Stopped race, safety car, drive through penalties and a huge number of damaged vehicles. The Porsche Carrera Cup races in Zandvoort could not be topped for turbulence. No-one at Project 1 was really happy with the weekend. And yet in the practice session, everything ran to plan, especially for the rookies, who were driving on new tyres. Sean Johnston finished his first outing in the Zandvoort dunes in P2 and Jeffrey Schmidt in P4.

For Sean Johnston, the weekend was a rollercoaster of emotions. After his brilliant performance in practice, he hoped for a similar result in qualifying, and at first everything looked good. For a long time he lay in 2nd position, until his own driver error led to his hopes disappearing over the horizon, as he made contact with a crash barrier and his damaged radiator meant that he could no longer compete effectively. While his good first time meant that he started in seventh position in the second race, on Saturday he had to make do with starting in 21st position. These ups and downs continued in the race. Starting in P21, Sean Johnston battled in a great race to 9th position. “The performance in qualifying was great, unfortunately I cost myself an even better position because of a mistake. A huge thank you to my team, which got my car going again so quickly. To get from P21 to P9 is a great result and just shows what’s possible.” The second race was, however, sobering. “Starting in 7th position, I was counting on more but unfortunately in turn 1 I braked on the cooling fluid of an opponent and had to go into the pits to get a new front wheel. It was a shame for me and the team, which had worked so hard.” At the end of the day, the 22-year old Sean Johnston had to make do with 25th place in the second race.

Rookie Jeffrey Schmidt wanted to attack the rankings in the best rookie championship in Zandvoort. Only 5 points separated him from Porsche Junior driver Connor de Phillippi. But here too things didn’t work out as intended. After qualifying, the Swiss driver started in P15 and P11, well within striking distance, but unfortunately the race ran far from smoothly. In the first race, Jeffrey Schmidt was caught up in the chaos at the start. “In the first race, I had really bad luck. The collision left my car too badly damaged. The race stop after 2 laps meant that the cars had to go into the parc ferme and we therefore had no chance to repair the 911. I therefore had to miss the re-start on Sunday morning so that we could prepare the car for the second race.” In the second race, the 19-year old junior driver finished in 11th position, thereby winning a further 5 points in the championship. Championship competitor de Phillippi finished his races in 4th and 8th place, and is on his way home with a total of 109 points. The gap to Jeffrey Schmidt has now grown to 22 points before the final in Hockenheim.

After the two races, Sean Edwards did justice to his ambition to take home the title for ‘overtaking the most cars’. Starting as championship favourite, the bad luck which has been true to him all season stayed loyal in Zandvoort. Qualifying for P4 and P2, he was the main and wholly innocent casualty of the collision at the start of the first race. A puncture on the second lap sent him right to the back of the field, shortly before the race was stopped. And as if that wasn’t enough, in the second race his hopes didn’t last long. During the formation lap he had problems with his coolant and Sean Edwards had to start from the pit lane. He himself was appropriately reserved: “In qualifying, everything went well and I hoped that everything would run smoothly this time. I’ve no idea who’s jinxed me but this Carrera Cup bad luck seems to be sticking to me like a curse. There’s only one thing left for me to do: to say a big thank you to my team. Again, the team gave me the quickest car. Maybe in Hockenheim I should just start at the back, without bothering with qualifying.” The championship is, even theoretically, no longer attainable, but 3rd place in the championship is a realistic and attainable goal for Hockenheim.

Despite everything, ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ wants to say goodbye in style at the final in Hockenheim, and win the 40 points that are still up for grabs. Team boss Paul Schlotmann is hoping for a significantly less turbulent race: “The races here in Zandvoort were really nerve-wracking. Despite all the set-backs, my team did an amazing job and I’m sure that in Hockenheim, we’ll show what we can really do.”

News and background information about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the website and on Facebook.

Drivers’ championship – current positions:
1 Kévin Estre 209
5 Sean Edwards 160
10 Jeffrey Schmidt 87
17 Sean Johnston 41

Racing calendar – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany:
Hockenheim II 20.10.2013

What you have achieved once, you can achieve again. Before the Porsche Carrera Cup weekend in Oschersleben, ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ was on the attack. Both Jeffrey Schmidt in the rookie championship and Sean Edwards in the A-championship had legitimate hopes in respect of the championship. For one, everything ran exactly to plan, for the other it was a weekend to forget.

Just like at the Norisring, the bitter blow came on Saturday in qualifying. A transmission failure and complete loss of drive meant position 30 for the first race and position 11 for Sunday’s race. But those who know Edwards know that he never gives up. In both the first and the second races, he impressively demonstrated his pace and competitiveness and was the fastest on the track. On Saturday, his furious race to catch up led him to overtake 21 other cars and he was rewarded with a finish in eighth place. On Sunday too he showed everybody who was master of the track. At one point he was in third position, and it was only a decision of the race managers that stopped his battle to catch up. He therefore couldn’t take the podium place and the 14 associated points. Sean Edwards himself is taking the weekend and the season to date calmly. “Fortune has never really shone on me in the Porsche Carrera Cup. To have so much bad luck yet again in qualifying is really hard. In the race, you then have to take a higher risk on board and more critical situations can occur. Neither race was ideal for the championship but a lot is still possible and there are still enough points to collect. In the last four races in Zandvoort and Hockenheim we’ll be on the attack again.”

After the low point score at the weekend, Edwards has fallen back to fifth place in the championship. Paul Schlotmann comments for the record “As usual, we will analyse the weekend in peace at home. Sean E. was, as he showed in both races, the fastest driver in the whole field and he deserved a lot more. Nevertheless, we won’t lose our nerve and we’ll carry on showing what we can do!”
The two Project 1 rookies, Sean Johnston and Jeffrey Schmidt, rewarded themselves with top performances in the Magdeburger Börde. Swiss driver Jeffrey Schmidt’s clear goal for the season is to win the rookie championship and he is letting nothing stand in the way of his goal. In both races in Oschersleben he was able to reduce the gap to Connor de Phillippi, and he is now lying just 5 points behind: “Eighth and tenth is a good overall result for me. Thanks to the whole team for a great car and their perfect work. Another place or two in front may have been possible for me, but for that I would have had to take a higher risk. So shortly before the end of the season, every points counts for the championship” said the 19-year old Jeffrey Schmidt.

Project 1 junior driver Sean Johnston drove at Oschersleben with the mental support of his parents from California. It was a weekend full of highs and lows. Saturday, and particularly qualifying, wasn’t ideal after suffering from technical problems, and he therefore qualified in positions 28 and 23. In the first race, he could only put in two laps before finishing. However, on Sunday Sean Johnston showed what skill he has in him. The rookie had a go at opponent after opponent and, on a circuit which he only knows from a test day, overtook 12 cars. “Wow, I’m really proud of my performance and that of the team. My speed was bombastic and I had a sensational car. After the messed up Saturday, I had the satisfaction of finishing Sunday with brilliant, fair battles for position. Tenth place gives me confidence and motivates me for the forthcoming races.”

‘Deutsche Post by Project 1’ team boss Paul Schlotmann says of his junior drivers: “Both of them have again convinced me today and both have done a top job. Jeffrey has reduced the gap to the leader in the rookie championship to just 5 points with an almost perfect weekend, and kept the leader behind him in both races – a strong performance. After the accident on Saturday, Sean J. dealt with everything well and properly and overtook 12 cars. He also put in a brilliant performance.”

Hans-Bernd Kamps, who commented from America, is also suitably positive. “Our Project 1 junior programme is well on track and I’m delighted about the performance of the rookies. At the end of the season, both are showing what they have learnt. My thanks go to the whole team. We will cope with the disappointment involving Sean Edwards and we will give it everything at the end.”
The next two races will take place in the dunes of Zandvoort on 28th and 29th September.

News and background information about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the website and on Facebook.
Current positions – drivers‘ championship:
1 Kévin Estre 201
5 Sean Edwards 146
10 Jeffrey Schmidt 81
17 Sean Johnston 33

Racing calendar – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany:
Zandvoort 29.09.2013
Hockenheim II 20.10.2013

The seventh race in Monza, Italy, offered plenty of explosive action. The race was marked by exciting overtaking manoeuvres and tough battles for position. The improved aerodynamic packet of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 991, as compared to the old model, meant that the drivers could use the slipstreams at the high-speed Monza course a great deal more effectively. Even in qualifying it was a battle for the best position in the slipstream of the driver in front.

For Project 1, it was a case this weekend of ‘don’t risk too much but still use our strengths’. This tactic worked well in qualifying. With only 5 laps in the whole session, Edwards put his 911 in third place for the race and ensured the privilege, in contrast to his opponents, of being able to start the race with new tyres. Team ‘Allyouneed by Project 1’ rookie, Sean Johnston, qualified on a track which was again new territory for the 22 year old American in 21st position. The improvement of more than 2 seconds in comparison to practice on Friday was remarkable. After a poor start, Sean Edwards, who lives in Monaco, was forced to use defensive tactics. “Let’s put it this way, it was not an optimal start for me and to avoid going out and getting no points because of an accident, I tried to keep myself clear of everything, particularly on the first bend. Fortunately I wasn’t rammed by anything behind me and everything went smoothly.”

In view of the many drop outs, collisions and the way the competition was driving, this was exactly the right thing to do. Dropping back to eighth position in the early phase, the table leader finished in 5th place and took 12 championship points. “At the end I did everything possible to overtake Christian Engelhart but his car was really quick on the straights. Congratulations to Nicki Thiim. He was able to reduce my lead, but in Abu Dhabi, I’ll be celebrating the championship. Of that I’m sure and we’ll do everything for it.” With his 20 points for winning the race, Nicki Thiim has taken 8 points out of Edwards’ lead. For the two final races in Abu Dhabi, Edwards therefore has a lead of 18 points over his closest rival.

The race finished less well for Project 1 junior, Sean Johnston. Unfortunately, he was one of the victims of the first bend. “In Monza especially, the first chicane offers pure excitement because the drivers brake from top speed down to first gear and the whole field packs together. If you don’t watch out, you hit the driver in front and damage your front.” This is unfortunately exactly what happened to Sean Johnston. “The cars in front of me seemed to stop. Unfortunately I drove into the back of one of my opponents and it caused a small tear in my radiator. At first, the car felt good for another 3 laps but then I had to give up the race because of the raised engine temperature. It’s a shame, but I’m looking forward to the two races in Abu Dhabi.” It was an annoying result for Johnston, particularly because in the three laps mentioned he battled well through the field. The many drop outs and battles of the other drivers would surely have meant that there would have been another top result in it for Johnston.

Project 1 leaves Italy with mixed feelings and is now preparing for the big finale in Abu Dhabi. The result in Italy for Team ‘Allyouneed by Project 1’ boss Paul Schlotmann is neither grounds for frustration and annoyance, nor for unadulterated joy. “I`d say that our drivers did a good job. Sean Johnston’s accident is annoying but I’m much more pleased about the continual improvement in his performance in every race. With Sean Edwards, at the end we had to give up a little bit of our lead. But we can live with the result. Our focus is now on the final in Abu Dhabi. Our competitors are not going to be asleep and we need to carry on concentrating and working hard. Excitement is guaranteed.”

The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will be opening its gates on 2nd and 3rd November for the final in Abu Dhabi.

News and background information about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the Project 1 website and on Facebook, or on our partner website, racecam.de.

Current positions – drivers’ championship:
1 Sean Edwards 118
2 Nicki Thiim 100
3 Michael Ammermüller 94
23 Sean Johnston 2

Racing calendar – Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup:
Abu Dhabi 02./03.11.2013

The sixth race of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup took the teams to the Ardennes, to Spa-Francorchamps. The tradition-steeped Belgian race is viewed by every driver as a highlight of the Supercup racing calendar and always offers spectators and fans spectacular motorsport. Project 1’s starting point was obviously to defend and to further build upon their lead in the drivers’ championship. After promising performances, Sean Johnston hoped to win further championship points with a finish in the top 15.

For a long time, the race, which consists of 11 laps of the 7.004km long circuit, offered very little real tension. Even though the drivers put a great deal of pressure on each other, there were no exciting overtaking manoeuvres amongst the leaders. Everything pointed to a pole-to-flag victory for Kuba Giermaziak but, on the last lap, everything changed. With an eye on the championship, Sean Edwards had cleverly kept out of all rough battles for position and for a long time was in third position behind Giermaziak and Bachler. A few bends before the finish, Giermaziak was forced to give in to a technical defect and give up his position. Bachler and Edwards therefore moved up a position.

For Sean Edwards, everything ran to plan. “It was a shame and annoying for Kuba, for it was a perfect result for us. At the end, all my competitors drove for me. Thanks to the team, who put a fantastic car at my disposal over the whole weekend. For us, it’s now a question of finishing the final three races and taking the points.” After his second place in Spa, Edwards’ lead is now 26 points over Nicki Thiim and 30 points over Michael Ammermüller. With 60 points still to be distributed in Monza and Abu Dhabi, where two races will take place, Team ’Allyouneed by Project 1’ is right on course for the championship.

For rookie Sean Johnston, despite a strong and error-free performance, with plenty of battles for position, it was a thankless result, for at the end he just missed out on championship points. However, Sean J. put in his best performance of the season in Spa and took a top result. The field was very close together and Sean J. confidently kept Porsche professionals with a great deal more experience behind him. He himself views the race in Spa as further experience in a long learning curve: “The race was good for me. When you think that this was my first race here in Spa. It was an amazing feeling to drive through the ‘Eau Rouge’ with my opponents. We’re happy and thanks to my team for a great job. With the improvement in my performance I’m looking forward to Monza.”

Team boss Paul Schlotmann is also completely happy with the performance of his team. “I’m really happy with the entire performance over the weekend. Both drivers delivered a clever and error-free race. Both rookie Sean Johnston, who took on drivers such as Bleekemolen and Engelhardt, and Sean Edwards, who didn’t take any risks. With P2, we can build on our lead in the championship, and in the last three races we are right on track. Thanks to my whole team, who again worked superbly and without errors. With such a performance we’re looking forward to Italy.”

The third to last race in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will take place in just under two weeks’ time on 8.9.2013 in Monza.

News and background information about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the Project 1 website and on Facebook, and on our partner website, racecam.de.

Current positions – drivers’ championship:
1 Sean Edwards 88
2 Michael Ammermüller 80
3 Nicki Thiim 76
23 Sean Johnston 2

Racing calendar – Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup:
Monza 08.09.2013
Abu Dhabi 03.11.2013

After the short summer break, it was again time for racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup. The tenth and eleventh races of the season took the teams to the Nürburgring. After the explosive overtaking marathon by championship favourite Sean Edwards at the Norisring, everything pointed to victory for Project 1, and to being able to attack in the championship.

Since 2012 and 2013, there have been two races per weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup. On the one hand, to give people the chance to iron out mistakes, on the other hand to further reduce risks. For Project 1, the weekend was a rollercoaster of emotion as far as the title hopes were concerned. In the most beautiful summer weather, title favourite Edwards was able to turn his second place starting position on Saturday into a confident victory, thereby reducing the gap in the championship to 5 points. For Project 1, it was the long sought after and much overdue first victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup. The team from Lohne in Lower Saxony was finally able to demonstrate a top performance at national level.

Sunday was however rather sobering. Starting from fourth position, a highly controversial drive through penalty threw Sean Edwards to the back of the field. After a tough battle for position, in the fight to limit damage and to win points, he eventually had to throw in the towel. He is taking the decision against himself with composure: “The result on Saturday was great and almost perfect. I controlled everything and was really delighted to again be fully part of the championship battle. The decisions today have ruined that hard-won chance again. I’m hugely disappointed.” Despite his disappointment, Sean Edwards is battle-hardened. “Setbacks make me stronger, I can just look to the future now. We’ve still got 6 races to go.”

Both rookies in ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ were able to put in a top performance and confirm the upward trend over the weekend. Only just missing out on the second qualifying segment, the American Sean Johnston started on Saturday from P15 and on Sunday from P16. In both races he let his potential shine. With exceptional tactics and fantastic overtaking manoeuvres he finished his first race in P10, thereby finishing in the hoped-for top 10 and winning important points. In the second race he took 11th place, only just missing out on a finish in the top 10. He is happy with his performance in both races: “Both races were great fun and the battle for position with the other drivers was great. In particular the overtaking manoeuvres on Saturday in the penultimate lap. On Sunday, my tyres lost grip at the end and I couldn’t attack as I wanted to. But finally the performances are going in the right direction and we’re moving forwards. I’m really happy with the race results.”

Second Project 1 rookie, Jeffrey Schmidt, found himself even further forwards in the rankings. After qualifying, he booked starting positions 8 and 12. In the race, attack was the order of the day. For sixth place on Saturday, he was awarded 10 championship points. On Sunday, he saw the chequered flag in 8th place, again finishing in the top 10. In consideration of the guest driver regulations, Jeffrey Schmidt takes seven points. “We were really fast all weekend. In qualifying, we can exploit our potential even further. With the top-10 results, we were able to collect important points for the rookie-championship and for the remaining races I’ll do everything to try and win it.” Both drivers are taking part in the rookie-championship alongside the A-championship. Jeffrey Schmidt’s 19 points have improved his position in respect of the rookie title and has narrowed the gap to leader Connor de Phillippi to ten points. Sean Johnston has risen to 6th place.

Team boss Paul Schlotmann sums up the weekend with mixed feelings. “I’m absolutely delighted with Project 1’s first victory in the Carrera Cup. The team has really earned it. Both rookies have also shown what’s possible. We’re disappointed about Sean Edwards‘ result on Sunday. But we won’t give up. And especially not now.“

There are six more races in the Porsche Carrera Cup this season. In the two coming races on 14th and 15th September in Oschersleben, ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ will be able to improve its position in respect of the championship.

News and background information about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the website and on Facebook.

Current positions – drivers’ championship:
1 Kévin Estre 161
2 Nicki Thiim 148
4 Sean Edwards 138
10 Jeffrey Schmidt 67
17 Sean Johnston 27

Racing calendar – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany:
Oschersleben 15.09.2013
Zandvoort 29.09.2013
Hockenheim II 20.10.2013