One year ago, Harry King won the Supercup race at the Hungaroring. The Englishman will tackle Sunday’s round five of this season (21 July 2024, 12:05 hrs CEST) from pole position. In qualifying on the Formula 1 circuit near Budapest, he outpaced Supercup newcomer Kas Haverkort at the wheel of team BWT Lechner’s Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. The Dutchman drives for Uniserver by Team GP Elite.

Marvin Klein set the fastest lap of the Supercup qualifying session. However, the Frenchman from Schumacher CLRT will not start from pole position: A post-qualifying penalty from the stewards relegated him back three positions on the grid. The race officials decided that Klein had impeded another competitor during his qualifying attempt.

Thus, pole position went to Harry King, the winner of last season’s Supercup race at the Hungaroring. Kas Haverkort, leader of the Rookie standings in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, will start the race alongside the current overall runner-up. The Dutchman celebrated a victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland on the Hungarian Grand Prix circuit four weeks ago. Dutchman Huub van Eijndhoven (Uniserver by Team GP Elite) and Klein will line up on the grid for Sunday’s Supercup race on the second row. The race takes place directly before the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix.

In contrast, Larry ten Voorde, this season’s most dominant driver so far with four consecutive wins, was bitterly disappointed. Driving for the Schumacher CLRT team, the Dutchman tackles the race from P11 only. The two-time Supercup champion’s fastest qualifying lap was deleted because of track limits.

Routine rescue training for emergencies
The compulsory programme for every round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup includes an extrication exercise. This serves to familiarise the emergency services at each racetrack with the unique features of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. “The first responders have to deal with a wide variety of racing cars, from Formula 1 cars to GT3 vehicles. With our extrication exercises, we ensure that our drivers receive the best possible care if needed,” explains Supercup Race Director Peter Roberts. Together with Prof. Dr. Frank Mayer, the permanent doctor for the one-make cup, Roberts challenges the local ‘Extrication Teams’ with two different scenarios.

In the first scenario, the aim is to rescue an unconscious driver from the cockpit as quickly as possible. “This is vital, for example, in case of a fire,” explains Prof. Dr. Mayer. In the second exercise, the rescue is simulated without time pressure, but with a suspected spinal injury to the driver. “Utmost attention is given to immobilise the driver’s head and spine to prevent any further injury,” continues Prof. Dr. Mayer.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has several technical details that make it easier for emergency services to access the driver in the latter scenario. For example, there is a 63 x 47 centimetre opening in the roof, the cover of which can be detached from the outside in a few simple steps. The driver’s helmet can be removed from above through this hatch, while simultaneously, an assistant in the driver’s door stabilises the head and applies a cervical collar. A so-called ‘Karnett Extrication Device’ is then slid between the seat and the driver’s back. The belt system on the rescue corset allows the driver’s upper body to be immobilised before he is lifted out of the cockpit.

To give the emergency services more space to work, the steering column in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup can be adjusted vertically and horizontally, also the steering wheel can be removed completely. Additional space can be created by the longitudinally adjustable seat and the rear side window, which can be removed within seconds. This offers the extrication team an additional opportunity to get close to the driver.

To mentally prepare the Supercup drivers for an extrication, a different driver is selected to take part in the exercise every race weekend. At the Hungaroring, it was Porsche Junior Alessandro Ghiretti’s turn. “It’s a reassuring feeling to know that we’re in very good hands with the extrication team, regardless of the racetrack,” commented the 22-year-old Frenchman.

Starting Grid, Round 5 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Budapest (HU)
1. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing)
2. Kas Haverkort (NL/Uniserver by Team GP Elite)
3. Huub van Eijndhoven (NL/Uniserver by Team GP Elite)
4. Marvin Klein (F/Schumacher CLRT)
5. Keagan Masters (ZAF/Ombra)
6. Mathys Jaubert (F/Martinet by Alméras)

Complete qualifying results on the Porsche Motorsport Hub:
https://motorsports.porsche.com/international/en/category/mobil1supercup/