Wednesday 31 October 2012

City Challenge Baku 2012 Successfull ending in the cement passage


City Challenge Baku 2012
Successfull ending in the cement passage

A little touch of adventure laid on the plan completing the racing series with a city race in the Azerbaijanian capital city Baku. Without knowing what the MRS team had to expect, directly after the season’s finale of the Porsche Carrera Cup at the Hockenheimring, two Porsche GT3 and the appropriate equipment were packed into a plane and transported to far Azerbaijan.

First of all, the city of Baku and the organization of the City Challenge did an amazing job in all parts. A motorsport top class event in an amazing city.

Even the 24 cars filled starting field was convincing. Former Formula 1 aces like Jacques Villeneuve and Jos Verstappen took up the challenge at the city circuit just as well as current sports car professionals. Besides the GT3 cars McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche and Co, there was a fraction of Porsche GT3 cars, as they were driven at the Porsche Carrera Cup. For these, in terms of the performance a little bit defeated cars, the organizer has announced an extra class.

The MRS team started besides the regular driver Philipp Eng with three new members. Felipe Fernández Laser (Porsche Carrera Cup) shared a car with Tim Tews (VLN/24h Barcelona) and the Porsche Carrera Cup driver Elia Erhart shared the smurfblue GT3 with Philipp Eng. Also the race format was a little bit different as usual. Besides enough time for free practices there were two qualifying sessions and two qualifying races, before on Sunday afternoon the real showdown took place, an one hour long race with a mandatory pit stop, driver and tire change. In front of sold out grand stands top motorsport was offered to the fans. Just after the start bad news concerning car number 15 reached the MRS team. A Corvette pushed the green and white “Logiplus” Porsche into the concrete wall, thereby the rear suspension was damaged so badly, that Felipe Laser had to return to the pit. In record time the MRS crew changed the suspension and send Laser back to the race. Indeed without a chance with some laps behind Laser drove some fast laps, before he passed to Tim Tews.

Things went better for car number 14. After an error-free race starting driver Elia Erhart could pass the car on position 15 and on fourth place in the class to Philipp Eng, who could move forward during the race. In the last lap Philipp Eng passed the second in the class of cup cars and reached his second podium in one week, on an awesome tenth overall.

Karsten Molitor (team leader): „We are of course very happy with the result, but especially with the event in total. We didn’t know what to expect here. The city track was really sensational, a big compliment to the organizer City Challenge. Everything was planned in detail very well, this race was broadcasted worldwide by the different TV stations, which really impressed us very much. Besides motorsport at its best there was first-class entertainment almost around the clock. A mix which caught very well on the fans and involved persons. Also the city Baku with his enthusiastic people fascinated us. We sincerely hope that this will not be the last motorsport event of its kind and we can already say today, that we surely be pleased to participate again in case of a remake.”

Your MRS Team

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Porsche Junior Programme Six finalists at evaluation drive in Vallelunga

Porsche Junior Programme



Six finalists at evaluation drive in Vallelunga

Stuttgart. Six young pilots aged from 18 to 20 years will front each other to determine who receives intensive support in the 2013 season as a Porsche Junior in the Carrera Cup Deutschland. At the finale of the international youth selection process, two Swiss drivers Levin Amweg (18) and Jeffrey Schmidt (18), two Dutchmen Dennis van de Laar (18) and Pieter Schothorst (20), a Spaniard Alex Riberas Bou (18) as well as American Connor de Philippi (19) will undertake a comprehensive test programme this Monday and Tuesday in Vallelunga (Italy) with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

In the lead-up, the six finalists had come out on top in an extensive selection process against young talents from around the world. Factors taken into account were fitness, mental strength, demeanour and technical understanding. Now working alongside engineers on the track, the junior drivers, all of whom were successful in various national and international formula race series, will be tested for consistent times over a race distance as well as in simulated qualifying laps. Moreover, candidates must demonstrate their skill in handling the media with television interviews and photo shoots.

In the weeks following the selection process, two pilots will be chosen after careful analysis of all data and given support in their 2013 Carrera Cup Deutschland campaign as Porsche juniors. Porsche provides a large part of the season’s budget. The junior pilots choose their own race team based on a defined set of criteria from Porsche Motorsport.

Aside from financial funding as well as support from an experienced coach who accompanies the two drivers on and off the race track, the Porsche juniors receive assistance similar to the internationally successful Porsche factory pilots. Fitness tests with constantly adapted training plans as well as media coaching, technical seminars and sponsor obligations are also part of the programme. In the 2012 season, both Porsche juniors Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Klaus Bachler (Austria) started the programme which initially runs for four years.

Porsche has intensively supported talented youngsters in motorsport since 1997. Today’s Porsche factory pilots Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb, Patrick Long and Marco Holzer were trained as Porsche juniors. Other big-league names in motorsport to emerge from this scholarship programme are Dirk Müller, Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller.


Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Saturday 27 October 2012

World Endurance Championship, round 8 in Shanghai/China Strong qualifying performance for Porsche teams









World Endurance Championship, round 8 in Shanghai/China

Strong qualifying performance for Porsche teams

Stuttgart. In the qualifying for the season final of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) on the Shanghai International Circuit, Porsche teams put in a convincingly strong performance. In the GTE Pro class, Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) planted Felbermayr-Proton’s 911 GT3 RSR on the second grid spot. For Sunday’s race, he shares driving duties with his works driver colleague Marc Lieb (Germany), with whom he won the WEC round in Fuji/Japan two weeks ago. Pole position in the GTE Am category went to Paolo Ruberti (Italy) in last year’s 911 fielded by Felbermayr-Proton. His teammates in China are Christian Ried (Germany) and Gianluca Roda (Italy).

“That was the most we could achieve today,” said Richard Lietz. “The balance of our car was good. Early on we had a little oversteer, but it got better with each lap. This makes me confident for the race. I think we have a good chance over the distance.” Paolo Ruberti commented, “It’s always good to start from pole position. At a six hour race it’s not decisive, but it shows us that we have a good car. With Felbermayr-Proton we still have an outside chance of winning the team trophy. And we want to use this chance.”

The six hour race starts on Sunday, 28 October, at 11.00 hours local time (04.00 CET). The race can be seen live on the internet under www.fiawec.com. Eurosport broadcasts highlights on 30 October at midnight.


Qualifying result

GTE Pro class

1. Turner/Mücke (GB/D), Aston Martin Vantage, 2:03.721
2. Lieb/Lietz (D/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.750 seconds
3. Fisichella/Bruni (I/I), Ferrari F458 Italia + 1.666
4. Bertolini/Beretta (I/MC), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 2.646

GTE Am class
1. Ried/Roda/Ruberti (D/I/I), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2:05.584 minutes
2. Kauffmann/Aguas/Cioci (USA/P/I), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 0.252 seconds
3. Bornhauser/Canal/Lamy (F/F/P), Chevrolet Corvette, + 1.326
4. Camathias/Bell/Daniels (CH/GB/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 3.264
5. Bourret/Gibon/Belloc (F/F/F), Chevrolet Corvette, + 3.571
6. Krohn/Jönsson/Rugolo (USA/S/I), Ferrari F458 Italia, + 4.057


The World Endurance Championship

Sports prototypes and GT vehicles race in the new World Endurance Championship. They are divided into four classes that start together but are classified separately:
LMGTE Pro class: This class is reserved for slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
LMGTE Am class: Like the LMGTE Pro, but the regulations stipulate that only last year’s cars are eligible and there must be no more than one professional driver per vehicle.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 440 hp and a 900 kilogram minimum weight.

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

FIA/WEC: Toyota’s Second Consecutive FIA WEC Pole and First for JRM and Lotus


Toyota’s Second Consecutive FIA WEC Pole and First for JRM and Lotus  / Seconde pole d’affilée pour Toyota, grande première pour JRM et Lotus


 For the final time in this inaugural 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship season, cars representing some of the world’s biggest automotive manufacturers took to the track at the Shanghai International Circuit for qualifying to determine the grid positions for tomorrow’s 6 Hours of Shanghai.   In dry but humid conditions, and in front of a fervent crowd of Chinese fans, the LMP1 cars set off for their 20 minutes of action.

Following pole position at its home track in Fuji, Toyota Racing clinched a second consecutive pole here in Shanghai, and this time it was Alex Wurz who got to do the honours at the press conference afterwards, Kazuki Nakajima being absent from the Chinese race.  It wasn’t the Austrian’s first in the FIA WEC, that being in September at the 6 Hours of São Paolo, but with his lap of 1:48.273 in the No.7 Toyota TS030 Hybrid he set the best overall time of the weekend.  He headed Allan McNish in the No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro by a tenth of a second and the gap between the Japanese manufacturer and the third placed car, the No.1 Audi of André Lotterer, was just three tenths.  The outcome of qualifying augurs well for tomorrow’s race!

LMP1
1       7                                       Toyota Racing                                            A. Wurz / N. Lapierre         Toyota TS030 - Hybrid 1:48.273
2 2    Audi Sport Team Joest T. Kristensen / A. McNish                          Audi R18 e-tron quattro    +0.100
3 1    Audi Sport Team Joest M. Fässler / A. Lotterer / B. Tréluyer          Audi R18 e-tron quattro    +0.324
4 22 JRM                                 D. Brabham / K. Chandhok / P. Dumbreck HPD ARX 03a - Honda     +2.730

The LMP1 Privateer teams followed, with just a hair between the first three in the category...just three hundredths of a second.  There was a gap of only 0.016 seconds between Karun Chandhok’s No.22 JRM HPD ARX 03a and Neel Jani’s No.12 Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota, the Swiss entry being the interloper between the JRM car and its HPD ARX 03a twin at Strakka Racing.  It’s the first time this season that JRM has been quickest amongst the LMP1 Privateer teams.

It was also a first for Lotus in LMP2.  For the last few races, the Lolas of the Lotus team have showed their hand and today confirmed their form with pole position.  A time of 1:54.132 propelled James Rossiter to the front row in the No.32 Lotus, nosing ahead of the two runners who have so often battled for pole, John Martin in the No.25 ADR-Delta Oreca 03-Nissan and Stephane Sarrazin in the No.44 Starworks HPD ARX 03b.  The American Starworks team is already assured of the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 teams this season.

LMP2
1 32 Lotus                                J. Charouz / J. Rossiter / K. Weeda          Lola B12/80 Coupé - Lotus 1:54.132
2 25 ADR-Delta                       J. Martin / T. Graves / M. Beche                Oreca 03 - Nissan D          +0.169
3 44 Starworks Motorsports  V. Potolicchio / R. Dalziel / S. Sarrazin     HPD ARX 03b - Honda      +0.218

In spite of the 5.45km circuit length, the gap between the different protagonists in each category is very tight which bodes well for an exciting race tomorrow, Sunday 28th October from 1100 hours.  The Drivers’ title is still to be decided between the two Audi line ups and the LMGTE Am title so rendez-vous again at 1700 hours tomorrow (local time) to know who the 2012 winners will be.

CLICK HERE for the results from Qualifying

Seconde pole d’affilée pour Toyota, grande première pour JRM et Lotus
Pour la dernière fois de la première saison du Championnat du Monde d’Endurance de la FIA, les voitures représentant certains des plus grands constructeurs mondiaux ont pris la piste sur le Circuit International de Shanghai pour la séance qualificative des 6 Heures de Shanghai. Les prototypes se sont élancés pour 20 minutes d’action sur une piste sèche mais une atmosphère humide devant des fans chinois des plus fervents.
                           
Après la pole à domicile pour les 6 Heures de Fuji, Toyota Racing a décroché une deuxième pole d’affilée à Shanghai, mais après Kazuki Nakajima, absent en Chine, c’est cette fois à Alex Wurz que sont revenus les honneurs de la conférence de presse. L’Autrichien n’en est pas à sa première participation puisqu’il a signé la toute première pole de la Toyota TS030 Hybrid n°7 lors des 6 Heures de São Paulo en septembre dernier et avec un tour du Circuit International de Shanghai en 1’48’’273, il a réalisé le meilleur chrono absolu depuis le début du weekend, devançant Allan McNish et l’Audi R18e-tron quattro n°2 d’un centième. L’écart avec le troisième larron, André Lotterer, dans le baquet de l’Audi R18 e-tron quattro n°1, est aussi insignifiant puisqu’il ne s’élève qu’à un peu plus que trois dixièmes. Des résultats de bon augure pour la course demain !

Les écuries privées LMP1 ne sont pas en reste puisque les trois premiers sont regroupés dans un mouchoir de poche : 34 millièmes séparent Karun Chandhok et la HPD-Honda ARX 03a n°22 de JRM, détenteur du meilleur temps en 1’51’’0033, de Danny Watts, troisième, avec la voiture sœur n°21 de Strakka Racing. Neel Jani, auteur de la pole au Japon il y a deux semaines, a intercalé la Lola-Toyota n°12 de Rebellion Racing entre les deux prototypes nippons. C’est la première fois de la saison que JRM boucle le tour le plus rapide des écuries privées LMP1, tout comme Lotus l’a fait en LMP2.

Depuis quelques courses, les Lola de l’écurie Lotus montrent le bout de leur nez et ont finalement concrétisé aujourd’hui avec la pole de la catégorie LMP2. Un chrono d’1’54’’132 a propulsé James Rossiter en première ligne avec la Lotus n°32, au nez et à la barbe des deux compères qui se battent souvent pour la pole, John Martin et l’Oreca 03-Nissan n°25 d’ADR-Delta et Stéphane Sarrazin et la HPD-Honda ARX 03b n°44 de l’écurie Starworks Motorsports, déjà assurée du trophée de meilleur Team LMP2 pour l’année 2012. Les quatre premiers de la catégorie sont regroupés en un peu plus de trois dixièmes.

Malgré la longueur du circuit, 5,45 km, les écarts entre les différents protagonistes de chaque catégorie sont très resserrés, ce qui promet une course passionnante pour demain, dimanche 28 octobre à 11 heures, d’autant plus que le titre Pilotes reste à la portée des deux équipages d’Audi. Rendez-vous demain à 17 heures, heure locale, pour connaître les lauréats 2012.


Weather
Air t° :21.4°C
Track t° :22.2°C
Wind :SE at 11.3 kph
Humidity :81%

QUALIFYING FACTS
13:55:38 : Next up is prototype qualifying, cars already waiting to leave pitlane - McNish in Audi #2 leads the queue.
13:56:51 : Green flag on prototype qualifying
13:58:50 : Alex Wurz is in the Toyota TS030 #7
14:00:29 : Andre Lotterer is in the #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro for this session
14:03:39 : Fastest first flying lap goes to McNish but Wurz is very quick on 2nd lap and takes provisional pole
14:06:00 : Top time in LMP2 currently Lotus #32 (James Rossiter)
14:07:51 : Fastest LMP1 privateers is currently JRM #22 (Chandhok)
14:09:52 : Top 3 cars now sit in pitlane - Toyota #7 on provisional pole with 5 minutes left in session
14:14:11 : It looks like front runners have done with qualifying, LMP1 privateers and LMP2 still to be decided with one minute remaining.
14:17:01 : Chequered flag on LMP qualifying - Toyota take pole
14:19:07 : No change in LMP2 either as the Lotus #32 driven by James Rossiter takes class pole position


Jeff Carter
Media Delegate
Photo: © CLEMENT MARIN / DPPI



Friday 26 October 2012

World Endurance Championship, round 8 in Shanghai/China Latest photos from free practice 2









World Endurance Championship, round 8 in Shanghai/China

Latest photos from free practice 2 on the Porsche press database

Stuttgart. Latest photos from free practice 2 on the Shanghai International Circuit, on which the season finale of the World Endurance Championship is contested on Sunday,

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Porsche at World Endurance Championship, round 8 in Shanghai/China







World Endurance Championship, round 8 in Shanghai/China

Latest photos from free practice 1 on the Porsche press database

Stuttgart. Latest photos from free practice 1 on the Shanghai International Circuit, on which the season finale of the World Endurance Championship is contested on Sunday

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger

Results Free Practice at Baku City Challenge GT Class/ Cup cars.


Results Free Practice at Baku City Challenge GT Class/ Cup cars.

Friday 26.10.2012 12:00
Weather condition: Dry
started : 24 classified : 24 not classified : 0

1 33 M.Lauda/F.Kechele V4O BMW Z4 GT3 45 1:05.947 117.0 13:34:52

2 17 S.Dusseldorp/F.Makowiecki HEXIS McLaren MP4-12C GT3 19 1:05.953 0.006 0.006 117.0 12:47:52

3 18 R.Bell/A.Parente HEXIS McLaren MP4-12C GT3 17 1:06.174 0.227 0.221 116.6 12:44:22

4 35 Y.Buurman/N.Mayr-Melnhof V4O BMW Z4 GT3 49 1:06.489 0.542 0.315 116.1 13:43:51

5 9 S.Edwards/K.Al Azhari Mühlner Motorsport Porsche GT3 R 21 1:06.523 0.576 0.034 116.0 12:43:00

6 6 B.Schneider/S.Afanasiev HEICO Motorsport Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 35 1:06.657 0.710 0.134 115.8 13:15:14

7 34 J.Villeneuve/J.Verstappen V4O BMW Z4 GT3 38 1:06.869 0.922 0.212 115.4 13:15:18

8 7 M.Buhk/M.Parisy HEICO Motorsport Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 31 1:06.899 0.952 0.030 115.4 13:08:18

9 57 M.Bobbi/S.Comandini V4O Italy Ferrari F 458 GT3 39 1:06.958 1.011 0.059 115.3 13:44:40

10 58 L.Machiels/G.Franchi V4O Italy Ferrari F 458 GT3 46 1:07.146 1.199 0.188 114.9 13:35:01

11 12 M.Leipert/F.Spengler rhinos Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo GT 3 LP600+ 43 1:07.307 1.360 0.161 114.7 13:34:24

12 36 F.Monschino/G.Barri Easy Race Ferrari F 458 GT3 45 1:07.494 1.547 0.187 114.4 13:35:23

13 8 M.Thomas/N.Tandy Mühlner Motorsport Porsche GT3 R 16 1:07.544 1.597 0.050 114.3 12:40:11

14 88 N.Thiim/P.Fromenwiller ATTEMPTO Racing Porsche GT3 26 1:07.618 1.671 0.074 114.1 13:15:35

15 21 A.Hamilton/F.Konrad Franz Konrad Motorsport Porsche GT3 47 1:07.667 1.720 0.049 114.1 13:38:52

16 14 E.Erhart/P.Eng Molitor Porsche GT3 R 38 1:07.848 1.901 0.181 113.8 13:45:42

17 28 J.Bender/J.Aeberhard RBT Racing Team Corvette ZR06 45 1:08.054 2.107 0.206 113.4 13:45:16

18 20 C.Engelhardt/M.Kristensen Franz Konrad Motorsport Porsche GT3 33 1:08.102 2.155 0.048 113.3 13:07:15

19 11 E.Leganov/R.Friberg rhinos Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo GT 3 LP600+ 17 1:08.351 2.404 0.249 112.9 12:42:41

20 66 T.Rumpfkeil/B.Visser Motopark Porsche GT3 44 1:08.775 2.828 0.424 112.2 13:43:19

21 15 F.Laser/T.Tews Molitor Porsche GT3 40 1:08.841 2.894 0.066 112.1 13:32:56

22 99 A.Aka ATTEMPTO Racing Porsche GT3 28 1:09.224 3.277 0.383 111.5 13:36:39

23 98 D.Bohr/W.Toe GRT Grasser-Racing-Team Lamborghini Gallardo GT 3 LP600+ 27 1:10.364 4.417 1.140 109.7 13:03:56

24 27 G.Beisel/M.Mitländer RBT Racing Team Corvette ZR06 40 1:10.959 5.012 0.595 108.8 13:45:57
Baku City Challenge Press.

First day of City Challenge action at Baku street circuit


First day of City Challenge action at Baku street circuit
City Challenge track action started at the 2.144 kilometres long street circuit in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, today, with free practice sessions for the City Challenge GT, Classic Grand Prix and the Ghymkhana City Drift categories. The fastest lap time in the GT class was established by Rob Bell/Alvaro Parente with the Hexis-McLaren MP4-12C GT3, who topped the time sheets in second free practice with 1:04,254 minutes. In the morning session, Vita4One-BMW Z4 duo Mathias Lauda/Frank Kechele had been fastest with a time of 1:05.947 minutes.
The first day of practice at the Baku street circuit provided the drivers with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the temporary track. “Quite impressive what has been achieved here,” said ex-Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, who had his first experience of driving a GT3 car. However, spirits within the team were less upbeat after Jacques Villeneuve had an accident with the car in second free practice. “I wasn’t even going that fast, but I spun and hit the tyre barriers,” the Canadian ex- Formula 1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner commented. Vita4One team owner Michael Bartels couldn’t confirm rumours that the car was damaged beyond immediate repair. “We fear that the chassis is bent. Of course, we will try whatever we can do to get the car going again, but if there is the slightest risk, we will not do it. Safety is our utmost concern,” said the German. In first free practice, lap times of the first eight cars were within one second, with a nice mix of five different sports cars in the top ten. In the second session, the first seven cars were within one second, once again with five brands in the top ten.
Austrians Bernd Herndlhofer and Johann Ledermaier were the pace-setters in the two free practice sessions of the Classic Grand Prix category. Both driving a Dallara- Renault, they each set a fastest and a second-fastest time in one of the sessions. Dutchman Marijn van Kalmthout was third on both occasions, the best-placed driver of a Formula 1 car with his Benetton B197.
After the track action, tonight’s highlight will be the première of the ‘CoGo’ show in the event area, a one-hour cultural programme that has especially been produced for the City Challenge event. The motorsport programme continues tomorrow, Saturday, October 27th, with qualifying sessions and sprint races from 9.30 till 17.40 h. Sunday, October 28th, is the main race day, with warm-up sessions for all categories from 9.15 h, followed by a GT drivers’ parade at 12.00 h and races from 12.50 h till 17.15 h.

Source: Baku City Challenge Press.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

City Challenge Baku Preview MRS at the City Challenge in Baku

City Challenge Baku Preview
MRS at the City Challenge in Baku

The dropping of the checkered flag at the season’s finale in Hockenheim is not equivalent with the ending of the season for the MRS team. Directly after the race in Hockenheim the MRS crew transported cars and equipment into the plane and send them to a trip to Baku in Azerbaijan. Baku? Azerbaijan? Right, for presently the last time this year the engines will rev there, at the hunt around the government building of the Azerbaijanian capital city. The “City Challenge” is an invitation race where some famous European GT teams will face a special challenge. Racing and entertainment is the slogan. Two sprint races and finally a long distance race will be carried out. Two drivers are named on each car, at the main race a mandatory drivers change is scheduled.

For this challenge the MRS team arranges an efficient driver line-up, which will compete with two Porsche GT3 Cup against BMW, Mercedes, McLaren and Lamborghini. On the car with the starting number 14 MRS youngster Philipp Eng and Elia Erhart will start. Philipp Eng, who reached a very good third position last weekend in Hockenheim at the Porsche Carrera Cup, hopes to achieve a good result just as well as Elia Erhart, who just completed his debut season at the Porsche Carrera Cup. On the Porsche with the starting number 15 Felipe Fernández Laser and Tim Tews will share the work behind the steering wheel. Felipe Fernández Laser drove also this year at the Porsche Carrera Cup, Tim Tews started, in addition to his races in the long distance championship, this year at the 24 hour race in Barcelona with a Porsche.

The race weekend starts on Friday with two free practices of 90 minutes each. On Saturday there will be two qualifying to determine the starting grid for the first and second sprint race on Saturday. Each driver has his own sprint race of 30 minutes. The point results of the two sprint races will show the starting grid for the race on Sunday, which will last one hour and where a mandatory drivers change is planned.

The German channel Sport1+ will broadcast live the races on Saturday from 1 pm to 2.50 pm and on Sunday from 1 pm to 2.30 pm. You can also watch the races via internet on the City Challenge website.

Your MRS Team

    

City Challenge in Baku
The blue MRS Porsche GT3, the blur of color in the streets of Baku
Source: Marcel Hundscheid; Speed-O-Graphica

 
Itinerary

Friday, 26th of October

12:00-13:30
1. Free Practice
15:30-17:00
2. Free Practice


Saturday, 27th of October

09:30-10:00
Qualifying
for driver 1
11:15-11:45
Qualifying
for driver 2
15:50
Sprint race 1
16:50
Sprint race 2


Sunday, 28th of October

09:15-09:45
Warm Up
16:10

 
City Challenge GT Race

Tuesday 23 October 2012

The 2013 DTM calendar at a glance



                                                 The 2013 DTM calendar at a glance*

5th May
Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
19th May
Brands Hatch (GB)
2nd June
Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)
16th June
Lausitzring (D)
7th July
Norisring (D)
21st July
Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
4th August
Moscow (RUS)
18th August
Nürburgring (D)
15th September
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)
29th September
TBA
20th October
Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)



* Subject to approval by FIA

Monday 22 October 2012

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland Hockenheim Finale Game, Set, Match. ‚Bill Barazetti‘ wins the Porsche Carrera Cup B-championship 2012.

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland Hockenheim Finale
Game, Set, Match.
‚Bill Barazetti‘ wins the Porsche Carrera Cup B-championship 2012.

The last weekend was a brilliant one for the MRS team. Not only that ‘Bill Barazetti’ won the B championship already in the first race on Saturday and secured the title Porsche Carrera Cup champion of the B-championship as first driver in the history, but also Philipp Eng convinced and climbed finally the long awaited podium.


The Porsche Carrera Cup Germany with his last two runs of the 2012 season took place at the Hockenheimring on the same platform as the DTM finale. For Philip Eng the last chance to reach a long desired podium. On Saturday started from the fifth position, Philipp Eng could gain a position right after the first turn and was closed to the first three. Because of a tire damage of the leading Sean Edwards, Philipp Eng reached the third place, and defended until the end under big pressure of his opponents.

MRS newcomer Florian Spengler disputed his first Porsche Carrera Cup race and provided a top performance with fast lap times and laps without faults. Florian Spengler finished the race on Sunday as a very good 13th, surely he can eye with confidence his first complete season.

‚Bill Barazetti‘ dealt with the first B-championship of the Porsche Carrera Cup; 19 points ahead it was the goal on Saturday to make everything clear. With a second place in the B-evaluation ‘Bill’ assured the title and is the the first B-champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup history.

All in all a very successful season’s finale for the MRS team and again motivation for the upcoming challenges.

The former MRS driver René Rast could win the title of the Porsche Carrera Cup champion with his team Tolimit, at this point the best wishes to him and his team for winning the championship. René Rast celebrated his first Porsche Carrera Cup title in 2008 with the MRS team.

Karsten Molitor (Team leader): „We are naturally really happy, that we reached our goals in the Porsche Carrera Cup and on Saturday we had one of our best race days in this season. Philipp Eng claimed the long desired podium that is very important for a Rookie in his first season. We are absolutely sure, that Philipp will take this motivation over the winter break to the new season, where we want to fight with him for victories and title.

We are very happy for ‘Bill Barazetti’ for winning the championship, together we accomplished this goal without faults.

We are impressed by the performance of the young Florian Spengler, error free and with top lap times he showed that he is definitely another candidate for the Porsche Carrera Cup and surely will have success in this great racing series.

Last but not least at this point I want to thank the whole team for the high operational readiness and the top performance. Every single person has a stake in the success. As well thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends as well as to our great drivers. This year we were really an amazing team and we are looking forward to start in the new season just like it is.”

Your MRS Team

 

MRS Team Porsche Carrera Cup
‘Bill Barazetti’ and MRS-Team
MRS Team Porsche Carrera Cup
Happy B-Champion ‘Bill Barazetti’
MRS Team Porsche Carrera Cup
Philipp Eng 3rd position
MRS Team Porsche Carrera Cup
Iris Dorr with driver Florian Spengler

Partners
MRS Partner

Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, race 17 in Hockenheim Maiden Carrera Cup win for Porsche Junior Michael Christensen
















Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, race 17 in Hockenheim

Maiden Carrera Cup win for Porsche Junior Michael Christensen

Stuttgart. The 22-year-old Porsche Junior Michael Christensen has concluded his debut season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland with flying colours. Driving for Konrad Motorsport, the Dane won the final round of Germany’s fastest one-make race series on the Hockenheimring from pole position. Christensen beat second-placed Kévin Estre (France, Hermes Attempto Racing) to the flag by 3.2 seconds. The last podium spot went to Christensen’s teammate Norbert Siedler (Austria). The second Porsche Junior only missed out on a podium result by a hair’s breadth. Trailing Siedler by just 0.5 seconds, Porsche Junior Klaus Bachler (Austria, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) saw the flag after a spirited final race in fourth place. René Rast (Germany, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit), who secured the series’ title yesterday, went off the track and retired.

At the final race weekend of the season, Michael Christensen experienced a weekend of mixed emotions. After an outstanding qualifying which yielded him the fourth and second grid spots, only 0.009 seconds separated him from the pole-setting time for Sunday’s race. After tyre damage threw him to the back of the field on Saturday, luck was on his side today. When the fastest qualifier Sean Edwards (Great Britain, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit) was relegated to the eleventh grid position due to a sporting penalty, the young Dane inherited the first spot. And he made the most of it. With a dream start, Christensen pulled to the front of the field and, keeping his cool, drove a faultless race to bring home his first victory in the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Only in the early phase, three time winner this season Nicki Thiim (Denmark, Hermes Attempto Racing) closed in on him. Thiim, however, lost the front lip of the 911 when he scraped over the kerbs and gradually fell back down the field from the eighth of 18 laps. Lap for lap, Christensen then succeeded in making up ground over Kévin Estre now running in second. Second place at yesterday’s race was enough for the Frenchman to take home the rookie classification for new-comers. Christensen is second in the classification, whereas Estre came to the Carrera Cup Deutschland in 2012 already with a wealth of experience as a Porsche race driver. He is the reigning champion of the French Carrera Cup and won the rookie classification of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2011.

Michael Christensen’s success at the end of the season came as no great surprise. Already at race four on the Lausitzring, the Dane had snatched third place. He consistently qualified amongst the fastest in the highly competitive field but so many times had to pay tribute for his inexperience in the Porsche sports car. In the karting and Formula scene, the Dane is regarded as world class. His successes opened the door for a try out at the Porsche selection for talented youngsters. Last winter against strong international competition, he and Klaus Bachler were chosen to take part in the junior programme. Part of the support the two Porsche juniors receive in their Carrera Cup campaign is financial funding as well coaching by the long-standing professional race driver Sascha Maassen. In Hockenheim, the juniors were assisted by Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard while Maassen contested the ALMS in America. Porsche has actively and successfully supported talented youngsters since 1997.

For Klaus Bachler as well, another fourth place was a good farewell performance to the 2012 Carrera Cup season. He took off into the race from seventh on the grid and again underlined his skill at perfect starts and the right feeling where to safely get through any trouble spots. Already after the second lap, the 21-year-old was sitting in fifth, and with a clean overtaking manoeuvre then managed to slip into fourth – and there he became stuck behind Norbert Siedler. Over the entire second half of the race, the junior put the seasoned racer under pressure and played his card. But Siedler fended off the attacks with all means possible, leaving Bachler without any chance to get past. The junior narrowly missed out on clinching his second podium result after his third place at his home race in Spielberg. Bachler concludes the season in third place in the rookie classification behind Christensen. The young Austrian also launched his career the classic way in the kart. In 2007 he shone in the Formula Lista with five victories and the junior title, two years later he secured the vice-championship of the ADAC Formula Masters with ten podium places and two victories. Last season he ranked third overall in the ATS Formula 3 Cup with two race wins.

The junior from the Styria region of Austria also celebrated his best result for the Team Deutsche Post by tolimit with fourth place. Behind him in fifth came his teammate Sean Edwards. For the title favourite and vice-champion, the weekend was a bitter disappointment. He travelled to the Hockenheimring with high hopes of taking home the trophy. But again tyre damage robbed the race leader of his dream. Because Edwards took a shortcut to pick up a new tyre during race 16 on Saturday and left the track, he was black-flagged. He ignored this, however, and was disqualified from yesterday’s race and received a penalty which saw him relegated ten grid positions down the field for the final race.

Sixth went to Nicki Thiim. Behind the Dane, guest driver Robert Renauer (Germany, Attempto Racing) crossed the finish line in seventh. His teammate Philipp Frommenwiler (Switzerland) saw the flag in eighth ahead of Philipp Eng (Austria, MRS GT-Racing) and Robert Lukas (Poland, Förch Racing) in tenth.

Christina Nielsen (Denmark, Farnbacher ESET Racing) won the amateur classification in front of “Bill Barazetti” (Germany, MRS GT-Racing), who had already claimed the inaugural amateur title yesterday.

On 22 October, the Monday after the race weekend, news station N24 televises the 30-minute “Porsche Carrera Cup Magazin” at 18.30 hours. Sport1 will again televise the final race this afternoon from 16.00 hours in full length and airs Carrera Cup highlights on Saturday, 3 November, from 18.00 to 18.30 hours.

Michael Christensen (Porsche Junior, winner): “That was a fantastic race for me. I have been trying since the start of the season to achieve this result. Today everything paid off from what I’ve learned in my year as a Porsche junior in the Carrera Cup. Over the last months I’ve worked hard on reaching this goal. My start was good and that was important. Afterwards I controlled the race. I just had to focus on driving a clean race to the flag. And it seems as if that worked.”

Kévin Estre (second): “To start from fourth and finish in second was a good race for me. All in all I pleased with the weekend and my two podium results. Nicki and I were driving the same pace early on but then he lost the front lip of his 911. I slipped past and was keen to go after Michael but he was simply too quick.”

Norbert Siedler (third): “Third place is okay for the final, especially after starting from fifth. The speed was there but unfortunately I experienced a lot of oversteer so I couldn’t get any further ahead.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche Junior, fourth): “That was a super race! I started from seventh and finished in fourth. In the first lap there was a minor incident when René’s and my car touched. But nothing happened. A couple of laps later I overtook Philipp Eng and that was really good. My car ran well from the first to the last lap. I caught up to Norbert and even managed to overtake him in the hairpin, but he got past me again. I kept fighting to the flag but I didn’t really get another chance to pass. Now I’m eighth in the overall ranking and third amongst the rookies. I’m happy with that.”

Timo Bernhard (Porsche works driver, junior coach): “That was of course a wonderful conclusion for the Porsche juniors, a real highlight, crowned with Michael Christensen’s victory. Congratulations to him. He did everything perfectly right from the start. Michael put the pressure on over the first few laps so that he could build up a gap to the others and control the race from then on. But Klaus Bachler also did a super job. He came from seventh and had moved into fifth place after two laps. An overtaking manoeuvre put him in fourth place and then he pressured Siedler. It would have been fabulous if both juniors had climbed the podium today.”

Result race 17
1. Michael Christensen (DK), Konrad Motorsport, 31:14.380 minutes
2. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 3.242 seconds
3. Norbert Siedler (A), Konrad Motorsport, + 6.395
4. Klaus Bachler (A), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 6.807
5. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 7.142
6. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 20.378
7. Robert Renauer (D), Attempto Racing, + 24.793
8. Philipp Frommenwiler (CH), Attempto Racing, + 25.433
9. Philipp Eng (A), MRS GT-Racing, + 26.741
10. Robert Lukas (PL), Förch Racing, + 28.294

Result amateurs

1. Christina Nielsen (DK), Farnbacher ESET Racing, 32:15.329 minutes
2. Harrie Kolen (NL), Land-Motorsport, + 1:04.391 minutes
3. “Bill Barazetti“ (D), MRS GT-Racing, + 1:12.985

Overall drivers’ classification
1. René Rast (D), 242 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 233
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), 202
4. Kévin Estre (F), 181
5. Norbert Siedler (A), 178

Amateur classification
1. “Bill Barazetti” (D), 256 points
2. Harrie Kolen (NL), 233
3. Wolf Nathan (NL), 217

Rookie classification
1. Kévin Estre (F), 181 points
2. Michael Christensen (DK), 148
3. Klaus Bachler (A), 122

Team classification
1. Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 483 points
2. Hermes Attempto Racing, 388
3. Konrad Motorsport, 338

Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Oliver Hilger