Britain’s Harry King became the big winner of the opening weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux 2022 in the Belgian Ardennes with two victories. But he was not the only winner.
Jan Lauryssen, Tom Boonen, Sebastien Lajoux and Joan Vinyes also took the highest podium place in their class, immediately proof of the international appearance and sporty intensity of the fastest brand cup in the Benelux. The next appointment is on 11 and 12 June at Circuit Zolder, of course in Belgian Limburg.
The World Endurance Championship or FIA WEC was a perfect setting for the first races of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux 2022 and the first weekend of the competition was also a direct hit on all fronts.
“The grandstands of the circuit in the Ardennes were packed, the races were very pleasant to watch and a lot of different drivers from different countries were able to enjoy the champagne on the podium. The season could not have started in a better way and this first appointment in the Ardennes gives us the best hopes for the rest of this season”, was the witty summary of Series Manager Olivier Aerts.
Sporty, the first weekend was also a direct hit with a double victory for Harry King in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 of Parker Revs Motorsport. The young Briton also started from pole twice and is obviously championship leader after this first weekend.
“I knew last season’s competition when I made a guest appearance at the Red Bull Ring,” the smiley young driver told the podium on Saturday. “I am of course happy with my debut here, but also the reception and the way of working of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux 2022 means that I am sure that I have made the right choice. I drive parallel here and in the Porsche Supercup, with two brilliant calendars.”
In the first race he beat last year’s vice champion Glenn van Parijs (NGT Racing) and Ghislain Cordeel (Team GP Elite) who has clearly taken a step forward during the winter months and wants to fight for places of honour. On Saturday it was again Glenn van Parijs in second place, ahead of ‘debutant’ Sam Dejonghe (#TeamPGZ by RedAnt Racing) and fourth place went to Ghislain Cordeel.
“The first race was a bit difficult, especially since I hadn’t practiced a stationary start beforehand. Gradually, however, I got into the rhythm and finished sixth. On Saturday the start was already much better and this third place is proof of the fact that we can certainly compete with this at the front. Harry is the benchmark for me and if I don’t want to reach his level, I shouldn’t start here,” said Sam Dejonghe, who made a great debut.
But the other Pro riders also made a good impression, with a fourth and fifth place for Maxime Soulet (August Racing by NGT Racing), a fifth and sixth place for champion Dylan Derdaele (Belgium Racing) and other places of honor for Xavier Maassen (#TeamPGZ by RedAnt Racing), Rik Koen (PG Motorsport) and Sebastian Freymuth (PG Motorsport).
Fight on all fronts
In de klasse Pro-Am kregen we twee verschillende winnaars, met Jan Lauryssen (Q1Trackracing) en Tom Boonen (#TeamPGZ by RedAnt Racing), terwijl ook Koen Wauters (Belgium Racing) en Didier Glorieux (Speedlover) mee het podium op mochten.
“Super om tijdens mijn eerste weekend meteen te kunnen winnen”, glunderde Tom Boonen voor volle tribunes op zaterdag. “Bovendien zijn het leuke en faire races, op hoog niveau. Deze Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux is echt een mooie piste voor mij.”
En wat gezegd van de strijd in de AM-categorie… Werkelijk voor iedere meter werd er gestreden, niet alleen voor de zege, maar voor alle posities in het mooi gevulde startveld. Het waren de Fransman Sebastien Lajoux (DUWO Racing) en de Andorrees Joan Vinyes (Baporo Motorsport) die met de hoogste eer gingen lopen, maar zij kregen de zeges niet in de schoot geworpen. In de eerste wedstrijd leek de overwinning bovendien voor Stijn Lowette (NGT racing) weggelegd, maar een spijtig race-incident op de meet, maakte dat hij pas op zaterdag naar het podium kon, als tweede in de uitslag.
Op vrijdag waren die plaatsen op het podium voor Philip Wils (Speedlover) en Luc Vanderfeesten (#TeamPGZ by RedAnt Racing), maar zij werden op zaterdag door pech afgeremd. De winnaar van vrijdag, Sebastien Lajoux, werd zaterdag derde, achter Vinyes en Lowette.
“Natuurlijk was ik ontgoocheld na de eerste race, maar ook dat is racen”, aldus Stijn Lowette, “maar de tweede plaats op zaterdag maakte alvast heel veel goed.”
Op zaterdag 11 en zondag 12 juni staat de tweede meeting van de Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux op het programma en dat op Circuit Zolder.