- Robert De Haan (Richardson Racing) and Glenn Van Parijs (August by NGT) lead the championship, but competition is pressing
- Sacha Norden (GP Elite) and Ralph Poppelaar (Hans Weijs Motorsport) lead the championship in PRO-AM and respectively AM.
Zonhoven, 22 June 2023. The third meeting of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, or the fifth and sixth race of the season, will take place this weekend at Circuit Zandvoort. After the very successful weekend during the Festival of Dreams in Hockenheim, the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux is now preparing for the weekend that immediately marks the end of the first part of the season. Although the finish line is not immediately in sight, the title fight is already running at full speed. In addition, the DTM weekend will be one big motorsport party, with no less than 350 guests for the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux who will enjoy the specially developed Race Guest programme.
After two meetings, we count two drivers who have shared the four victories of 2023 so far: Robert de Haan and Glenn Van Parijs. With 94 points, the young Dutchman counts six units more than the fast man from Hasselt in Belgium. There is no doubt that they can again be counted among the favorites in Zandvoort.
Behind them, Sam Dejonghe (RedAnt Racing) is third with 46 points, after a very regular course, in which the Antwerp native also achieved his first podium finish in Hockenheim. Dejonghe has to look behind him in the battle for third place, because four drivers are less than ten points behind: Ariel Levi (39, Huber Racing), Flynt Schuring (39, Huber Racing), Paul Meijer (37, Hans Weijs Motorsport ) and Dirk Schouten (37, Q1 Trackracing). But they won't be the only drivers to fight at the front as Benjamin Paque (August by NGT) returns from his Le Mans commitments and there are also some fast guest drivers, notably young Briton Gustav Burton (Richardson Racing) and Max Veels (JW Race Service).
Three other guest drivers, Jules Grouwels (Speedlover), Rik Geerts (Hans Weijs Motorsport) and Niels Troost (Team GP Elite) will also make their debut, but this time in the 'AM' class. Niels Troost and Rik Geerts come from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux and thus run through the motorsport pyramid of Porsche in the Benelux in an exemplary way. Ad Geerts (RedAnt Racing) will also make his first appearance of the season and Maik Rosenberg (Team GP Elite) will also be present.
Fighting on all fronts
In the PRO-AM class, Sacha Norden leads the debates with 82 points, with one win against two for his closest pursuer, Aaron Mason (Revs Motorsport), who totals 71 points. Joan Vinyes (Baporo Motorsport) is third with 60 points, while Didier Glorieux, who also won once, has 56 points for Zandvoort. But also Sébastien Lajoux (49, DUWO Racing), Jaime Font (45, Baporo Motorsport) and Ryan Ratcliffe (42, Revs Motorsport) are still participating.
In the AM class, a very intense duel unfolds between Ralph Poppelaars with two victories and 86 points, while Cedric Chassang (Team GP Elite) also counts two victories and has 85 points to his name.
In the team standings, August by NGT leads with 129 points, compared to 110 for Richardson Racing and 88 for Huber Racing. In the Rookie Division it is of course Robert de Haan who is on top, with the maximum number of points, ahead of Dirk Schouten and Flynt Schuring.
Youth plays the drums
Whoever says Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux also says Talent Pool and the young drivers will of course also receive tailor-made guidance at Circuit Zandvoort. “On Thursday there is the traditional Kick-Off meeting, followed by a track walk, as we always do,” said Series Manager Olivier Aerts. “But this time PON also provides a Porsche Ambassador Training in advance. The formation of the young drivers not only embraces the racing part, but everything associated with the Porsche brand on and off the track.”
The meeting of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux in Zandvoort starts with one free practice session of one hour (2.50pm-3.50pm) on Friday, while qualifying starts at 8.45am on Saturday. The races, of 30 minutes and one lap, will take place on Saturday (3:05 PM) and Sunday (4:30 PM).
The races can be followed live and Ziggo Sport will return to the races after the weekend, more about that in our press release after the weekend.
Streaming races: Youtube & Carreracupbenelux.com
Live timing: Carreracupbenelux.com under round 3