in the bid for the title: Just one week later, the season finale at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza follows.
Aside from the current championship leader, Porsche Junior Bastian Buus from the BWT Lechner Racing team, at least four other drivers have realistic chances of claiming the Supercup crown: Buus’s British teammate Harry King and CLRT driver Dorian Boccolacci from France as well as the two Dutchmen Larry ten Voorde (Team GP Elite) and Morris Schuring (FACH AUTO TECH). Schuring, who ranks fifth in the overall standings, is just 32 points behind the series leader Buus. A maximum of 50 points is up for grabs in the Netherlands.
“Qualifying in Zandvoort is more critical than usual. This time, each driver has to turn not just one but two flawless laps,” says Porsche Junior Bastian Buus outlining the Supercup regulations. The rules stipulate that the single qualifying session for a doubleheader event determines both grids – the fastest lap time dictates the starting position for Saturday’s race, with the second fastest used for Sunday’s race. “I like the track, it’s very smooth to drive on, but overtaking is tricky. I experienced that a few weeks ago,” adds Buus, referring to the previous event at the Circuit Zandvoort with the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. At that time, the 20-year-old Dane locked horns with Larry ten Voorde in both races – and had to settle for second place on both occasions. Buus would be satisfied with a similar result at the Supercup doubleheader: “I definitely want to still lead the standings going into the finale in Monza the following weekend.”
Mathematically, the biggest threat for the Porsche Junior in the title fight comes from his teammate Harry King. “It’s rare to have two races on one weekend in the Supercup. We might see decision in the fight for the title already in Zandvoort. That increases the pressure, but I’m up for it,” says King, who currently lies second in the standings. “I’ll concentrate fully on qualifying, nothing must go wrong there...”
With eleven drivers in the 32-strong field of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars hailing from the Netherlands, the host country is represented by the lion’s share of competitors. “Our home race is always something very special,” states Larry ten Voorde, who ranks fourth overall. “When I see all those fans dressed in orange, it gives me even more motivation. I’ve won Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland races in Zandvoort but I’m yet to notch up a Supercup victory on this track. We’ve been working hard since the last race in Spa-Francorchamps to get back on the road to success,” adds the two-time Supercup champion, who has yet to celebrate a win in this year’s championship.
Among the pack of Dutch drivers are two sibling pairs. Driving for GP Elite, Huub van Eijndhoven will go up against his younger brother Lucas, who competes as a guest driver. Morris Schuring (FACH AUTO TECH) faces his younger brother Flynt, who is a guest driver for the Huber Racing team. “I’ve often raced against Flynt in karts. To compete against each other in the Supercup is really cool,” smiles Morris Schuring, who heads to Zandvoort ranking fifth in the standings.
“I want to thank the Formula 1 organisers for making it possible for us to hold a second race in Zandvoort – it means we can fully honour the sporting value in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup for drivers and teams,” comments Oliver Schwab, Project Manager Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. “We have an extremely exciting weekend ahead of us, and the title aspirants can’t afford to make any mistakes. I’m also looking forward to the unique atmosphere in Zandvoort with packed grandstands and incredibly enthusiastic fans.”
TV and internet coverage of round four of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
The TV channels Eurosport and Sky Sport provide a live broadcast of both Zandvoort race, with the streaming service f1tv.formula1.com also televising the doubleheader. Media and fans can also follow the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup action on the social media networks “X” (@PorscheSupercup and @PorscheRaces), Instagram (@PorscheSupercup) and Facebook (@PorscheSupercup).
Output of ca. 375kW (510 PS) and fuel from renewable sources
The 2023 Supercup season marks the third year for the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The output of the six-cylinder boxer engines with around four litres of displacement remains unchanged at 375 kW (510 PS). As was the case in the previous two seasons, the Supercup nine-elevens will be powered by Esso Renewable Racing Fuel, a bio-based, semi-synthetic fuel blend. In addition to the technically identical race cars, the control racing tyres from Michelin also ensure an equal playing field and gripping competition.
Circuit Zandvoort
Opened in 1948, the Circuit Zandvoort became a regular fixture on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar until 1985. Only the conversion to the latest safety regulations made it possible for the Dutch Grand Prix to return in 2021. Uncharacteristic in Formula 1, the modified track features two banked corners: the Hugenholtz-Bocht and Arie-Luyendijk-Bocht, which with a 32-percent gradient even surpasses American models. Today’s 4.259-kilometre circuit, which winds through dunes on the North Sea coast west of Amsterdam, throws even more challenges at man and machine: crests and dips make some turns difficult to see from the cockpit perspective. And sea breezes constantly blow sand onto the track, which sometimes makes the grip conditions unpredictable.
Circuit Zandvoort is one of the newest venues on the list of 23 racetracks where the Porsche Supercup has been contested since 1993. It was not until 2021 that the international one-make cup held its first race on the Formula 1 circuit. Last season, victory went to Frenchman Marvin Klein from the CLRT squad.
Schedule Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Zandvoort/NL (all times CEST)
Friday, 25 August
5:30 – 6:15 pm: Practice
Saturday, 26 August
9:50 – 10:20 am: Qualifying
5:00 pm: Race 6 (17 laps)
Sunday, 27 August
11:55 am: Race 7 (17 laps)
Standings 2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (after five races)
1. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 84 points
2. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), 71 points
3. Dorian Boccolacci (F/CLRT), 69 points
4. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 63 points
5. Morris Schuring (NL/FACH AUTO TECH), 52 points
Full race results and championship standings:
https://motorsports.porsche.com/international/en/category/mobil1supercup/pmsc-2023-results
2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup calendar
26 – 28 May: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte-Carlo
30 June – 2 July: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg
7 – 9 July: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
21 – 23 July: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
28 – 30 July: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
25 – 27 August: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort (2 races)
1 – 3 September: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
