Duel in the dunes: Six Dutch drivers prepare for ADAC GT Masters home race

Duel in the dunes: Six prepare for ADAC GT Masters home race

• Dutch sextet in ADAC GT Masters premiere at Zandvoort
• Christiaan Frankenhout and Jeroen Bleekemolen as local heroes
• Netherlands second-most successful country in ADAC GT Masters

There are no fewer than six Dutch drivers in the line-up for next weekend's ADAC GT Masters at Zandvoort, most of them familiar with every inch of the tarmac and every individual dune. This will be first time that more than 40 super sports cars have contested the ADAC GT Masters at the circuit by the North Sea, and the occasion is bound to generate huge local interest, with Peter Kox (48), Christiaan Frankenhout (30), Jeroen den Boer (24), Simon Knap (23), Patrick Huisman (45) and special guest star Jeroen Bleekemolen (30) all competing in their home race. The Dutch sextet in the Super Sports Car League have good reason to feel optimistic about the forthcoming race - after all, the Netherlands is the second most successful country in the ADAC GT Masters with a total of 14 race wins.


DB Motorsport sole Dutch-run outfit in ADAC GT Masters

Anyone active in the Netherlands motor racing milieu will be a frequent visitor to the former Formula 1 venue. "I am very happy to be racing at Zandvoort again," says Jeroen den Boer who partners compatriot Simon Knap in the BMW Z4 entered by DB Motorsport, the only Dutch team in the ADAC GT Masters. "If you're part of the Dutch motorsport scene, you'll be pounding the tarmac at Zandvoort almost every weekend. The circuit is only about 50 kilometres from our workshop, and we are all very much looking forward to the race. I am expecting the field to be much more closely matched at Zandvoort than in the season opener, and with 40 cars jostling for position on this rather narrow track, it's going to be very exciting."


Another driver making a relatively short journey is Christiaan Frankenhout who shares the cockpit of a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with Kenneth Heyer (32, Wegberg / Heico Motorsport). Frankenhout, who notched up the first victory for the gullwing Mercedes in the 2011 ADAC GT Masters Championship, lives in nearby Amsterdam. At tenth in the ADAC GT Masters standings, he is currently the highest placed of the local drivers: "I was a student at the motor racing driver academy in Zandvoort; it's where I competed in my first ever race and secured the first win of my career. I am hoping for decent results in the two ADAC GT Masters races this weekend."


Peter Kox most successful Dutchman in ADAC GT Masters

Although he has more wins in the ADAC GT Masters than any other local driver, Peter Kox (Lamborghini Gallardo / Reiter Engineering) actually has the least experience of driving on the sand-strewn circuit by the North Sea. "Because I have spent the last 20 years driving almost exclusively in international racing series, I have only been in action at Zandvoort on a few occasions," says the 2010 champion (nine wins in the season). Meanwhile, team-mate Marc A Hayek (41, CH) will be focusing on his campaign to retain his amateur title. Kox: "I have only contested three races on the new circuit configuration, and that was in a touring car. My team-mate Marc Hayek and I will have to make optimum use of free practice to familiarise ourselves with the layout."

Former DTM driver Patrick Huisman has two good reasons to look forward to his home race: the four-time Porsche Supercup champion has the pleasure of driving the new McLaren MP4-12C, plus he will be making his first outing of the season at Zandvoort, having missed the opening two races at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben after an accident in free practice.


Guest appearance for ex-DTM driver Jeroen Bleekemolen

Jeroen Bleekemolen is to make a guest appearance in the Super Sports Car League at Zandvoort. The former DTM driver must be one of the busiest racing drivers, with a schedule that takes him to one competition or another every weekend - and frequently on different continents. Bleekemolen, who grew up a stone's throw away from the Zandvoort track, has happy memories of the ADAC GT Masters: on the first race weekend of the 2007 ADAC GT at the Nürburgring, Bleekemolen qualified in pole position. At Zandvoort, Bleekemolen is paired with Robert Renauer (27, Jedenhofen / FROGREEN CO2 neutral) in the Porsche 911 GT3. "I hope we can build on the podium finish for the team," says Bleekemolen. "But most of all, I'm looking forward to the support of the many Dutch fans at Zandvoort."

Bleekemolen aims for a podium finish in his Porsche			DB Motorsport sole Dutch-run outfit in the ADAC GT Masters			Christiaan Frankenhout sharpened his driving skills at Zandvoort			Frankenhout aims for a points finish in his Gullwing

Huisman starts in the spectacular new McLaren			Knap starts with his compatriot den Boer			Kox is the most successful Dutch driver in the ADAC GT Masters			Kox drives a Lamborghini Gallardo

As in previous seasons, all 16 races in the FIA GT Championship are broadcast live on the free-to-air channel kabel eins. Viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland can tune in at 12.15pm on Saturday and Sunday. For continuous updates on completed laps and times during free practice and races, check out the Live Timing page at www.adac.de/motorsport.

Further information available at www.adac.de/motorsport and www.adac-gt-masters.de


Media Contact:

ADAC GT Masters
Oliver Runschke

Porsche Carrera Cup-Hockenheim-Germany. MRS GT Team.

Hockenheim-Porsche Carrera Cup-Germany: MRS GT Racing.

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup # 34: Philipp Eng/ First race P5 and second race: P8 (good for points).

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup #33 with Bill Barazetti/First race P2 in Class B and second race again P2 in Class B.

Standings for Rookie Clasification:
1. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, 20
2. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, 18
3. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, 12

Standings Amateur Class:
Amateur classification
1. Harrie Kolen (NL), Land-Motorsport, 40 points
2. ‘Bill Barazetti’ (D), MRS GT-Racing, 36
3. Christina Nielsen (DK), Farnbacher ESET Racing, 32

International GT Open, Races 1 and 2 in Portimao/Portugal Perfect start to the season for Porsche customer teams

International GT Open, Races 1 and 2 in Portimao/Portugal

Perfect start to the season for Porsche customer teams

Stuttgart. Two races, two wins: the European customer teams headed into the new International GT Open season with great success. The big winners of the race weekend were Porsche works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain) driving for Manthey Racing. In the Autodromo do Algarve, the German-British duo won the 70 kilometre race on Saturday as well as the 20 kilometre shorter sprint on Sunday in the 911 GT3 RSR, the top model of Porsche customer racing. A triple victory to Porsche at Sunday’s race crowned the season-opening weekend. 35 vehicles from eleven different marques were at the start.

The French IMSA Matmut Performance team were delighted with their second place on Sunday. At the wheel of the 911 GT3 RSR, factory pilot Patrick Pilet and team boss Raymond Narac (both France) shared driving duties. Position three went to the Italian outfit Autorlando Sport, who contests the series with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. At the same time, this handed the Italians victory in the GTS class which is based on the FIA GT3 regulations. The 911 GT3 RSR competes in the Super GT class which is for more powerful vehicles and is based on the FIA GT2 regulations.

“It’s just fantastic to kick off the new season with maximum points,” says a thrilled Marco Holzer. Particularly on Saturday, the 22-year-old and his 28-year-old teammate Tandy, both GT Open rookies, gave a brilliant performance. Shortly before the start a rain shower flooded the race track. Holzer drove the first stint. “It was very difficult not to make a mistake on the extremely wet then drying track. When Nick took over the cockpit it wasn’t really ideal for slicks. But he drove his stint perfectly.” In Sunday’s race, the experience of team principal Olaf Manthey made itself apparent once again. Although the track was still wet, he sent Tandy out into the race on slicks. Whilst some of the opponents were still running wet tyres and lost time due to the extra pit stop, the German-911 kept racing. “That was the key to success,” said Nick Tandy, the reigning champion of the Carrera Cup Deutschland, proudly.

With satisfaction, the French IMSA Matmut Performance squad also travels back to their team base in Rouen. Fourth at the first race and position two in the second – a good start to the season. “It didn’t go perfectly for us in race one,” summed up Patrick Pilet. “Our set-up wasn’t the best and we were happy with fourth. Today went better for us. At the start our 911 proved difficult to drive. We didn’t have enough tyre pressure for the track conditions. But it all came together towards the end of the race.”

Autorlando Sport were also completely satisfied with third in the overall classification and victory in the GTS class as well as with the excellent job of both pilots Archie Hamilton (Great Britain) and Marco Mapelli (Italy). The Italians have notched up the most experience in the International GT Open. From 2008 to 2011, the Italians clinched vice-championship honours in the GTS category. The Spanish Drivex School team secured 13th place in the first race and eleventh in the second at the season-opening weekend with the 911 GT3 RSR. The cockpit of the new 911 was shared by Drivex owner Miguel Angel de Castro (Spain) and the Portuguese gentleman driver Miguel Pais do Amaral.

On the series’ website www.gtopen.net, the International GT Open provides Live-Timing and also Live-Streaming. The respective schedules, points’ standings and further information are also available there.


Result race 1
1. Holzer/Tandy (D/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:10.59.359 hours
2. Broniszewski/Peter (PL/A), Ferrari 458 GT Italia, + 7.6 seconds
3. Bizzarri/Cadei (I/I), Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, + 25.343
4. Narac/Pilet (F/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 25.977

Result race 2
1. Holzer/Tandy (D/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 51.43.964 minutes
2. Narac/Pilet (F/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 13.179 seconds
3. Mapelli/Hamilton (I/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 22.763
4. Bizzarri/Cadei (I/I), Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, + 29.974

Driver points
1. Holzer/Tandy, 40 points
2. Bizzarri/Cadei, 32
3. Narac/Pilet, 30
4. Hamilton/Mapelli, 29

Race three and four of the International GT Open will be run on 25 to 27 May on the Nürburgring.

This is the International GT Open

Inaugurated in 2006, the International GT Open features two races per weekend with identical points’ allocation – the first race on Saturday runs over 70 minutes, the second on Sunday over 50. Two drivers share the cockpit. A handicap system ensures more suspense at the head of the field. The top three drivers of each race are handed a 15, ten or five second penalty respectively for the following race. The calendar of the race series includes eight races on selective circuits like Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring.

One of the keys to success in the International GT Open is the stable technical regulations and the capping of costs, for instance through control tyres. The grid is divided into two classes, the stronger Super GT category and the GTS class.

Super GT: This class is based on the FIA GT2 regulations - the 911 GT3 RSR competes here. The particularly efficient six-cylinder boxer engine in the International GT Open version delivers significantly more than 500 hp.
.
GTS: Based on the FIA GT3 regulations. The Porsche 911 GT3 R is fielded here, now delivering 500 hp after the new model year underwent improvements.

In 2007, Autorlando Sport won the overall classification for drivers and teams with Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) and Joel Camathias from Switzerland.

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

A 1-2 for Mercedes-Benz in 2012 DTM season opener

A 1-2 for Mercedes-Benz in 2012 DTM season opener

 Hockenheim. The motorsport fans have the DTM fever and built a record

crowd for the season opener: 142,000 spectators wanted to be there for the start into

the new era of the DTM during the race weekend at the Hockenheimring Baden-

Württemberg. On the Sunday of the race alone, 71,000 spectators celebrated the

three-way battle between the premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz

and race winner Gary Paffett (GB). The 31-year old Mercedes-Benz driver survived the

turmoil after the start and after great duels, he crossed the finish line to finish first

from his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers and compatriot Jamie Green. Paffett said about

his 18th race win in the DTM: “Last year was really bad for me. Nevertheless, I didn’t

lose my self-confidence. Great, the way it has started now. At the start, I managed to

stay out of traffic and the duel with Jamie was really fair.” Mercedes-Benz scored its

sixth consecutive race win at Hockenheim.

Third place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg went to Swede Mattias

Ekström with the Audi A5 DTM. The 33-year old started from first place, but lost two

positions after locking up under braking and wasn’t able to make up for this. “Of course,

it is disappointing. Today, we simply weren’t quick enough and I have made a mistake.

The result hurts a little bit, but surely, we will get chances to win”, said Ekström.

At the comeback, British driver Andy Priaulx was the best-placed BMW driver in sixth

position. With his BMW M3 DTM, he finished behind the two Germans Christian

Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) after 40 laps. “When somebody

would have offered me sixth place before the weekend, I would gladly have accepted it. It

was great fun, we had a fantastic crowd and we have seen that BMW is on the right

way”, the 38-year old said. The other drivers to score points were Ralf Schumacher (D)

and David Coulthard from Scotland, both with a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, aw well

as Spaniard Miguel Molina and Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque (both Audi).

After the great joy for BMW because of the good qualifying result on Saturday, they

were quite unfortunate after the start on Sunday. Werner, who had started thurd,

initially lost three places, spun after a collision with Ralf Schumacher and dropped back

to the end of the field. Werner finished the race in 17th place. Defending champion

Martin Tomczyk (D) and BMW’s new signing Bruno Spengler (CDN) retired after

various collisions on the first four laps.

In the DTM, a new points’ scheme has come into force for this season, equal to that of

Formula 1. Accordingly, Paffett is leading the drivers’ standings after the opening round

with 25 points, followed by Green (18 points) and Ekström (16 points). The second DTM

weekend of the year already takes place in one week’s time at the Lausitzring near

Dresden from May 4th till 6th.

Head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz Norbert Haug: “A great result. Our team has

done the best job. The result in qualifying wasn’t fantastic, but in the race, we were able

to show a great performance. Victory is the best reward one can get. The duels by

Jamie Green and Gary Paffett were motor racing at its best. It was a very good race.”

Head of motorsport Audi Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “Congratulations to the winner.

Mattias Ekström has made the most of the race. We had a very good qualifying, but

unfortunately, our race wasn’t perfect. However, the race was exciting and was worthy

for the start of the new era. Now, we want to strike back at Lausitzring.”

Motorsport director BMW Jens Marquardt: “The DTM is not a pony farm. Of course,

it is annoying when you are losing cars at such an early stage or end up at the back of

the field. But the pace is there and the car is good on a race distance. Qualifying was

definitely better than expected and therefore, the overall verdict of the first race.

DTM Presse/Acreditated Media.

weekend is very positive.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, round 2 in Hockenheim Sean Edwards triumphs over strong opposition

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, round 2 in Hockenheim

Sean Edwards triumphs over strong opposition

Stuttgart. A strong driver trio at the front dominated round two of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. In the end it was Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) who clinched a flag-to-flag victory. With a 0.9-second advantage over Frenchman Kévin Estre (Hermes Attempto Racing) in second, the vice-champion of last year brought his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup over the finish line in first place. Third position went to René Rast (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit – Team Pole Promotion), who was able to extend his lead in Germany’s fastest one-make series after his victory at yesterday’s season-opening race.

Making a superb getaway from the pole, Sean Edwards immediately took the lead and initially pulled slightly clear of his pursuers – but it didn’t take long for Carrera Cup newcomer Kévin Estre and seasoned campaigner René Rast to set out after the leader, taking turns in setting one fastest race lap after the other. But only once did the pursuers seem to have a slight chance when Edwards ran wide in the final corner. He briefly left the track but managed to rejoin the race. Edwards kept his cool all the way to the flag to claim his first win of the season. Estre finished in second place which also puts him second in the rookie classification.

Behind the leading three came two other makes cup professionals. In fourth place was Nicki Thiim. Driving for Hermes Attempto Racing, the Dane came under no pressure from behind but was unable to catch the top trio. The same applied to Dutchman Jaap van Lagen (FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport), who brought home a secure fifth place and collected crucial points. Austria’s Norbert Siedler, points’ leader of the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, repeated his result from race one securing sixth place. Starting from ninth on the grid, the Konrad Motorsport pilot made up three places through overtaking manoeuvres. Siedler stuck to the rear of Nicolas Armindo’s Attempto Racing Porsche over several laps. When the Frenchman overtook guest driver Jeroen Mul (NED, Team Bleekemolen), Siedler grabbed his chance, stuck close on Armindo’s bumper, and slipped by as well. In his perfectly set-up 911, Siedler then proceeded to bag the Frenchman. The 2010 Carrera Cup champion finished seventh. Philipp Eng (Austria, MRS GT-Racing), Michael Ammermüller (Germany, SWITCH IT Lechner Racing) and Jeroen Mul trailed in positions eight to ten respectively.

The two Porsche Juniors concluded a rather uneventful race just shy of the top ten. Michael Christensen (Denmark, Konrad Motorsport) came 12th, with Austria’s Klaus Bachler (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) finishing 13th.

On 30 April, the Monday after the race weekend, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. Sport1 broadcasts Carrera Cup highlights on Tuesday, 1 May, from 16.30 to 17.00 hours.

Sean Edwards (winner): “What a race! I nailed the start perfectly and managed to edge away from the field. But then Kévin caught me so I had to push to extend the gap. But he came again. This game went on over the entire time. It was really exhausting. With my two pole positions from the first two Hockenheim races I should have been able to bring home two wins. But I’m happy that at least today worked out well after yesterday’s bad luck. I’m hoping to fight for the title this year.”

Kévin Estre (second): “I’m very pleased to climb the podium. My car was consistent from the start to the flag and this was the key to success. But I had to drive at the limit every second in order not to lose contact to Sean and to stay out of René’s way. So it’s all the more satisfying not to have made a mistake. My goal now is to be just as quick at the next round on the Lausitzring.”

René Rast (third): “I’m very satisfied - victory for Sean and third for me. What a great team result. Yesterday’s win and today’s result gave me a very good start in the team. Third was all I could manage today. I was absolutely at the limit and I think the other two were as well. It’s great to head home from the first race weekend leading the points.”

Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, 12th): “Again my start was good, but unfortunately I was on the wrong side for the first corner. All in all it was a good race, and I made no mistakes. But we had problems with the car set-up, I didn’t have enough grip. Obviously I wanted to achieve more but I’m happy with my performance.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, 13th): “I had new tyres today and I actually expected more. But I have to admit that I made a few mistakes in the race and we just weren’t fast enough today. Now we have to analyse why I was not able to fully utilise my new tyres but at least I made it to the flag. I earned points and we continue next week. There we should take a step forward.”


Race 2 result
1. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 31:13.046 minutes
2. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 0.991 seconds
3. René Rast (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit/Pole Promotion, + 2.334
4. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 8.478
5. Jaap van Lagen (NL), FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 9.465
6. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 18.990
7. Nicolas Armindo (F), Attempto Racing, + 13.607
8. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, + 18.545
9. Michael Ammermüller (D), SWITCH IT by Lechner Racing, + 19.721
10. Jeroen Mul (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 21.266

Points’ standings after 2 of 17 races
Driver
1. René Rast (D), 36 points
2. Nicolas Armindo (F), 27
3. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 26
4. Michael Ammermüller (D), 23
5. Nicki Thiim (DK), 23

Teams
1. Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 56 points
2. Hermes Attempto Racing, 41
3. Attempto Racing, 33


Amateur classification
1. Harrie Kolen (NL), Land-Motorsport, 40 points
2. ‘Bill Barazetti’ (D), MRS GT-Racing, 36
3. Christina Nielsen (DK), Farnbacher ESET Racing, 32

Rookie classification:
1. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, 20
2. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, 18
3. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, 12

Preview for races 3 and 4 of 17 at the Lausitzring
Already this coming weekend, the Carrera Cup Deutschland heads to the Lausitzring, which is famous for its impressive main grandstand, for races 3 and 4. On the interesting 3.478 kilometre Lausitzring, Nicki Thiim celebrated his first victory in Germany’s fastest makes cup a year ago. Sean Edwards climbed the podium in second. After the first two races of the season, René Rast travels to the Lausitz region topping the points table.
Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, round 1 in Hockenheim René Rast wins turbulent season-opener

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, round 1 in Hockenheim

René Rast wins turbulent season-opener

Stuttgart. A perfect start to the season for René Rast (Germany). The one-make cup professional driving for Team Deutsche Post by tolimit – Team Pole Promotion won the first race of the Carrera Cup Deutschland in Hockenheim with an 8.851-second advantage. Second place went to Frenchman Nicolas Armindo (Attempto Racing). After a weak season last year, the 2010 champion has kicked of his 2012 campaign impressively. Michael Ammermüller (SWITCH IT Lechner Racing) from Germany was overjoyed with his third spot on the podium. Germany’s fastest one-brand series is contested with identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers. The 450 hp GT race car is based on the lightweight street-legal 911 GT3 RS sports car.

Taking up the race from pole position, Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) won the sprint to the first corner. The Briton lost his lead briefly to French newcomer Kévin Estre (Hermes Attempto Racing), but the stalwart quickly grabbed it back. Last year’s vice-champion drove a controlled race at the head of the field followed by his teammate René Rast and managed to pull clear of his pursuers bit by bit – until tyre damage in lap six threw him out of contention.

Michael Ammermüller celebrated a brilliant debut with position three after the ex-Formula 1 test driver narrowly missed out on a podium spot last weekend clinching fourth at the Porsche Supercup round in Bahrain. Behind the Lechner pilot, Jaap van Lagen (FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport) came fourth over the finish line. The Dutchman, who made up one position on his qualifying result, was one of the six race winners last year with his victory at Spielberg in Austria.

Philipp Eng was the surprise of the day in fifth. Driving for MRS GT-Racing, the Austrian has experience in a Carrera Cup race from one event as a guest starter at the 2011 finale in Hockenheim. With his fifth place, the youngster who has also tested a Formula 1 car, planted himself at the head of the newly-created rookie classification in the Carrera Cup. Behind him came his compatriot Norbert Siedler, the current leader of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. After experiencing a difficult practice session, the Konrad Motorsport pilot was satisfied with his success in gaining ground and the first point. The Dane Nicki Thiim (Hermes Attempto Racing) clinched seventh place ahead of newcomer Elia Erhart (Marschall Goebel Racing).

The Porsche Juniors, Klaus Bachler and Michael Christensen, made a good start to the season. Driving for the Deutsche Post by tolimit squad, the Austrian was running in eighth place when he had to pit with tyre problems. After a change of tyres, 20-year-old Bachler rejoined the race far down the field, but was able to match the pace of the frontrunners and saw the flag in 17th. Driving for Konrad Motorsport, Denmark’s Klaus Bachler lost the front lip of his 911 in the turmoil of the race. Despite the heavy understeer that resulted from this, the 21-year-old still managed to bring home ninth place from his debut race.

The grid line-up for race two on Sunday is determined by the fastest lap time from the qualifying session. Sean Edwards and Jaap van Lagen start from the first row, with Kévin Estre and René Rast sharing the second. Taking up Sunday’s race from the third grid row are Nicki Thiim and Philipp Eng.

The race tomorrow starts at 9.30 hrs and is broadcast live on the official Porsche website (www.porsche.com) in high-quality – with editorial clips prior to the actual live-streaming, live-timing and commentary in German and English. On 30 April, the Monday after the race weekend, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. Sport1 broadcasts Carrera Cup highlights on Tuesday, 1 May, from 16.30 to 17.00 hours.

René Rast (winner): “I’m of course extremely happy with my race. I started from third on the grid and won. I had a little bit of race luck on my side, which was at the same time a shame for my teammate Sean and our squad. We don’t yet know where the tyre damage came from, but we still have a chance to secure a good team result tomorrow.”

Nicolas Armindo (second): “It feels great to climb the podium again. It’s been a long time coming. I was certainly not the fastest today, but with some cleverness and a little luck it was enough for a podium result.”

Michael Ammermüller (third): “I’m happy to have come from eighth and finished third at my first race. I hadn’t expected that. I had anticipated at best fifth place. I’m sure I had Lady Luck on my side today, but my car was also really well set-up.”

Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, ninth): “After a difficult qualifying we managed to find a good race set-up for my car. I thought the start would be hard but it went really well. I got caught up in traffic, the front lip of my 911 ripped off in the turmoil and had to contend with understeer. I then had to cope with a puncture towards the end. So I told myself, just take it easy and get to the finish.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, 17th): “My start wasn’t that great, but afterwards I drove a steady race. I waited for the drivers in front of me to make a mistake and then made the most of it. In this way I could move up the field and was even running in eighth when a tyre problem forced me into the pits.”

Race 1 result
1. René Rast (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit/Pole Promotion, 24:27.506 minutes
2. Nicolas Armindo (F), Attempto Racing, + 8.851 seconds
3. Michael Ammermüller (D), SWITCH IT Lechner Racing, + 10.772
4. Jaap van Lagen (NL) FE-Racing by Land-Motorsport, + 13.446
5. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, + 14.151
6. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 18.990
7. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 22.755
8. Elia Erhart (D), Marschall Goebel Racing, + 27.711
9. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, + 35.981
10. Thomas Pivoda (CZ), Konrad Motorsport, + 38.091

Points’ standings after 1 of 17 races
Driver
1. René Rast (D), 20 points
2. Nicolas Armindo (F), 18
3. Michael Ammermüller (D), 16
4. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 14
5. Philipp Eng (A), 12

Teams
1. Deutsche Post by tolimit, 24 points
2. Attempto Racing, 18
3. Konrad Motorsport, 17

Amateur classification
1. Harrie Kolen (NL), Land-Motorsport, 20 points
2. ‘Bill Barazetti’ (D), MRS GT-Racing, 18
3. Christina Nielsen (DK), Farnbacher ESET Racing, 16

Rookie classification:
1. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, 12 points
2. Elia Erhart (D), Marschall Goebel Racing, 8
3. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, 7

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger

Brilliant debut for the new Audi A5 DTM

Brilliant debut for the new Audi A5 DTM Mattias Ekström takes top spot on the grid at DTM opening round Three Audi A5 DTM cars in the top five All three Audi factory teams on the three front rows   Ingolstadt/Hockenheim, April 28, 2012 - A brilliant and impressive debut for the new Audi A5 DTM: Exactly 274 days after the roll-out of the new DTM vehicle based on the A5 Coupé Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) took the pole position at the season opener at Hockenheim in front of Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz) and Dirk Werner (BMW). Title defender Audi is thus starting into the new DTM era from the top spot on the grid. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz presented themselves on an equal footing in the first qualifying event of the new DTM right from the first minute on. Accordingly, the three premium manufacturers delivered a thrilling battle for the top positions on the grid which FIA President Jean Todt watched on location as well. In the crucial qualifying segment (Q4) Mattias Ekström prevailed. As temperatures kept rising and grip level was degrading, he clinched the pole position on used tires with a lead of more than two tenths of a second - marking the 19th pole in total in his DTM career and the 65th for Audi. "I couldn’t have wished for a better start into the new DTM," jubilated the Swede who, after 2005 and 2009, achieved the best position on the grid at the DTM opener at Hockenheim for the third time. "The first pole position for the A5 DTM on its debut - that’s simply superb! Audi Sport has built a fantastic car. We worked hard and did our homework - that paid off today. This pole belongs to everyone in Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. The warmer it became the less grip the track had. That was incredible fun for me. The fact that it was so warm today suited me well." A driver of each of the other two Audi factory teams - the Italian Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) and the German Mike Rockenfeller (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) - managed the leap into the top five as well. In Q4, Edoardo Mortara drove the third-best time but it was retroactively canceled because the Italian had crossed a blocked area in turn 1. Mike Rockenfeller in fifth place merely missed Q4 by 69 thousandths of a second. The two-time DTM Champion Timo Scheider (Germany) is starting into the race on Sunday (broadcast live from 13:40 on "Das Erste") from position eight. The only 21-year-old Frenchman Adrien Tambay managed an impressive debut by clinching grid position twelve. Filipe Albuquerque, Miguel Molina and Rahel Frey are starting from positions 14, 17 and 22. "This was an incredibly exciting first qualifying event in the new DTM era," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "All three manufacturers are on an equal footing right from the beginning, only details are decisive. This is exactly what the fans want. Naturally, it’s great and a reward for the hard labor of the past few months that we clinched the first pole position in the new DTM era with the new Audi A5 DTM and that three of our cars are in the top five. The whole squad performed an almost super-human feat in order to put eight new cars on the grid here. Thank you very much for that! Now we’re all very eager to see the first race in front of such a fantastic crowd!" Yet before the eagerly awaited race on Sunday, Audi is offering a special treat. On Saturday night, cult sports presenter Waldemar Hartmann together with comedian Matze Knop will provide commentaries on the qualifying action at "Waldi’s DTM Club" at the Audi Team & Media Hospitality at Hockenheim.

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