Only one champion known after the penultimate Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux meeting at Circuit Zandvoort
For the fourth of five Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux appointments, the participants headed towards the North Sea in the Netherlands, all racing fans know that it is Circuit Zandvoort. The final sprint of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux may have already started, but after Zandvoort, only one title has been awarded for the time being in the Porsche competition reserved for young talent, fast gentlemen drivers and passionate Porsche drivers. The overall victories went to Jaxon Verhoeven (Speedlover) and Alexander Goddijn (Team GP Elite) and they will decide between themselves in Spa-Francorchamps on October 13 who will become the 2023 champion.
As usual, all the action was completed in one day, with free practice, followed by two 15-minute qualifying sessions and two half-hour races. In Zandvoort, Alexander Goddijn started twice from pole position with Jaxon Verhoeven next to him twice. Lennart Hiemstra was twice the fastest in the GT4 class.
“I expected Alexander to be the fastest in qualifying, but I was better off than him and was able to hold on to the first place for half an hour,” Jaxon Verhoeven beamed after the first race. “I am of course happy with this victory because I am extending my lead a little further and Spa will indeed provide a definitive answer. Thanks also to the Speedlover team for the excellent car.”
In that first appointment, Niels Troost rode to third place, ahead of Bernhard ten Brinke and the winner in 992 AM, Peter Munnichs, all in the colors of Team GP Elite. Jean-Pierre Verhoeven (Speedlover) and Michel Arfman (Team GP Elite) finished second and third in 992 AM.
The second meeting of the day saw a fantastic duel, lasting 30 minutes, between the two title contenders, Alexander Goddijn and Jaxon Verhoeven and this time it was the man who had started from pole position, who came out on top. “I am very satisfied with both pole positions and the victory, and we will continue the title debate in Spa,” said Goddijn. The difference between the winners of Zandvoort is now 26 points, with 104 points still to be distributed.
Bernhard Ten Brinke finished third in the second race, ahead of Nick Ho (PG Motorsport), who made a strong debut, but unfortunately missed the first race of the day due to a technical problem. Niels Troost now finished fifth, ahead of the winner in 992 AM, again Peter Munnichs. Michel Arfman and Kurt Leimer finished second and third (Team GP Elite). In the 992 AM class, Jean-Pierre Verhoeven and Michel Arfman will decide who will be the 2023 champion.
In the 991 categories, the victories went to Martijn Peters (JW Raceservice) and Patrick van de Berg (PG Motorsport).
Twice Hiemstra and Duma in GT4 and GT4 AM
The various Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsports were also present in Zandvoort and in general, there was no problem against Lennart Hiemstra. He achieved pole position twice, set both fastest race laps, and also finished on the podium twice as the winner. As a result, Hiemstra halves his deficit to Arthur Peters (Tip Top Racing), who finished second twice. The final sprint in Spa-Francorchamps, where Peters has a home race, promises to be very exciting. “Arthur indeed has the home advantage there, but I am going to fight for it,” Hiemstra told the podium.
Last but not least, there were two victories in GT4 AM for Bogdan Duma, who is immediately assured of the title, “and I am very happy with that! I will definitely come to Spa, but the pressure is off.”
Appointment in Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, October 13 for the final races of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux 2023.