Fourth consecutive podium success for Project 1
A pole position and lead kilometers were just as much a part of the WEC visit to Austin as close duels and setbacks through no fault of their own. In the end, Egidio Perfetti, Matteo Cairoli and newcomer Laurents Hörr came in third and thus the first podium this season. "This podium was long overdue," said Egidio Perfetti. Behind the reigning champion of the LMGTE Am category lies a challenging first half of the season. “Third place was therefore all the more important. We are very pleased with the pole position and the fact that we were quick right away in this new driver constellation, ”he adds. Ben Keating, Felipe Fraga and Jeroen Bleekemolen did not lack speed either, but they were lucky: a technical problem at the halfway point of the six-hour race threw the trio back to the end of the field of the LMGTE Am class. Up until this incident, the three Project 1 pilots were well on their way to securing a top 5 result.
The crew of car number 57 nevertheless attracted a lot of attention. Just in time for Ben Keating's home game, Project 1 gave the Porsche 911 RSR a striking design. The car moved out for the first time in the characteristic color scheme of partner Wynn’s. The new look was very popular with fans, media representatives and above all with the 200 invited guests of the manufacturer of lubricants and cleaners. Team boss Axel Funke draws a mixed conclusion after the fifth of eight stations of the 2019/20 season: “Finding the way back on the road to success with number 56 was one of our main goals for Austin. We succeeded as the best-placed Porsche team with the podium. The technical problem on the sister vehicle was particularly bitter, since it was expressly not caused by our technicians and cost us the top of the table. Nevertheless, we do not let this discourage us and attack again. " The FIA WEC continues its US tour on March 20 and travels from Texas to Florida. The “1000 Miles of Sebring” is one of the highlights of the season.
