Autosportfoto

A start to finish victory for Jaap van Lagen

Jaap van Lagen (FE Racing by Land - Motorsport) from the Netherlands won round three of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland on Sunday. The race over four laps (101.512 km) on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife was the second win in the Carrera Cup career of the 36-year-old racing stalwart. Second place went to Philipp Eng (A/Logiplus MRS-Racing) followed by Nicki Thiim (DK/Attempto Racing). "The secret to my success was in the good start. I stayed very focused and once I'd built up a small gap it all ran by itself. I'm extremely pleased," said van Lagen.

Spectacular battles played out behind van Lagen. With a rocket start, Austria's Eng catapulted from fourth on the grid into second place. At first the 23-year-old slotted in behind the leader at the wheel of his 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS sports car - but in the final race laps Thiim and Kévin Estre (F/Attempto Racing) put on the pressure from behind. "That raised my hackles again and I was determined to hold my position. Then you drive with highest concentration and tunnel vision," declared Eng.

The third round of the championship, run as a support race to the 24 hour event, caused some special emotions amongst the Porsche Juniors. "The Nordschleife is simply legendary. I'm happy that everything ran smoothly with position nine and my start was particularly pleasing. I was able to make up five places," said a satisfied Connor de Phillippi (USA/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport). Alex Riberas (E/Attempto Racing powered by Motorvision) also regarded the weekend as a success. "In the final lap unfortunately I only had the fifth gear available and lost several positions, but twelfth at the end of the day was okay for me."

In the overall classification after the third of 17 races, Kévin Estre leads with 54 points ahead of Sean Edwards (GB/Team Deutsche Post by Project 1) with a tally of 46 and van Lagen (44 points). Notching up two wins at the season-opening weekend in Hockenheim and fourth place here, the Frenchman was able to extend his points lead.

The next race weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland takes place on the Red Bull Ring Spielberg from 31 May to 2 June. On the 4.326 km circuit in Austria, pilots contest races four (Saturday 17.00-17.25 hrs) and five (Sunday 10.00-10.35 hrs).

Results Race 3:
1. Jaap van Lagen (NL/FE Racing by Land - Motorsport)
2. Philipp Eng (A/Logiplus MRS-Racing)
3. Nicki Thiim (DK/Attempto Racing)
4. Kévin Estre (F/Attempto Racing)
5. Norbert Siedler (A/Aust Motorsport)
6. Sean Edwards (GB/Team Deutsche Post by Project 1)
7. Christian Engelhart (D/Konrad Motorsport)
8. Pieter Schothorst (NL/Team Bleekemolen)
9. Connor de Phillippi (USA/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport)
10. Christopher Zöchling (A/Konrad Motorsport)

Points standings after 3 of 17 races*:
Driver classification
1. Estre, 54 points
2. Edwards, 46
3. van Lagen, 44
4. Thiim, 42
5. Engelhart, 41