Two champagne showers for Nicki Thiim
A perfect race weekend at the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland for Nicki Thiim (Attempto Racing). The Dane won both the sixth and the seventh race of the season at the Lausitzring after clinching pole position the day before. The son of motorsport legend Kurt Thiim added a commanding double victory to his list of winning performances in the past two years. In Sunday's round, he relegated Britain's Sean Edwards and Jeffery Schmidt from Switzerland (both Deutsche Post by Project 1) to the other podium spots. "I really enjoyed the champagne showers. I'm over the moon. Funnily enough the Lausitzring is not my favourite track. Still, it always runs perfectly for me here," said the 24-year-old Thiim.
In the race, many pilots paid the price of the tough competition in the Carrera Cup, with spectacular overtaking manoeuvres causing several collisions. Right in the first lap series leader Kévin Estre (F/Attempto Racing) and Jaap van Lagen (NL/FE Racing by Land-Motorsport) swapped paint and the safety car was deployed. The race restarted after lap four and Thiim proved unstoppable on the way to his lights-to-flag victory at the wheel of the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS sports car. Behind him, Edwards managed to follow relatively undisturbed. Third-placed Schmidt, however, caused a minor sensation. The newcomer is the first rookie so far this season to climb the podium.
The two Porsche Juniors Alex Riberas (E/Attempto Racing powered by Motorvision) and Connor de Phillippi (USA/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport) also seemed very pleased with their performances. "I'm delighted with fifth place, it's my best result so far this season. Still, I had the feeling I could have finished in the top three had I not lost my front spoiler," summarised Riberas. De Phillippi was thrilled with his eighth place: "It was a very gripping race with loads of action. Towards the end I again pulled out all stops, but I couldn't do any more."
In the standings after seven of 17 races, Estre still leads with 112 points ahead of Edwards (95 points) and Christian Engelhart (D/Konrad Motorsport) sitting on 93 points. With 84 points to his credit, Thiim moved from sixth to now rank fourth overall. Close behind is Norbert Siedler (Aust Motorsport, 82)
The next race weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup is contested on the Norisring from 12 to 14 July in Nuremberg. Measuring just 2.3 kilometres in length, the circuit will undoubtedly provide a challenge to the 34-strong field - the narrow track with its many walls is unforgiving.
Result race 7:
1. Nicki Thiim (DK/Attempto Racing)
2. Sean Edwards (GB/Team Deutsche Post by Project 1)
3. Jeffrey Schmidt (CH/Team Deutsche Post by Project 1)
4. Norbert Siedler (A/Aust Motorsport)
5. Alex Riberas (E/Attempto Racing powered by Motorvision)
6. Robert Lukas (PL/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport)
7. Bas Schothorst (NL/Team Bleekemolen)
8. Connor de Phillippi (USA/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport)
9. Kyle Marcelli (CA/Liplus MRS-Racing)
10. Christian Engelhart (D/Konrad Motorsport)
Points' standings after 7 of 17 races:
Driver classification
1. Estre, 112 points
2. Edwards, 95
3. Engelhart, 93
4. Thiim, 84
5. Siedler, 82
Amateur classification
1. Rolf Ineichen (CH/Konrad Motorsport), 112 points
2. Dominic Jöst (D/Attempto Racing), 102
3. Thomas Langer (D/Highspeed Racing), 81
Rookie classification
1. de Phillippi, 46 points
2. Riberas, 43
3. Schmidt, 38
Team classification
1. Attempto Racing, 196
2. Konrad Motorsport, 144
3. Aust Motorsport, 108