Larry ten Voorde wins both races and claims the championship title
The title decision in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Virtual Edition has been made: At the final doubleheader round on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza run on the iRacing online simulation platform, Larry ten Voorde (Team GP Elite) won both races in his 485 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and was crowned champion. The Dutchman snatched the trophy from his toughest rivals Porsche Junior Ayhancan Güven (TR/Martinet by Alméras) and Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing). The winners of the other classifications were also decided in the digital series of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Leon Köhler (D/Lechner Racing Middle East) achieved first place in the rookie category, with Marc Cini (AUS/Team Australia) taking home the ProAm-class title. The GP Elite squad from the Netherlands celebrated first place in the team classification.
“The season finale of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Virtual Edition was perfect proof that a virtual season of our series was the right decision. Both races were gripping from start to finish. It’s fantastic that the drivers and teams embraced the virtual competition with such enthusiasm. Now we’re looking forward to the start of the real season,” says Oliver Schwab, Project Manager of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
In the two 25-minute races, the 29-strong field made good use of slipstreaming to overtake, especially on the long straights on the virtual Monza circuit, treating fans to some action-packed racing. After the start of race seven, polesitter Güven immediately ducked to the inside and fended off ten Voorde. In lap four, the GP Elite driver inherited the lead when Güven slid from the track and fell back to position four. The final lap turned turbulent: In the Seconda Variante turn, Güven took the kerb hard and lost two places. Ten Voorde went on the take the flag in first place followed by Pereira and the rookie Köhler. Trailing the trio, the two Porsche Juniors Güven and Jaxon Evans (NZ/Momo Megatron Lechner Racing) concluded their first race of the day in positions four and five. Roar Lindland (N/Pierre Martinet by Alméras) won the ProAm class.
In the final race of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Virtual Edition, ten Voorde achieved a convincing lights-to-flag victory, which handed him the title. “I did a lot of preparation work with my team for these two races. Ayhancan Güven and I put on a great show for the fans. I managed to control the race well and I’m delighted with the title,” said ten Voorde.
In hot pursuit, Pereira left the racetrack and fell back to fifth place. Evans, Köhler and Güven then formed the trio chasing ten Voorde. The decisive move for second place came in lap six: Güven made the most of the heated battle in front of him to sweep past Köhler and then his junior teammate Evans. The order at the flag was Güven ahead of Köhler and Evans. Pereira rounded off the top five.
“That was an action-packed debut season for the virtual Supercup. Unfortunately, I only finished second, but it was a terrific experience. I hope we can soon compete against each other on real racetracks,” said Güven. Thanks to his two podium results today, Leon Köhler won the rookie classification. “I’ve improved from race to race over the season. Third place twice and the rookie title are great results. Jaxon Evans was determined to get past me in race two, but I managed to fend him off,” concluded Köhler.
In the ProAm category, Marc Cini earned the decisive points from race eight and claimed overall victory in his class. David Fumanelli celebrated his digital Supercup debut. The Italian local hero contested the virtual event on the high-speed circuit for the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. The 28-year-old finished race one on 14th, and had to retire from race two.
Results
Monza, race 7 of 8
1. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite)
2. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing)
3. Leon Köhler (D/Lechner Racing Middle East)
4. Ayhancan Güven (TR/Martinet by Alméras)
5. Jaxon Evans (NZ/Momo Megatron Lechner Racing)
Monza, race 8 of 8
1. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite)
2. Ayhancan Güven (TR/Martinet by Alméras)
3. Leon Köhler (D/Lechner Racing Middle East)
4. Jaxon Evans (NZ/Momo Megatron Lechner Racing)
5. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing)
Points after 8 of 8 races
Drivers’ classification
1. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 180 points
2. Ayhancan Güven (TR/Martinet by Alméras), 166 points
3. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing), 123 points