Porsche Takes A Lap Around The World: Oct. 2010 Pt. III

Porsche Motorsport around the world – October, 2010

Carrera Cup Asia: Christian Menzel recaptures the points’ lead
On the Shanghai International Circuit (23/24 October), reigning champion Christian Menzel elbowed his arch rival Craig Baird off the top of the points’ table with a victory at the ninth race in torrential rain. At race ten, Menzel made the weekend perfect for his StarChase squad with another win at the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

(l to r) Darryl O'Young, Christian Menzel, Craig Baird

Carrera Cup Japan: Yasuhiro Shimizu calls on experience to defend title
Reigning champion Yasuhiro Shimizu (Team Art Taste) called on his experience during the last and decisive race weekend in Motegi (23/24 October). After a jumped start and the ensuing drive-through penalty for his arch rival, the young racing talent Hideto Yasuoka, Shimizu scored a win in race one. In the final race, Yasuoka was the winner, while Shimizu avoided taking any risks to bring home second and defend the title.

(l to r) Yasuhiro Shimizu, Hideto Yasuoka, Hisamori Hayashi

Patrón GT3 Challenge: Henrique Cisneros wins the Gold Cup
After the 14th and final race on the Road Atlanta circuit (1 October) rookie Henrique Cisneros was delighted to take home the title in the Gold Cup class for 911 GT3 Cup cars from the model years 2005 to 2009. Assisting as coach of the NGT Motorsport pilot, for whom only the Sebring circuit was familiar, was none other than Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler.

Henrique Cisneros On The Podium

GT3 Cup Challenge Australia: Roger Lago is the new champion
It looked like the title was in the bag: Reigning champion Matt Kingsley travelled to the last three races on the Sandown Raceway (23/24 October) with a comfortable points’ lead over his pursuer Roger Lago. But Kingsley then seriously damaged his Porsche in a high-speed crash during the qualifying session. He was uninjured but had to watch from the pit wall as Lago, with his usual caution, drove the Falcon Property Group/Lago Coldstores 911 GT3 Cup home to his first unexpected championship. Kane Rose won all three races of the weekend.

Roger Lago In The Winner's circle

Super Sports Cup: Final wins for Heyrowski and Jahn, Micanek champion
Victory at the two final races of the Porsche Super Sports Cup in Hockenheim went to Sven Heyrowski in the Porsche 911 GT3 R as well as David Jahn in a 911 GT3 Cup. The trophies were presented by the Chairman of the Board at Porsche AG, Matthias Müller, Board Member of Sales and Marketing, Bernhard Maier, as well as the Managing Director of Porsche Germany, Klaus Zellmer. The championship title went to the Czech Tomas Micanek, who had already been confirmed as champion prior to the final round.

New Champion Tomas Micanek

Race notes: Gian Luca Roda and Raffaele Giammaria win the GTS class at both Spanish GT races in Jerez (17/18 October) with the 911 GT3 R of Autorlando Sport. +++ The Belgian Mühlner Motorsport squad concludes the 2010 ADAC GT Masters with third in the team classification. Joerg and Tim Bergmeister take up the final race of the Nürburgring VLN Long Distance Championship for the team on 30 October. +++ British GT: David Ashburn and Glynn Geddie clinch second at the season finale in Donington (17 October) in the Trackspeed Porsche 911 GT3 R. Ashburn had already become champion. +++ Timo Bernhard, Arno Klasen and Lucas Luhr yielded second at round 9 of the Nürburgring VLN Long Distance Championship (16 October) in the Manthey-Porsche 911 GT3 R after tyre poker in changeable weather. Six Porsche 911 amongst the top ten. +++ After the 11th and 12th race of the GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil in Curitiba, Ricardo Rosset holds on to his points’ lead with four races left on the calendar. With a win, André Posses secured the championship title in the “Light Class” for older 911 GT3 Cup cars. +++ In the GT3 Cup Challenge Eastern Europe the decision for the title is between points’ leader Cenk Ceyisakar and his pursuer Yüzel Ozbek heading to the final with races 13 and 14 on the Grand Prix circuit of Istanbul (5/6 Nov.).