The coming weekend (21 to 23 June 2024) will see the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland compete on a circuit that was last on the one-make cup calendar in 2014: The 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will tackle the seventh and eighth races of the season at the Hungaroring near Budapest.

For many of the 25 drivers, the Formula 1 circuit near the Hungarian capital is uncharted territory: None of them were on the grid when the Carrera Cup Deutschland made a sole appearance there ten years ago. Some, however, are familiar with the twisty Hungaroring circuit from the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which regularly features on the Hungarian Grand Prix support programme. “Given that overtaking is very difficult, your starting position is critical,” explains defending champion Larry ten Voorde, who is one of the few drivers with experience on the circuit. Competing for the Bavarian Proton Huber Competition team, the Dutchman took the lead in the standings at the previous round in Zandvoort.

Ten Voorde’s assessment of the Hungaroring is wholly confirmed by Harry King, the current runner-up in the rankings. At the Supercup race in Budapest last year, the Englishman drove a commanding pole-to-victory race. “The track suits my driving style. We also tested there before the race weekend. So, I’m confident that I’ll be among the front runners again,” states King, who drives for the German team Allied-Racing.

After the six races so far this season, ten Voorde and King have already built a slight advantage over their pursuers in the overall standings. Dutchman Robert de Haan leads the hunting pack. The 17-year-old from Porsche brand ambassador Timo Bernhard’s team is also the best-placed rookie in the drivers’ standings. Like Bonk Motorsport’s Theo Oeverhaus from Germany, who currently lies fourth in the standings, De Haan enjoys the special support available from the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland’s Talent Pool program. Dutch driver Kas Haverkort (Uniserver by Team GP Elite) leads the rookie standings coming into the doubleheader event in Hungary. Sören Spreng (GP Elite) from Germany ranks first in the ProAm standings.

“The Budapest weekend is a very special event for me. After five years as Project Manager of the Carrera Cup Deutschland, I’m ready to take the next step professionally and take on a different role within Porsche Germany. I’d like to thank the teams, the drivers and of course the fans from the bottom of my heart for their trust and support over the past few years. But first, I’m looking forward to two exciting races on a track that is new to many of us,” says Hurui Issak, who takes on the role of Project Manager Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland for the last time this weekend. He will be succeeded by Thorsten Rückert, most recently responsible for the Porsche Sports Cup Deutschland.

The Hungaroring
The racetrack on the outskirts of Budapest is the result of Formula 1’s endeavours to expand into Eastern Europe. The first Grand Prix behind the so-called “Iron Curtain” took place here in 1986. The 4.381-kilometre circuit is located in a valley, with large parts of the track clearly visible from almost all spectator seats. The twisty Hungaroring course, which has been described as “like Monaco, only without crash barriers”, offers few overtaking opportunities. Germany’s Christian Engelhart and American Connor De Phillippi each secured a victory at the last appearance of the Carrera Cup Deutschland in the 2014 season.

The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland on the internet
Fans can follow all the races live on YouTube. The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland channel (https://www.youtube.com/@PorscheCarreraCupDeutschland) provides English commentary. Aside from the race weekends, fans and media representatives can also stay up-to-date on the one-make cup via the social networks Instagram (@carreracupdeutschland) and X (@CarreraCupDE).

Schedule Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland,
Round 4, Hungaroring, Budapest (HU)

Friday, 21 June
13:30 – 14:30 hrs: Practice

Saturday, 22 June
10:55 – 11:30 hrs: Qualifying
17:10 hrs: Race 7 (30 minutes plus 1 lap)

Sunday, 23 June
12:00 noon: Race 8 (30 minutes plus 1 lap)

Overall standings Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland (after 6 of 16 races)
1. Larry ten Voorde (NL, Proton Huber Competition), 123 points
2. Harry King (UK, Allied-Racing), 113 points
3. Robert de Haan (NL, Team75 Bernhard), 68 points
4. Theo Oeverhaus (D, Bonk Motorsport), 63 points
5. Huub van Eijndhoven (NL, Uniserver by Team GP Elite), 48 points

Full results and championship standings:
motorsports.porsche.com/germany/de/category/carreracup/psccd-2024-results

2024 Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland calendar
19 – 21 April: Imola (I), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
26 – 28 April: Oschersleben (D), DTM
7 – 9 June: Zandvoort (NL), DTM
21 – 23 June: Budapest (HU), International GT Open Championship
16 – 18 August: Nürburgring (D), DTM
6 – 8 September: Sachsenring (D), DTM
27 – 29 September: Red-Bull-Ring, Spielberg (A), DTM
18 – 20 October: Hockenheimring (D), DTM