Finale of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, October 13th
The Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux comes to the Belgian Ardennes for the last meeting of the season on Friday, October 13th. During the penultimate meeting of the season, a few weeks ago at Circuit Zandvoort, Bogdan Duma (Q1 Trackracing) already secured his title in the GT4 Am class, but he is the only lucky one for the time being. All other titles will not be certain until Friday afternoon after the last meeting of the exciting 2023 season.
Of course, the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux has already been hosted in Belgium before, with meetings at Circuit Zolder in 2022 and 2023, but in the current form of the championship, it is the first time that we see the participants and teams at Spa-Francorchamps.
“That's right,” said Series Manager Lars Plato. “It's great to come to the Belgian Ardennes for our final, especially because the titles still have to be decided in almost all classes. Our concept is also identical for this final, with a formula in which all sessions, from free practice to both races, are completed on one weekday. That is the unique thing about our Porsche series, which of course means that entrepreneurs, or even students, do not have to be away from home for days. This season we have noticed that the basis of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux is becoming stronger and stronger, with a starting field of twenty cars and more. We certainly want to attract even more Belgians, especially because there are many Porsche drivers and enthusiasts in Belgium. Moreover, the Belgian drivers and teams are doing well, as evidenced by Arthur Peters who is fighting for the title in 'GT4', while Speedlover and Q1 Trackracing are fighting for the titles with their drivers or have already won the title. This meeting at Spa-Francorchamps is therefore a perfect way to get acquainted with our series.”
Fighting for the titles on all fronts
Most of the attention in Spa-Francorchamps will of course be on the battle for the overall title. With 104 points still to be earned and a difference of barely 26 points between Jaxon Verhoeven (Speedlover) and Alexander Goddijn (Team GP Elite), the two young wolves will decide between themselves who will be able to call themselves champions in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux 2023 on Friday evening.
In the 992 AM class the difference is particularly small, because barely one point separates Jean-Pierre Verhoeven (Speedlover), indeed Jaxon's father, from his closest pursuer, Michel Arfman (Team GP Elite). Kurt Hensen (Speedlover) and Peter Munnichs (Team GP Elite) also theoretically claim the title.
Another great battle awaits us in the GT4 class for the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, with home driver Arthur Peters (Tip Top Racing) who will have to keep Lennart Hiemstra (Triple & Crown Racing) behind him. Martijn Peters and Lodewijk van Ommeren (JW Raceservice) are fighting for the title in the '991' class.
The sporting action starts on Friday at 9:00 am with a one-hour free session, while the two fifteen-minute qualifying sessions start at 11:42 am and 12:02 pm respectively. The races will then start again at 2:13 PM and 5:14 PM. Both matches last 30 minutes!