Nicolas Vandierendonck and Filip Teunkens (Q1 Trackracing) take the victories in the 992 AM class.
Mees Muller (PG Motorsport) wins twice in the GT4 RS class and shows class in the rain, G-King (W.D.P. Racing) and Menno van de Grijspaarde (Team GP Elite) share victories in GT4 RS AM.
Circuit Zolder, June 21, 2024. After the first Round in the Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort, where Niels Troost (Team GP Elite) achieved a double win, it was at Circuit Zolder in Belgium that the Belgians uncorked the champagne twice. Belgium Racing drivers Jan Lauryssen and Michael Cool took the victories in the first and second race of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux respectively, while another Belgian team, Q1 Trackracing, competed with Nicolas Vandierendonck and Filip Teunkens in the 992 AM. Mees Muller, G-King and Menno van de Grijspaarde took the victories in the 'GT4 RS' and 'GT4 RS AM' classes. The next round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux 2024 takes us to Assen in the north of the Netherlands on July 10th.
Circuit Zolder is a typical circuit for brand cups and so the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux is certainly appropriate. With a starting field that nicely divided the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – and the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, Thursday June 20 in Limburg was packed with Porsche action.
Both pole positions were not entirely surprising for home driver Jan Lauryssen, with his teammate Michael Cool next to him on the front row. For the first race, the fastest times in the various classes went to Filip Teunkens (992 AM), Mees Muller (GT4 RS) and Menno van de Grijspaarde (Team GP Elite – GT4 RS AM) and the same drivers were also the fastest in the second qualifying session which determined the starting order for the second 30-minute race.
The first race was perfect for Jan Lauryssen. “I am happy to be able to start in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux and with the second round of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux looming this weekend at Circuit Zolder, it is much better to come and race than to test. The Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux is also a well-organized competition, with a lot of driving time in one day, so in my opinion it was an excellent experience.” Lauryssen finished ahead of Nicolas Vandierendonck and Filip Teunkens in the first race, who are number one and two in the 992 AM class. Fourth place overall went to the class winner for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, Mees Muller, and fifth place went to championship leader Niels Troost.
“In the second half of the race it started to rain and I used my experience from karting to look for the right lines,” said the young Mees Muller, who showed some very nice things in the rain. “I even drove a few laps in second place behind Jan Lauryssen and I must say that the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is a wonderful car in such conditions.”
Mees finished ahead of Dino van der Geest (Team GP Elite) and the winner in the GT4 RS AM class, G-King. Menno van de Grijspaarde and Bas Barenbrug (Bas Koeten racing) finished second and third behind the Briton.
Michael Cool gets his first win
For the second race, Jan Lauryssen had not left the pit lane in time and the former AM and PRO-AM champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux had to start from the back. His catch-up race ended in second place, behind the winner, a very happy Michael Cool:
“Wonderful, after the bad luck this morning, this is my first victory of the season and a huge thank you to the Belgium Racing team. The Porsche was really good and I was able to continuously improve my lap times and thus take the victory. I hope to continue this way and fight for the title.”
Behind Cool, Lauryssen came second, ahead of an entire Belgian top 3 in the 992 AM class, with Filip Teunkens ahead of Nicolas Vandierendonck and Philippe Wils in the colours of Speedlover. Niels Troost had bad luck in the beginning phase, but remains leader in the overall championship.
Mees Muller finished sixth and won in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, ahead of Dino van der Geest (Team GP Elite) and the winner in the GT4 RS AM class, Menno van de Grijspaarde. Tyler Eaton (RFF Motorsport) finished third in 'GT4 RS'. G-King and Bas Barenbrug (Bas Koeten Racing) were on the podium in 'GT4 RS AM'.
Mark your calendar for July 10 for Round 3 in Assen in the north of the Netherlands!
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