Leon Köhler celebrates first Carrera Cup win, title decided at finale

Loud cheers for Leon Köhler and his T3/HRT Motorsport team: At the Lausitzring on Sunday, the German won his first race in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. “I’ve been working towards this moment forever. I’m overjoyed. My start wasn’t optimal but after that, I was really fast. With Laurin Heinrich finishing on the podium, it was an outstanding result for our squad,” said Köhler. Scoring second in the action-packed race, Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Nebulus Racing by Huber) is now the new championship leader. Third place went to Laurin Heinrich (T3/HRT Motorsport/Deutschland). One title decision has already been made: Thanks to his class win, Carlos Rivas (Luxembourg/Black Falcon Team Textar) has claimed the trophy early in the ProAm class.

At the race on a wet track, all drivers opted for rain tyres. Heinrich made a cracking start in his 485 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and catapulted from fifth on the grid to the front. Köhler and polesitter ten Voorde slotted in behind him. Köhler immediately put Heinrich under pressure. In lap three, the 21-year-old swept into the lead, pulled clear and brought home a commanding victory. Ten Voorde came out on top of the duel for second place. In the sixth lap, the Huber driver made the most of Heinrich’s braking mistake to overtake the rookie. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t match Leon Köhler’s pace in the race. Still, all in all, it was a successful weekend for me. I’m now leading the championship and I’m heading to the season finale in Oschersleben with a good feeling,” concluded ten Voorde.

Heinrich achieved his fifth podium result in the Lausitz. “I knew that Leon Köhler and Larry ten Voorde are very fast despite the slippery track surface. My main priority was to defend third place and I managed that,” explained Heinrich. Fourth place went to Rudy van Buren (CarTech Motorsport by Nigrin) – the Dutchman’s best result of the season so far. Diego Bertonelli (Italy/Fach Auto Tech) took the chequered flag in fifth ahead of Joey Mawson (Australia/Fach Auto Tech) and Lucas Groeneveld (Netherlands/GP Elite). Bad luck struck Dylan Pereira (Förch Racing), who had to relinquish the championship lead after finishing eighth: In lap three, the Luxembourger slid from the track and rejoined the race at the back of the field.

Big celebrations for the Black Falcon Team Textar squad: With his eighth class win, Carlos Rivas secured the championship title in the ProAm category. At the race on the 4.57-kilometre Lausitzring circuit, he crossed the finish line first ahead of Stefan Rehkopf (Germany/Nebulus Racing by Huber) and Matthias Jeserich (Germany/CarTech Motorsport by Nigrin). “We’ve been a well-rehearsed team for some years. That was the key to our great success this season. The weather conditions this weekend were hugely challenging because they kept changing during the races,” said Rivas.

“A new points’ leader, a title decision in the ProAm category and two gripping races – this weekend at the Lausitzring had a lot of offer. I’m particularly thrilled that Leon Köhler, a youngster from our Talent Pool programme, scored his first victory,” said Hurui Issak, the Project Manager of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.

The fight for the championship title will go down-to-the-wire between ten Voorde (191 points) and Pereira (182 points) at the season finale in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Position three in the overall rankings is currently occupied by Heinrich (117 points). This coming weekend (6 to 8 November), each driver can harvest a maximum of 50 points at the doubleheader run as part of the ADAC GT Masters programme. The Carrera Cup will also hold its Experience Day at the event in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. On November 9, talented youngsters can look behind the scenes of the one-make cup and get the chance to drive the latest cup car.

Result race 9, Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland
1. Leon Köhler (Germany/T3/HRT Motorsport)
2. Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Nebulus Racing by Huber)
3. Laurin Heinrich (Germany/T3/HRT Motorsport)
4. Rudy van Buren (Netherlands/CarTech Motorsport by Nigrin)
5. Diego Bertonelli (Italy/Fach Auto Tech)
6. Joey Mawson (Australia/Fach Auto Tech)
7. Lucas Groeneveld (Netherlands/GP Elite)
8. Dylan Pereira (Luxembourg/Förch Racing)
9. Julian Hanses (Germany/Förch Racing)
10. Kay van Berlo (Netherlands/Nebulus Racing by Huber)

Points standings after 9 of 11 races
Drivers’ classification
1. Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands /Nebulus Racing by Huber), 191 points
2. Dylan Pereira (Luxembourg/Förch Racing), 182 points
3. Laurin Heinrich (Germany/T3/HRT Motorsport), 117 points