Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux kicks off the season in style during a spectacular race weekend in the Belgian Ardennes

• Robin Knutsson and Bertrand Baguette claim the first wins of the season 

• Milan Marczak scores twice in the ROOKIE classification, while PRO-AM victories go to Jules Grouwels and… 

Spa-Francorchamps, May 11, 2025 – The opening weekend of the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit was nothing short of thrilling. Two standout winners emerged: on Friday, Robin Knutsson (NGT Racing) claimed his maiden victory in the series, while on Sunday, Bertrand Baguette (D’Ieteren Luxury Performance) delighted the large home crowd with a commanding win just hours before the Belgian round of the FIA WEC. 

With over 80,000 spectators, glorious spring weather, and top-tier racing action, the first race weekend of the season delivered on all fronts. Knutsson and Baguette both converted pole positions into wins, making them the stars of Race 1 and Race 2 respectively. As a result, Knutsson is also the first recipient of the TAG Heuer Pole Position Award for 2025. 

On Friday evening, the young Swede showcased both speed and composure, leading from the start and withstanding heavy pressure from Jaap van Lagen (Team RaceArt), Domas Raudonis (Team GP Elite), and Bertrand Baguette. The four-way battle for the win kept fans on edge, but it was the NGT Racing driver who stood atop the podium in the end. 

“I’m incredibly happy with this win,” said a beaming Knutsson. “It’s very special to me, as Spa-Francorchamps is my favourite track, and to race here during a world championship weekend, in front of so many passionate fans, is a dream come true.” 

Baguette worked his way up to third place in the closing stages, joining Knutsson and Van Lagen on the podium. Domas Raudonis finished just off the podium in fourth, followed by Nick Ho (PG Motorsport) and Rookie class winner Milan Marczak (RedAnt Racing), who edged out Hjelte Hoffner (MDM Motorsport) and Mees Muller (PG Motorsport) for top rookie honours. 

In the PRO-AM division, Jules Grouwels (Team RaceArt) took the win, ahead of Jani Käkelä (39 Racing) and Henri Tuomaala (Team Koiranen). 

Baguette thrills home crowd with Saturday win 

By 10 a.m. Saturday, the grandstands at Spa were already packed, largely with Belgian motorsport fans, and they were treated to a moment of national pride when the Brabançonne played following Bertrand Baguette’s victory in Race 2. 

The versatile driver from Verviers delivered a flawless performance in front of his home crowd, despite intense pressure from those chasing behind. 

“This was a very positive weekend,” said Baguette. “Winning in the colours of D'Ieteren Luxury Performance during such a prestigious event is amazing. Working with NGT Racing is always a pleasure, and I’m already looking forward to the rest of the season.” 

Behind Baguette, Nick Ho scored his best result yet in the series, taking maximum championship points as Baguette was competing as a guest and is not included in the standings. Jaap van Lagen secured another strong finish in third, marking his second podium of the weekend. Sam Jongejan (Team RaceArt) followed in fourth, just ahead of Friday’s winner, Robin Knutsson. 

In the Rookie class, Milan Marczak once again came out on top, making it two-for-two for RedAnt Racing. He finished ahead of Frank Porté Ruiz (Q1 Trackracing) and Mees Muller, the latter achieving back-to-back podiums. 

In the PRO-AM battle, Henri Tuomaala, Jani Käkelä, and Jules Grouwels rounded out the podium places, each delivering strong performances. 

Also worth noting was the solid weekend from local talent Tomas De Backer (JW Raceservice), who showed impressive pace throughout. 

In the overall championship standings, Jaap van Lagen leads with 40 points, just ahead of Knutsson (39) and Ho (38). All eyes now turn to Round 2, taking place from 6 to 8 June at Circuit Zandvoort.