The start of the DTM in Hockenheim marked the start of the new season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and, on Sunday, shortly after 10.30am, it was clear to everyone that the ‘Yellows’ from Lohne, under their new name “Project 1”, are a forced to be reckoned with.
The newly formed Deutsche Post by Project 1 team was able to reach the podium with driver Sean Edwards in both races, thereby gaining important points for the lengthy championship battle. The two rookies, Jeffrey Schmidt from Switzerland and Sean Johnston from America, also finished well in their first Carrera Cup racing weekend, which saw a starting field of more than 30 drivers.
The drivers laid the foundations of a successful racing weekend in qualifying on Saturday.
Each driver’s fastest lap counted for the race on Sunday and the second fastest lap for the first race on Saturday. The large number of drivers has led the Porsche organisers to divide the qualifying session into two parts. In the first twenty minutes, all drivers compete for positions 1 to 15. In the remaining ten minutes there is then enough space on the track for the fastest fifteen to battle for the so important pole position. The experienced Sean Edwards was able to secure positions 6 and 3 in heavy rain. Jeffrey Schmidt also managed to finish within the top 15 and slid on a wet track to positions 10 and 8. For Sean Johnston, the qualifying was a particular challenge, as he has never driven a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the rain. He gained position 16 in the first race and position 15 in the second race, and therefore only narrowly missed out on Q2 and a place among the Top 15.
Although the morning qualifying took place in the pouring rain, by the time the first race started in the afternoon the drivers had a dry track. For Sean Edwards, the race went almost perfectly. Starting from position 6 he finished the race in second place, thereby gaining important points for the lengthy championship battle. “My start was good and right at the beginning of the race I was able to overtake three or four cars and then keep behind Christian Engelhart in P3. The car was incredibly fast and shortly before the finish I was able to take second place and 18 points.” Jeffrey Schmidt, in his first Carrera Cup race, took P11, sadly just missing a top ten result. “I was pleased that the race finished under the safety car because in the final laps I had significant vibration from the front left wheel. The race was difficult but I’m happy that I crossed the finish line.” For the 21-year old Sean Johnston, the first race was unfortunately a short one. “In the second lap I learned the hard way. I caused an accident through my own mistake in the hairpin. The driver in front braked too early and unfortunately I braked too late. I lost the front radiator and the race was over.”
Sunday’s race took place early in the morning. Sean Edwards, this time starting from P3, was again able to pass Christian Engelhart and secure second place. However, double winner Kévin Estre was just too fast this weekend.
“I obviously tried to put pressure on Kévin, but at the end of the day I didn’t want to risk too much on the curbs and wanted to look after my tyres. Finishing the weekend with 36 points is really good, looking to the championship.”
Jeffrey Schmidt and Sean Johnston also attracted attention in the second race of the season. Jeffrey Schmidt, starting from position eight, finished in twelfth place, although he had hoped for better. “In the first lap I had the chance to take ninth position but the overtaking manoeuvre went wrong and I lost three places. A top ten position would definitely have been possible today.” Sean Johnston was happy with his result in the second race. “I reached my goal for the day and finished the race. To finish in thirteenth place after starting sixteenth and to take my first championship points makes me really happy and it’s a great feeling.”
The Deutsche Post by Project 1 team can therefore look back at an eventful but successful weekend. The feedback from team boss Paul Schlotmann is consistently positive. “We showed this weekend that, with Sean Edwards, we have rightly set our sights on the championship title. The results and conduct of our two rookies have also shown that we made the right driver choices this season. I’m looking forward to the next tasks and races of the season.”
The next race is on 20th May at the legendary Nordschleife. As part of the 24h at the Nürburgring, the drivers in the Carrera Cup will conquer “the Green Hell” on the Sunday. Excitement, action and great motorsport on the most famous race track in the world are absolutely guaranteed.
News and background info about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the website and
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Racing calendar – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany:
Hockenheim I 05.05.2013
24h Nürburgring 20.05.2013
Spielberg 02.06.2013
Lausitzring 16.06.2013
Norisring 14.07.2013
Nürburgring 18.08.2013
Oschersleben 15.09.2013
Zandvoort 29.09.2013
Hockenheim II 20.10.2013
