Tradition meets Innovation Starting Today: New Special Exhibition “911 Identity” in the Porsche Museum

Tradition meets Innovation
Starting Today: New Special Exhibition “911 Identity” in the Porsche Museum

Stuttgart. For more than four decades, the Porsche 911 has been deemed an automotive icon and the very epitome of the sports car. That means that the launch of the new Type 991 is an important event for the Porsche Museum Stuttgart as well. As a curtain raiser for 2012, the new generation is being welcomed as part of a major special exhibition from 31 January to 20 May, 2012 under the banner “911 Identity”.

More than 700,000 911s have been produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen since it was unveiled in 1963. The recipe for its success is its uniqueness, because the 911 combines apparent contradictions such as sportiness and everyday practicality, tradition and innovation, exclusivity and social acceptance or design and functionality like no other car. No wonder that each of the now seven 911 generations has written its very own success story. As a result, the Porsche Museum is exhibiting all the 911 generations, from the “original 911” to the new Type 991 – against the backdrop of the prevailing mood of the relevant decade or year in which the sports car icon came to market.

Rare motor racing variants such as the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 “Safari” or Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will also be on show. In addition, to unique technical exhibits and cutaway models from Weissach, the visitor will also get to see one of the new 911 generation “Erlkings”, before being able to slide behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 Carrera at the end of the special exhibition. The special exhibition also showcases steering wheels and wheel rims from 1963 to the present day. Finally, the automotive retrospective is rounded off by documents from the company archive that have never previously been on public display.
Special Offers for Visitors

As part of the “911 Identity” special exhibition, the Porsche Museum is also expanding its guided tour offering. 911 fans can brush up their knowledge of the sports car icon during an one hour themed guided tour – after first registering with the visitor service using the e-mail address info.museum@porsche.de.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is eight euro for adults, reduced admission is four euro. Children up to the age of 14 years are free provided they are accompanied by an adult. Further information, including the special guided tours, is available online at www.porsche.com/museum.

Communication Porsche AG
Porsche Museum
Astrid Böttinger

Stuck brothers start with Aston Martin in the ADAC GT Masters

Stuck brothers start with Aston Martin in the ADAC GT Masters

The ADAC ​​GT Masters Championship Second overall in 2011, Ferdinand (20) and Johannes Stuck (25, both of Austria), trust in the coming season on the same "company car" like James Bond.

The sons of racing legend Hans-Joachim "Strietzel" Stuck change team and start the vehicle and in an Aston Martin V12 Vantage in the ADAC GT Masters newcomer team of Young Driver AMR. The band from Paderborn was previously in the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship and successfully brings two copies of the newly developed Aston Martin one more brand in the "league of super sports cars." The legendary British sports car manufacturer is the twelfth brand that is in the ADAC GT Masters starting field to be represented 2012th

After four victories in the 2011 season and the only exciting final target the stuck-brothers on an equally successful year. "Together with Young Driver AMR and the new Aston Martin, we intend to build on our successes this season from last year," says Johannes Stuck. The successful duo with his older brother John also looks optimistic Ferdinand Stuck on the second season together in the ADAC GT Masters: "I am very happy that we start again with a top-notch team in the ADAC GT Masters Young Driver AMR was in the past. years in the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship was very successful. I am even more excited that this year I again have the opportunity to start with my brother. The Aston Martin is true for both of us breaking new ground, but the recent tests of Aston Martin Racing car with us optimistic And one thing is already certain:.. The car looks simply fantastic "

Young Driver AMR is indeed new in the 2012 ADAC GT Masters, but knows the series well from the 2009 season. Before the team moved from Westphalia in the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship, the team of hardy fishermen under the name of Fischer Racing started in the ADAC GT Masters. "I look forward to the ADAC ​​GT Masters Championship and return there to represent Aston Martin," team boss Hardy Fischer says about the "comeback" of his team. "A twelve-cylinder sports car made in this powerful series by no means lacking. We have to Ferdinand and John Plaster not only two fast but also very likeable drivers in our team." The second driver for the Aston Martin Young Driver AMR are still open.

The 600-hp Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the Young Driver AMR in the ADAC GT Masters starts, was developed by Aston Martin Racing for the 2012 season completely. In addition to the McLaren MP4-12C, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Nissan GT-R is the Aston Martin, the fourth new signing so far in just 40 vehicles full starting field for the 2012 season.

ADAC GT Masters PRESSE

BMW Motorsport: We proudly present: the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM.

We proudly present: the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM.

One of the six BMW Motorsport cars for the 2012 DTM season will be the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, bearing the design of Castrol EDGE and Aral Ultimate.

This marks an extension of the existing, long-term partnership between Castrol and BMW Motorsport, and sees Aral Ultimate presented as partner of BMW Motorsport in the DTM.

“For many years we have put our faith in high-performance Castrol lubricants, and have celebrated countless successes together on the racetrack,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “For that reason, everyone here at BMW Motorsport is delighted that we are able to build on this established partnership in the DTM. Castrol EDGE and Aral Ultimate are high-performance brands, which suit our DTM project perfectly.”

BMW Motorsport.

Daytona 24 Hours, USA Triple victory for Porsche in strongest GT field in history

Daytona 24 Hours, USA

Triple victory for Porsche in strongest GT field in history

Stuttgart. The 24 hour race in Daytona remains Porsche territory: At the cliff-hanger 50th anniversary of the long distance classic in Florida/USA, the Zuffenhausen sports car manufacturer celebrated a convincing triple triumph in the GT class against strong opposition from the likes of Audi, BMW, Corvette and Ferrari. Victory went to Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Magnus Racing with teammates René Rast (Germany) as well as Americans Andy Lally and John Potter. After a thrilling finale in front of record crowds on the Daytona International Speedway, Lietz saw the flag 9.412 seconds ahead of his factory pilot colleague Wolf Henzler. The previous year’s winner from Germany shared the cockpit of TRG Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands), Marc Goossens (Belgium), Spencer Pumpelly (USA) and Steven Bertheau (USA). Scoring third place was Porsche works driver Marc Lieb (Germany) with Americans Hurley Haywood, Leh Keen and Andrew Davis in the legendary starting number 59 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by the Daytona-winning squad Brumos Racing.

“Today we all witnessed why Daytona is one of the world’s most fascinating races,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development at Porsche AG. “For me that was a 24 hour sprint. The front-runners were incredibly close right to the flag. I’m very pleased to see that we had virtually no technical problems with our cars and the teams and drivers did such a magnificent job under difficult conditions. Congratulations and well done to you all.” Porsche’s head of motorsport, Hartmut Kristen, commented after this latest success: “The 50th running of this classic was unbelievably exciting. For much of the time, there were ten GT cars in one lap. The spectators were again treated to some fantastic motorsport. And it’s great of course to celebrate an impressive victory in front of such spectacular crowds. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup again brilliantly underlined its outstanding reliability at this extremely difficult race.” With its latest win, Porsche has now scored 22 overall and 74 class wins, making it the most successful manufacturer in the history of this race.

The anniversary race of the endurance classic in Florida, at which the new Porsche 911 ran as the safety car, was stronger than ever before. In the GT class alone, 45 cars lined up to start. “To beat so many great drivers, the crème de la crème of GT pilots, is simply awesome,” said the winner Richard Lietz. “Winning this race for Porsche is a highlight of my career, comparable only to my two victories in Le Mans.” His teammate René Rast, the two-time champion of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, to whom Porsche gave the chance to compete at Daytona in recognition of his excellent performance last season, said: “Everything ran smoothly. We didn’t experience a single technical problem. That was only the second 24 hour race of my career and undoubtedly the toughest. During one of my stints I spent three and a half hours at the wheel. That was incredibly exhausting.”

In the gripping final phase, Wolf Henzler again pulled out all stops, but the leading Richard Lietz managed to stave him off to the flag. “He was just too quick today,” Henzler stated. “But to climb the podium again after my win last year is a huge success for me.” With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Brumos Racing, which took off into the race from pole position, Marc Lieb pitted shortly before the flag for a ‘splash and dash’ refuelling stop. Despite having led the race for long distances up until this point, he was unable to rejoin the fight for victory. “We experienced a bit of bad luck towards the end with our race strategy,” he said. “But although I was rather disappointed initially, it’s still a great team effort to come third against such an incredibly strong GT field.”

Turning the fastest race lap of the entire GT field, Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany) turned heads at the classic on the Daytona International Speedway. He didn’t, however, manage to reach the flag. “Everything was running beautifully with our car until the retirement,” he commented. “But we had a bit of bad luck under the yellow flag. Three times we came in to refuel just before a caution phase and lost laps because of it. That’s rough.”

Lady Luck wasn’t with Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) either. With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of Flying Lizard Motorsports, which they shared with American Seth Neiman and Mike Rockenfeller (Switzerland), they were holding their own with the front-runners early on, but fell back and had to settle for 15th place at the flag. “Early on in the race we were running in the top three,” said Patrick Long. “Our pace was very fast. But Seth’s collision with a Daytona prototype put us out of serious contention.”


Race result

GT class

1. Lietz/Lally/Rast/Potter (A/USA/D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 727 laps
2. Henzler/Bleekemolen/Bertheau/Goossens/Pumpelly (D/NL/USA/B/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 727 laps
3. Lieb/Haywood/Davis/Keen (D/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 726 laps
4. Edwards/Bremer/Liddell (USA/DK/GB), Camaro GT.R, 726 laps
5. Beretta/Bertolini/Vilander (MC/I/SF), Ferrari 458, 726 laps
6. Franchitti/Bomarito/Hinchcliffe/Tremblay (GB/USA/CAN/USA), Mazda RX-8, 722 laps
7. Pilet/Farnbacher/Keating/Simonsen (F/D/USA/DK), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 721 laps
11. Armindo/Curtis/Lewis/Sofronas/Willsey (F/USA/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 713 laps
14. Avenatti/Faieta/Poordad/Sweedler/Wagner (USA/USA/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 707 laps
15. Bergmeister/Long/Neiman/Rockenfeller (D/USA/USA/D), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 706 laps

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

American premiere for Audi R8 GRAND-AM

American premiere for Audi R8 GRAND-AM

• Debut of new development for the North American market
• Two customer teams to contest entire season
• Both cars classified in 24-hour race at Daytona

Ingolstadt, January 29, 2012 – Further boost for an attractive scene: the GRANDAM
Rolex Sports Car Series has a new member – the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. Two
examples of the powerful 480 hp GT sportscar celebrated their premiere in tough
conditions at Daytona. The customer teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing were
classified at the finish.
Audi Sport customer racing’s attractive program is a valuable element richer: the
Audi R8 GRAND-AM vitalizes the hard fought North American market in GT racing
since January. No less than 44 GT race cars contested the season opener in Florida.
The 50th running and anniversary event of the ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’ provided a
worthy venue for the debut of the Audi R8 GRAND-AM car. Team APR Motorsport
finished in 31st place with its drivers Ian Baas (USA)/Nelson Canache (YV)/Dion von
Moltke (ZA)/Dr. Jim Norman (USA)/Emanuele Pirro (I). Oryx Racing came home in
32nd place with Humaid Al Masaood (UAE)/Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE)/Steven Kane
(GB).
At all other GRAND-AM races up to the end of September the race car, newly
developed by quattro GmbH, will compete in the United States and Canada in the
hands of private customer teams. The customer racing car is distributed through
Audi of America. Brad Kettler, who has been integrated for many years as engineer
in Audi’s Le Mans program, has built up a service and logistic structure. As a result,
the Audi customers are provided with expert support during race preparation and
also during the events.
In addition to the bases in Japan, Australia and China a fourth base is now also
created in the USA in order to provide optimum support for the private teams with
their cars. Under these conditions the Audi R8 GRAND-Am has the opportunity of
continuing the blossoming success story in the hands of customer teams. The US
version was developed using the Audi R8 LMS as basis. This GT3 sportscar has won
no less than 118 races and 13 championship titles worldwide since 2009. Its
successor – the Audi R8 LMS ultra available from March – will make its debut in a few
weeks.

Audi R8 LMS in exotic livery

Audi R8 LMS in exotic livery

• Audi on the grid in Australia with designs from the animal kingdom
• Formula 1 know-how at Audi Sport Team Rosberg
• Exhibition and conference appearances for Audi factory drivers

Ingolstadt, January 29, 2012 – The two Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS will be two
visually striking highlights in the field at the Bathurst 12 hours at the end of
February.
Black and white: The two Audi R8 LMS which compete in the 12 hours Bathurst
between February 24 and 26 are unique with their visual references to the animal
kingdom. Christer Jöns/Christopher Mies/Darryl O’Young share a black R8 LMS. An
oversized version of the world-famous yellow traffic sign symbolizing the kangaroo
is reproduced on the bodywork. A spider’s web covers the entire surface of the white
sister car driven by Mark Eddy/Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff. A typical Australian
Redback spider sits in the web.
Top-class new team member: Formula 1 know-how moves to Audi Sport Team
Rosberg. New team member Ossi Oikarinen spent 14 years in Grand Prix racing. The
41-year old engineer is new Technical Director of the DTM team from March 1 and
successor to Andreas Roos. After starting at Arrows in 1997, Oikarinen moved to
Toyota in 2000 where he also worked together with Dieter Gass, the new Head of
Racing Commitments at Audi Sport. Oikarinen who hails from Lahti in Finland
managed the BMW Sauber teat team from 2007. From 2009 he was the leading test
engineer at Ferrari. “We expect many new impulses for our team in 2012 season
from this high-class new team member,” explains Team Director Arno Zensen.
Great enthusiasm in Erfurt: Rahel Frey was a popular guest at the ADAC Motorsport
Show at the exhibition center in Thuringia. The Swiss lady representing Audi was a
popular interviewee and signed many autographs. Among the biggest attractions in
Hall 1 was also the Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM.

Crowds of fans at Lake Constance: Audi factory driver Timo Scheider was kept busy
signing countless autographs all day, every day from Friday to Sunday on the
Motorradwelt stand at the exhibition center in Friedrichshafen. The two-time DTM
Champion is an enthusiastic motorbike rider.
Presentation in Paris: At a press conference on February 2 the ACO and FIA will
present the new World Endurance Championship (WEC). Audi will be represented by
factor driver Benoît Tréluyer and also displays the Audi R18 TDI with which the
Frenchman and his team mates won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011.
Trade fair exhibit in Qatar: Visitors attending the Motor Show in Doha between
January 25 and 28 were not only able to admire the latest production cars. An Audi
R18 TDI joined the many eye-catchers on the Audi stand.
Familiar faces: With the introduction of the GRAND-AM program two engineers from
sport prototype programs return. The American Brad Kettler was an engineer for
different Audi teams since the Audi R8 LMP era. He now provides technical and
logistical support in the customer racing program. Ron Mathis, one of the race
engineers from the former American Le Mans Series program, is new race engineer
at Oryx Racing.
Big program: about 180 guests of Audi of America visibly enjoyed the debut of the
R8 GRAND-AM at Daytona. A tour through the paddock, exclusive pit tours during
the race and visits to meet the drivers in the Audi Lounge on the main grandstand
ensured the weekend remained unforgettable. The guests enjoyed a unique view
across the oval track from the Audi Lounge.
A word from ... Emanuele Pirro
Your start in the 24 hours Daytona 2012 has a special meaning to you. What
connects you with this race?
“Oh yes, it’s my first race as a 50-year old racing driver! No, seriously though, I
contested my first race outside Italy as 19-year old racing driver at Daytona in 1981.
And now 31 years later I have the honor of being in the thick of the action as the R8
GRAND-AM makes its debut in Daytona. This is why this race with Audi is so special.”

What has changed over the course of more than three decades?
“Earlier there were so few buildings that it was possible to recognize the banking
from a long way away. This put so much fear in our hearts that two of my team
mates – Michele Alboreto and Beppe Gabbiani – and I wanted to turn around on the
spot! At that time there was no chicane in the oval. Today it’s great fun to drive on
the demanding circuit with such a well developed car like the R8 GRAND-AM. By the
way, despite being in motorsport for many decades, I attended the Rookie briefing
at Daytona again this year.”
What memories do you have of the famous Daytona weekend?
“After coming home after my first race in 1981 I didn’t realize what we had
achieved. Thanks to our points our employer became World Champion. And now
we’ve started a campaign which will hopefully also have a big effect. I’m sure that
the Audi R8 GRAND-AM will have a big future in this series.”
Coming up next week
02.02. Press conference WEC Paris (F)

Audi Sport.

WTCC: MEHDI BENNANI TO STAY WITH PROTEAM

MEHDI BENNANI TO STAY WITH PROTEAM
Proteam Racing announced earlier this week that they have re-signed Mehdi Bennani for the 2012 season.
Morocco's 28-year old racer will be facing his second season with the Italian outfit at the wheel of a BMW 320 TC car.
In 2011 Bennani's best result was a sixth place in Macau and he was classified seventh in the Yokohama Trophy.
"We are very pleased to keep Mehdi in the team and we expect a further improvement in his performance after the positive season last year. We have also confirmed our technical staff directed by engineer Marco Calovolo," team principal Marco Guiducci commented.
Proteam Racing will start testing in February and they are due to announce the name of a second driver very soon.

Morocco's Mehdi Bennani was the first driver confirmed by Proteam Racing

O'YOUNG AND ENGSTLER IN DAYTONA 24 HOURS
This weekend, WTCC regulars Darryl O'Young and Franz Engstler face off at the 24 hours of Daytona.
The two of them are competing against each other in the GT category.
Hong Kong's O'Young is racing in a Porsche GT3 entered by Bullet Racing, whilst German driver Engstler in a Liqui Moly Team Engstler/Mitchum motorsport Porsche GT3.
"It's my third consecutive year in this race and it's a great competition to be a part of. Driving along the Daytona banking at 300km/h at night is a special feeling and this race is going to be great fun! I think Franz and I are going to enjoy this experience very much and I hope we can bring back strong results to represent WTCC well in this race," said O'Young.

Darryl O'Young and Franz Engstler in the paddock of the Daytona 24 Hours

RIKLI MOTORSPORT RETURN TO ETCCSwitzerland-based Rikli Motorsport announced they will compete in the FIA European Touring Car Cup once again. Just like in 2011, the team will enter a couple of Honda cars in the Super 2000 class: a Civic FD for Peter Rikli and an Accord Euro R for Christian Fischer."We are currently rebuilding both cars, introducing a number of technical improvements. We are doing our best to make them competitive for the season opener at Monza," said team principal Erwin Rikli.In last year's ETCC Rikli and Fischer were classified sixth and ninth respectively in the S2000 class.The ETCC will be supporting series in three WTCC events, at Monza, Valencia and Salzburgring.

Fabio Ravaioli - FIA WTCC Media Delegate

MRS: Clear Goals – Philipp Eng starts in the strongest makes cup of the world

Clear Goals – Philipp Eng starts in the strongest makes cup of the world.

It will take less than three months until the new season of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup starts. Philipp Eng already counts the days until the first race in Bahrain. The 21-year-old Austrian will have his debut season in the fastest brands cup of the world in the MRS Team.”I am really exited”, Philipp Eng is looking forward. “I keep an eye on the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup since many years already. There is rarely another series were the competition is so though and close. It’s really awesome to be at the start in this superb racing series now.” The Youngster will take a seat behind one of the Porsche of the team of Iris Dorr and Karsten Molitor. “We think that Philipp is a very talented driver with a promising future”, the two are convinced about their new driver.
“We are quite sure that we can claim constant results in the top-positions of the field with our new-entry”, says Karsten Molitor. The MRS team manager dares to thinks already one step further. “We are planning in long terms and that means that we also want to be at the start with Philipp in the 2013 Supercup season hopefully fighting for the title than.
The MRS Team and Philipp Eng have already laid the foundation stone for a successful season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. “We have been already guest starters at the season final of the German Porsche Carrera Cup last year in Hockenheim. Philipp was really quick right away and convinced us during that weekend”, Karsten Molitor explains. “At the 24h race in Dubai he also belonged to the quickest drivers on the track. At least he managed to drive the fastest race lap.”
Despite he is only 21 years old, Philipp Eng looks already back on numerous experiences in his motorsports career. After his time in karting, aging 16 years, he changed into the German Formula BMW in 2006. He had some good results in this class for young talents, which provided countless famous race drivers in the past. Already in his second year in the Formula BMW he belonged to the circle of title candidates. He celebrated his personal highlight in the series when he won the world final in Valencia in the following winter.After one year in the German Formula 3 series he entered the international stage of motorsports in 2009. Participating in the FIA Formula 2 Championship Philipp Eng claimed three race victories and some further podium finishes. “During my time in the different formula classes I learned to know a lot of race tracks which we will also visit with the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup. That is one of the reasons why I feel quite confident concerning my debut in the fastest brands cup of the world”, says the Austrian.
The new season of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup starts with a double round in Bahrain on April, 22nd and 23rd.

AmigosRacing/Molitor-Racing-Systems GmbH
Im Steinige 2
D-89173 Lonsee-Luizhausen
Tel: +49 7336 921 361
E-Mail: mrs@molitor-racing.de
Web: www.molitor-racing.de

Daytona 24 Hours, USA Porsche starts from pole position

Daytona 24 Hours, USA
Porsche starts from pole position

Stuttgart. Setting the fastest time in qualifying, Porsche pilot Andrew Davis (USA) secured pole position in the strongly-supported GT class at the Daytona 24 Hours. For the 50th anniversary of the long-distance classic in Florida/USA, he shares the cockpit of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by the winning Brumos Racing squad with Porsche works driver Marc Lieb (Germany) and American Hurley Haywood. With five overall wins and six class victories, Haywood is the most successful pilot in the history of this race. On board the car with the legendary starting number 59 is Leh Keen (USA) as the fourth driver.

“The Brumos team managed to get me out on the track before any of the others. With a field of 46 cars, this would normally be a huge advantage,” said Andrew Davis, who relegated Jeff Segal (USA) in the Ferrari to the second grid spot. “But my first lap wasn’t so good. I actually set the top time towards the end of the session. My Porsche was prepared perfectly.”

With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by Magnus Racing, Andy Lally (USA) turned the third quickest lap. His teammates for the race are Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria), John Potter (USA) as well as René Rast (Germany), the two-time champion of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Porsche factory pilot Patrick Long (USA), who shares driving duties with his works driver colleague Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) as well as Seth Neiman (USA) and Mike Rockenfeller (Switzerland) in Flying Lizard Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, posted the fourth quickest time.

Seventh fastest was Porsche works driver Marco Holzer (Germany). “We changed a couple of things on the car before the qualifying and that paid off,” said the teammate of Emmanuel Collard (France), Butch Leitzinger (USA) and Cooper MacNeil (USA). “I had to overtake two cars during my fastest lap and that cost several tenths of seconds. Still, we have a good starting position for the race. We’ve worked very hard on the car following our tests and I’m certain that we’ll do well over the distance.”

The 24 hour race starts on Saturday at 15.30 hours local time (21.30 hrs CET).


Result GT Qualifying

1. Andrew Davis (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:49.342 minutes
2. Jeff Segal (USA), Ferrari 458, + 0.015 seconds
3. Andy Lally (USA), Porsche 911 GT3
4. Patrick Long (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.208
5. Gianmaria Bruni (I), Ferrari 458, + 0.319
6. Wayne Nonnamaker (USA), Mazda RX-8, + 0.358
7. Marco Holzer (D), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.424
9. Martin Ragginger (A), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.549
10. Bryce Miller (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.702

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup strongly represented at Daytona Five Supercup pilots contest the 24 hour classic

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup strongly represented at Daytona
Five Supercup pilots contest the 24 hour classic

Stuttgart. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is strongly represented at the 24 hour race in Daytona. Five drivers from the world’s fastest international one-make race series tackle the spring classic in Florida/USA with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. In recognition of their outstanding performances last season, Porsche AG has given the double Supercup champion René Rast (Germany) and Frenchman Kévin Estre as “Rookie of the Year” the chance to participate in the 50th anniversary running of the legendary sports car race on the Daytona International Speedway.

“René and Kévin displayed extraordinary prowess during the 2011 season,” says Jonas Krauss, Head of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. “So with support from Porsche, they have earned the chance to prove themselves in the fiercely-contested GT class of this long distance classic against very strong competition.” Other pilots from the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Daytona are Britain’s Sean Edwards and Nick Tandy as well as Jeroen Bleekemolen from the Netherlands.

On the way to his second title after 2010, René Rast celebrated five victories last year, including races on the storied Grand Prix circuits of Spa and Silverstone. Moreover, the German won the Porsche Carrera World Cup on the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife. “For me, Daytona is a real highlight to kick off the new season,” says Rast about his Daytona campaign with Magnus Racing. “It’s not every day a race driver gets the chance to contest such a prestigious 24 hour race with Porsche backup. This is really something very special.” Kévin Estre was not only the most successful Supercup newcomer by far in 2011 - he also secured his first victory in this intensely competitive one-make series in the Royal Park of Monza. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup has run as support to the Formula 1 World Championship since 1993. Estre is excited about his debut in Daytona with TRG Racing. “I thank Porsche for this unique chance,” he says. “I’ll do my best to justify their trust and to represent the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup well.”

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger