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

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

Looking at the faces of ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ in the team tent on Saturday evening, to say that they were disappointed would have been putting it mildly. In qualifying, it was a case of highs and lows for Project 1. On Saturday morning, Sean Johnston achieved his first top-10 starting position in both races and more than achieved his ambitious goals. Jeffrey Schmidt qualified for starting positions 14 and 16. In contrast, championship favourite and second in the current Porsche Carrera Cup leader board, Sean Edwards, had a terrible qualifying session. A material failure in the rear wheel suspension right at the start of qualifying meant that Edwards was unable to put in any fast lap times. He therefore started in positions 34 and 32, right at the back of the field. When the current championship leader then took two confident pole positions, things were looking bleak for Edwards’ championship hopes.

The starting position for rookie Sean Johnston was, however, positive. Starting in position 10, his goal of finishing inside the top 10 and of putting in his best performance of the season was tantalisingly close. However, professional motorsport is full of hard knocks. A failure to observe a yellow flag led to a drive through penalty, leaving the 22 year old at the back of the field. “I thought that I slowed down in the sector. It’s really annoying for me and the team”. In the second race, however, he pulled out all the stops. With a brilliant race and fast lap times he took sixth place and valuable points for the rookie championship.

An overjoyed Johnston was grinning from ear to eat at the end of the race: “Wow, that was a great race. I’m over the moon and could finally show how fast I am. My team did an amazing job and the car was perfect. I’ve made a lot of work for my boys in the last few weeks and I’m so pleased to be able to deliver such a performance.” With 6th place, Johnston grabs ten points for the rookie championship and moves up to 7th position.

The second junior, Jeffrey Schmidt, who had his season highlight to date at the Lausitzring with podium position 3, was not happy with his performance in Nürnberg: “After the Lausitzring, I was obviously hoping for more, but with starting positions 14 and 16 I had to revise my ambitions. With places 9 and 13 I’ve still gained a couple of important points for the junior championship. At the forthcoming races at the Nürburgring I know my way around better and I should again be much further forward.”

Sean Edwards’ head hung low after his failed qualifying session. But giving up just isn’t something the British driver knows how to do. His performance in Saturday’s race, starting in 33rd position and finishing in 10th place, was impressive enough. What Sean Edwards delivered on Sunday, however, was a masterpiece, to which the whole paddock took their hats off. After 34 turbulent laps on the 2.3km long circuit, Edwards found himself on the podium again. With absolutely the quickest car on the track, Edwards devoured his competitors and, with fantastic overtaking manoeuvres, produced real racing and exciting motorsport.

The other drivers really didn’t stand a chance, and it’s possible he would also have overtaken the two drivers in front of him had the race lasted another couple of laps. Edwards himself was delighted with his performance: “I’m really pleased with today. After qualifying I had nothing to lose and that was my strategy. The first race was good but the second was fantastic. Thanks to my team and my engineer, who gave me a mega-fast car.” The damage to his championship hopes was also a lot less than initially feared, as his competitor Kévin Estre finished the second race without any points. Currently, Edwards is in position 3 in the championship, 17 points behind the leader.

The Porsche Carrera Cup is now beginning a 4 week summer break. The next two races will be fought by ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ on 17th and 18th August at the Nürburgring, the location of the championship race in the 24h race.

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

Racing calendar – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany:
Nürburgring 18.08.2013
Oschersleben 15.09.2013
Zandvoort 29.09.2013
Hockenheim II 20.10.2013

Where we say in football that the match lasts for 90 minutes, we say in motorsport that the season is still long. That’s pretty much how Project 1’s situation could be described. After a moderate degree of success in the first race, we now have our goals clearly in view: driver’s title with Sean Edwards and best juniors with Sean Johnston and Jeffrey Schmidt.

At first, it didn’t look like Sean Edwards would be able to finish the weekend as the big winner. Achieving positions 3 and 2 in qualifying, and finishing the first race in 5th place, at first he appeared to be losing out to his opponents. However, the good thing about having a second race each weekend is that the drivers get a second chance and this is what Sean Edwards used on Sunday.

After a good start, the only driver who finished the race in front of him was double winner Nicki Thiim. “It was a good race for me and the team. We’ve worked hard and with second place today we’ve won a lot of important points for the Championship” said a happy Edwards, who also stayed fair. “An accident and no points are a disaster for any driver. It was me in Spielberg and here at the Lausitzring it was Kévin Estre. You don’t wish it on anybody but we’ll gladly take it. The competition stays exciting and we’re back in business.” With a total of 30 points, Sean Edwards has regained 2nd place in the Championship and at the same time has reduced the gap to leader Kévin Estre to 16 points. With ten races still left this season, there are plenty of chances to reach the top of the leader board.

Normally, people’s expectations of a rookie, a driver who is new in the Porsche Carrera Cup, are limited. Results inside the top ten are usually declared as goals and are realistic, but Jeffrey Schmidt would never have anticipated a result like he achieved today. His declared goal at the start of the weekend was a top ten finish. On Saturday, he narrowly missed his target, finishing in 12th place. What happened on Sunday, however, was a massive dream come true for the young Swiss driver. In only his 5th Porsche Carrera Cup race he found himself on the podium, finishing in 3rd place. The foundation of this fantastic result was 5th place in qualifying. From there he was on the attack, and gained 2 places during the race. “It’s absolutely crazy to have landed in 3rd place here at the Lausitzring in my fifth race. I was the only one in the first seven driving with old tyres, which made driving really difficult. Norbert Siedler, who was behind me, gave me a hard fight but I just did what my mentor Sean Edwards and our engineer Kosta have given me along the way. The car was just perfect and Project 1 have done an amazing job. A huge thank you to the team, it was just huge.” said the delighted Swiss driver, driving for ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’. On the rookie leader board, Jeffrey Schmidt has gained 20 valuable points and moves to 3rd place, just 8 points behind the leader, American Connor de Phillippi.

Unfortunately, Sean Johnston didn’t have quite such a successful weekend. In the first race he finished in 18th place and in the second race the Project 1 junior driver sadly had to retire, although his hopes had been high after qualifying in 7th position: “The first race was really interesting for me and I fought hard. Unfortunately, I spun on oil and could only manage 18th place. In the second race I hoped for a lot more. I wanted to turn my seventh place in qualifying into a top result in the race, but unfortunately a broken radiator meant I had to finish the race early.

I’m really pleased for Jeffrey, Sean and the team, though, they’ve all had great results. At the Norisring I’ll be on the attack again.”
Team boss Paul Schlotmann is above all proud of the overall performance of the team and the path which Project 1 is on. “I’m pleased that, after the disappointment in Spielberg, we’ve been able to come back with a result like this. Jeffrey in particular deserves special praise. To defend himself against someone as experienced as Norbert Siedler and not to make a mistake is amazing. It shows us that Project 1 in on the right path. Sean Edwards together with Kosta is the perfect mentoring team for our two juniors. Today, the outcome of our work was third place for Jeffrey, and I’m sure that there will be many more results like that in the future.”

The Norisring in Nürnberg is seen as the Monaco of the DTM. The Porsche Carrera Cup teams and drivers will be battling for championship points there on 13th and 14th July. ‘Team Deutsche Post by Project 1’ will be on the attack again and looking to continue the improving trend.
The race can be viewed via an internet live stream on the official Porsche website.
News and background information about the race and about Project 1 can be found on the website and on Facebook.

Racing calendar – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany:
Norisring 14.07.2013
Nürburgring 18.08.2013
Oschersleben 15.09.2013
Zandvoort 29.09.2013
Hockenheim II 20.10.2013