Red Bull Ring, September 24, 2023. The curtain has fallen on the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux 2023 at the Austrian Red Bull Ring. 17-year-old Dutchman Robert de Haan from Zutphen can call himself the new champion in the fastest one-make cup in the Benelux. In the colors of Richardson Racing, he gave his title on the fast Austrian circuit even more color with two new victories. The other champions are of course also known, as Sacha Norden (Team GP Elite) in PRO-AM and Cedric Chassang (Team GP Elite) in AM. Robert de Haan is of course also the new champion in the Rookie class of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and AUGUST by NGT takes the team title. Now that the curtain has fallen on the 2023 season, the promoter of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux will announce the calendar for the new 2024 season in the foreseeable future.

It was written in the Austrian stars, and it happened like this: Robert de Haan succeeds the British Harry King as champion. de Haan authoritatively took both pole positions on Saturday morning and crossed the finish line as the winner on Saturday afternoon, immediately securing his title. It was his fifth win of the season. Robert de Haan also won the title in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe earlier this season and is one of the revelations at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - Type 992 - of the 2023 season. It goes without saying that the young Dutchman was particularly satisfied:

“We have worked so hard as a team this year to achieve this. I entered this as a rookie and the team was also new in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. An amazing achievement, I just have no words for it, I am so happy! Of course, I hope we can keep this up. Now we'll see what the plans are for next year, but first I'm going to enjoy this, I'm super satisfied!”

de Haan wins the first, Horst Felix Felbermayr takes his first podium.

In the weekend's first race, Robert de Haan was the fastest, ahead of the very strong-driving Horst Felix Felbermayr (Huber Racing) and his teammate Flynt Schuring who took the podium. Ariel Levi, also in the colors of Huber Racing, finished fourth and Gilles Magnus (AUGUST by NGT) finished fifth on his debut in the competition. Another debutant, Jani Käkelä (39 racing) took victory in the PRO-AM class, ahead of champion Sacha Norden and Didier Glorieux in the colors of Speedlover. In AM, Cedric Chassang secured his title with a win, ahead of Sem Geerts (Hans Weijs Motorsport) and his father Ad Geerts (RedAnt Racing).

Rained out final race with victory for champion de Haan and Sam Jongejan, revelation of the weekend.

The floodgates opened for the season's last race, and the entire field was allowed to start behind the safety car. In that second race, the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux participants then showed the best of themselves, with a race in extremely difficult weather, but without major incidents. At the front, Robert de Haan proved that he is more than worthy of his title, with a sixth victory of the season, on a completely rain-drenched track and in incredibly challenging conditions. Flynt Schuring finished second, ahead of the revelation of the weekend, the debutant Sam Jongejan (JW Raceservice). Sam Dejonghe finished fourth for RedAnt Racing, with Robin Knutsson (Revs Motorsport) behind him.

In PRO-AM, victory went to Aaron Mason (Revs Motorsport), ahead of Didier Glorieux and champion Sacha Norden. In AM the victory was for Sem Geerts, a premiere, and that for Peter Aronson (Speedlover) and Ad Geerts, Sem's father.

Title among the teams for AUGUST by NGT

The Belgian AUGUST by NGT can call itself the first team champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup, a very nice distinction for the young collaboration between the structures of Marc Maton and Lionel Hansen. This season the team called on Glenn van Parijs who was good for two victories, while Bertrand Baguette also took one victory. Benjamin Paque and Gilles Magnus also rode for the team in the Belgian tricolore. AUGUST by NGT won ahead of Richardson Racing and Huber Racing.

“I would like to thank all the winners, the other participants, the partners and employees for this wonderful season, in which we saw top sport,” concludes Olivier Aerts, the Series Manager of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. “I am already making an appointment for an even stronger 2024!”