Six drivers in title fight at the finale of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Abu Dhabi “As long as I have a chance I’ll fight”

Six drivers in title fight at the finale of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Abu Dhabi

“As long as I have a chance I’ll fight”

Stuttgart. The 17-point advantage with which René Rast takes up the final round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Abu Dhabi is no guarantee for the title win – but is reason enough to put the champagne for the championship party on ice. “My position is quite good,” says the title defender from Germany heading to the last two races held as support to the Formula 1 weekend in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi on 12th and 13th November. “I would like pole position for race one and a clean start. That would be a major step towards winning the title.” But the points’ leader should not expect an easy weekend in the desert. Six other drivers still hold chances to claim the title on the 5.554 kilometre Yas Marina Circuit – at least theoretically. At the end of a gripping season, this underlines impressively just how competitive the world’s fastest international one-make series is. Undoubtedly, René Rast holds the best cards. After a somewhat mediocre start to the season, the title defender went on to pocket four straight victories at the wheel of his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by VELTINS Lechner Racing, which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS road-going sports car. He won the street race in Monaco, the Porsche Carrera World Cup on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife as well as the rounds in Silverstone and on the Grand Prix course of the Nürburgring. But despite his advantage, the title battle for the front-runner has not yet been won, particularly with 44 championship points still up for grabs in Abu Dhabi. “Anything can happen there,” he says. “One retirement could change the whole situation.” As the toughest challenger to the leader, Kuba Giermaziak is determined to make the most of his title chance in Abu Dhabi. Driving for VERVA Racing, the Polish pilot contests his second season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and as the rising star of the year impressed not only with his wins in Budapest and Spa-Francorchamps. “René’s lead is huge. It’ll be extremely difficult to catch him,” says Giermaziak. “But as long as I still have a chance I’ll fight.” When asked about his tactics for the finale, he simply smiles. “I don’t have to think much about tactics, there is only one way to go – max attack and hope that he makes a mistake.” Trailing Kuba Giermaziak by just two points, Norbert Siedler also holds a promising position. “I believe my chance is good,” says René Rast’s Austrian teammate. “We contest two races in Abu Dhabi. Anything is possible.” He, too, must risk a great deal if he wants to have a crack at the title. “My gap is too large for me to play tactical games,” he says, and makes no secret of the fact that he is not totally happy with his season despite his decent results leading up to the final. “I still need a win, but I’ve still got two chances left.” Rounding off the top four title contenders is Sean Edwards. The hopes of the Briton for his first championship title in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup were dashed by his retirement at the previous race in Monza. Still, he has not given up. “We have nothing to lose,” says the Barcelona winner as he prepares to tackle the home race of his Abu Dhabi by tolimit squad. “We’ll do everything to take both poles and win both races. Then we can only hope.” Whilst his compatriot Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) and Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen (Abu Dhabi by tolimit) as fifth and sixth in the overall standings also pin their hopes on the title, Kévin Estre has already achieved what he came for: Driving for Hermes Attempto Racing, the Frenchman celebrated his maiden victory in Monza in this popular brand trophy series - which has run as support to Formula 1 since 1993 – and secured the BBS Rookie of the Year title even before the season was over. The final races live on TV The two final races in Abu Dhabi will be televised live on TV stations Eurosport and Sky: Race one on 12 November is broadcast at 12.15 hrs on Sky and at 12.25 hrs on Eurosport, with race two shown on 13 November at 11.30 hrs on Sky and at 11.45 hrs on Eurosport. A wrap-up of the races is broadcast on Eurosport on 13 November at 23.00 hours in its “Motorsport Weekend Magazine”. Points’ standings after 9 of 11 races Drivers’ classification 1. René Rast (D), 141 points 2. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), 124 3. Norbert Siedler (A), 122 4. Sean Edwards (GB), 116 5. Nick Tandy (GB), 109 6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 108 BBS Rookie classification 1. Kévin Estre (F), 91 points Team classification 1. VELTINS Lechner Racing, 257 points 2. Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, 221 3. VERVA Racing Team, 190

Public Relations and Media Motorsportpress Oliver Hilger