Sean Edwards experienced a weekend with ups and downs. Having been blocked in his last fast lap in qualifying, he started the race from position 6. His race was dominated by many duels with his competitors fighting for the remaining podium positions. In the end, he finished 5th and now ranks 3rd in the driver standings.

Jeroen Bleekemolen: “This was simply a perfect weekend. Many thanks to the team that managed to prepare a great car despite of the technical issues we had on Friday. I could have gone even faster at the end of the race, however, one of the other cars lost cooling water, so I decided to play safe. I dedicate the victory to our engineer Kosta, as today is his birthday. Happy birthday Kosta.“

Sean Edwards: “A very difficult race. It was so hard to overtake here. At the start Armindo held up the field. Although I got passed by Tandy, who was driving really aggressively, in the end I got passed Armindo and Van Lagen and finished 5th. That’s good points, not a disaster, the car was good. Next time, we need to make sure to get a good and clear lap in qualifying to achieve better results.”

Porsche Carrera Cup team manager Paul Schlotmann: “Our hard work during the weekend has paid off. The victory is our reward. Having this performance in mind, we are already looking forward to the next round in Spielberg.”

tolimit head of motorsport Michael Seifert: “A great performance for the whole team and the maximum outcome for Jeroen. Sean was a bit unlucky in qualifying otherwise a fully yellow first row would have been possible this weekend. But that’s racing. We are very proud on the result and take the momentum into the next races. Congratulations to Kosta not only for the result, but also for his birthday.”

tolimit managing director Hans-Bernd Kamps: “I could have worked as a clairvoyant this weekend. As planned and expected, Jeroen dominated the race and won it with a superior performance. Sean didn’t have the same great race, but also showed a good performance. It’s great to have a local hero winning the race in front of his home crowd.”

The next Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland race will take place on June 5 at the Red-Bull-Ring in Spielberg, Austria.

The race dates:
June 5, 2011 DTM Red-Bull-Ring Spielberg, Austria
June 19, 2011 DTM EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Germany
June 25, 2011 Carrera World Cup 24h Nürburgring, Germany
July 3, 2011 DTM Norisring, Germany
August 7, 2011 DTM Nürburgring, Germany
September 18, 2011 DTM Oschersleben, Germany
October 23, 2011 DTM Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, Germany

After a qualifying with ups and downs, ‘Team Deutsche Post by tolimit’ drivers Sean Edwards and Jeroen Bleekemolen achieved 3rd and 4th place at the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland season starter in Hockenheim. With regard to the mixed weather conditions, the team kept its nerves in the tyre choice and stayed on slicks, while many competitors calculated with rain showers.

Obviously, ‘Team Deutsche Post by tolimit’ had calculated that it would face some setup issues at the first race of the season. However, that the party into May Day would become “working into May Day” was not to be foreseen. Due to some technical issues with the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, e. g. the team made three engine changes at Sean Edward’s car alone. In free practice and qualifying, both the Brit as well as his team mate Jeroen Bleekemolen experienced some errors in the engine control unit. However, together with Porsche, the team was able to solve all issues throughout the weekend.

Sean Edwards comments: “In qualifying, my engine lost water in my third fast lap. The lap was good enough for a top 10 position, however, due to the water hose coming off, I span and ended on position 14. The race was absolutely crazy. We waited until the last minute with our tyre choice and decided to go out on slicks, which was the right decision. Starting so far from the back, I was battling with the guys on the wets at first and lost quite some time. But later on I was able to catch up. To come from 14 and end on position 3 is just amazing. Thanks to the whole team for the great work.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen adds: “We faced some issues with the engine control unit in qualifying which resulted in position 7 on the grid. We made the right decision concerning the tyres for the race. Position 4 is ok taking into consideration the issues we had throughout the weekend.”

tolimit head of motorsport Michael Seifert: “This was definitely not a party into May Day, but a lot of work at night. Our team did everything to have the cars ready and perfectly prepared for the race. And it worked out. Thanks for all the hard work, especially on Saturday night. Positions 3 and 4 are a great basis for our target to win the championship. With 30 points, we are currently on top of the team standings.”

Porsche Carrera Cup team manager Paul Schlotmann: “To find the right setup on both cars has been more intensive than expected on this weekend. However, now we should have sorted it all out and be well prepared for the next race.”

tolimit managing director Hans-Bernd Kamps: “This was the first step on our way to the top. Once again, we showed that we can deal with difficulties and are going our way despite of them. Thanks to our partners from Deutschen Post and Windreich, that kept their fingers crossed throughout the whole weekend. And thanks also to our friends and business partners on site for their support.”

The next Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland race takes place on May 15 at the Circuit Park Zandvoort, in the Netherlands.

The race dates:
May 15, 2011 DTM Circuit Park Zandvoort, The Netherlands
June 5, 2011 DTM Red-Bull-Ring Spielberg, Austria
June 19, 2011 DTM EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Germany
June 25, 2011 Carrera World Cup 24h Nürburgring, Germany
July 3, 2011 DTM Norisring, Germany
August 7, 2011 DTM Nürburgring, Germany
September 18, 2011 DTM Oschersleben, Germany
October 23, 2011 DTM Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, Germany

After typical weather conditions in the Eifel – temperatures of only 16 degrees Celsius, dense fog, and heavy rain – caused a postponement of the Porsche Carrera Cup race from the morning into the afternoon, Sean Edwards and Sascha Maassen both successfully sustained their starting positions 2 and 4 under dry, but still difficult conditions.

Once again, qualifying was the key to success. Both Sean Edwards as well as Sascha Maassen, cut right to the chase on Saturday. Sean Edwards: “This was my best qualifying result in Porsche Carrera Cup so far. It was not a perfect lap, but enough for the front row.” After a proper start, the 23-year-old was at first able to compete with the leading pilot Armindo, however, due to his understeering car slightly fell back later on: “In the end of the race, I had a few duels with Uwe Alzen, however, managed to hold him behind. I am pretty satisfied with the result.”

Sascha Maassen was able to tie in with his success 10 years ago when he started for the tolimit team for the first time and immediately achieved pole position: “Well, this time it was not pole position, however, I am really satisfied with position 4 on the grid. I have to get used to a rougher driving style in Porsche Carrera Cup due to the tight performance density.”

In the race, the young father got hold of a great start: “That was amazing. I was immediately able to pass Alzen, however, stood back in the first curve due to Sean being in front of me. Then Tandy tried to overtake me on the inside, but was somehow out on his estimation and touched me on the side of the car. As a result, I lost one position again, however, am very happy that nothing happened in this incident. I am absolutely happy with position 4.”

Team manager Jörg Michaelis is more than satisfied with the performance of the two pilots and the whole team: “With positions 2 and 4, we achieved our target for this weekend of good individual results. Despite of typical Eifel weather conditions, both Sean and Sascha showed a superior performance. This was exactly what we needed and deserved. Now we have even more tailwind for the next race in Zandvoort. I am proud on the whole team.”

tolimit managing director Hans-Bernd Kamps adds: “A big compliment to Sean, Sascha and the whole team. We finally sorted out all issues that prevented us from being in the front rows. Although I am still allowed to smoke, as Sean hasn’t managed to be on pole or win a race so far, I will enjoy my cigarettes to the full in the next weeks. Who knows how long I will be able to indulge in this personal pleasure.”

For the guests of ‘Team Deutsche Post by tolimit’ the race weekend equally was a success, despite of the wet weather conditions. Both, the paper concerning internet letters and the view into the pits from the Deutsche Post suite, provided partners, customers and friends with an exciting and one-of-a-kind race experience.

TV channel Motorvision will show a re-live of the race tonight at 9.30 p. m. Sport 1 will broadcast the show “Cup Backstage“ tonight at 9.00 p. m., furthermore the highlights on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at 10.30 p. m. n-tv will show a short summary on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Furthermore, some highlights of the race are part of the show “DTM Magazine” shown by DMAX on Sunday, August 15, 2010. The next race of Porsche Carrera Cup will take place on August 22, 2010, in Zandvoort, The Netherlands.

“Team Deutsche Post by tolimit“ would have expected way more from the third round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland at the Lausitzring: Sean Edwards saves two points for the team standings with position 14, Sascha Maassen drops out with a damaged radiator in lap 4.

The weekend actually started well – as expected: Sean Edwards constantly ranked among the potential podium positions in the free practices. Sascha Maassen also constantly hit the top ten.

In qualifying, however, a strategy fault at Sean Edward’s car: The Brit from “Team Deutsche Post by tolimit” achieved the quickest sector times and would have been able to achieve pole, however, had to break off his fastest lap shortly before the start-finish-line. “In the first part of the qualifying, my lap times were sensationally fast. Unfortunately, we had a strategy issue.” Thus in the second part, he fought with low fuel levels. Position 10 on the starting grid was the best possible result.

In the race, the 23-year-old again had a good start, however, clashed with Philipp Wlazik, the pilot in front of him. It all resulted in a drive-through-penalty imposed by the race stewards. Withdrawn to position 19, the ambitious race driver fought back to 14th place in the end: “On Friday, I was surprised, how well I was getting along with the track. It’s my first time at the Lausitzring. The more annoying it is that I wasn’t able to attack again in qualifying. In the race, I pushed hard to get upfront. Unfortunately, this attempt backfired. Once again, it is not the result we expected to achieve“, the Brit sums up.

Sascha Maassen experienced a weekend to forget at the Lausitzring. Oversteer and a penalty in free practice – his fastest lap happened under yellow flags – resulted in position 20 on the starting grid. A radiator damage in lap 4 of the race forced him to give up. „If you start that much on the back of the field, you try to push as hard as possible. Thus I push-started the one in front of me. My car didn’t like it obviously and redeemed with a radiator damage” the experienced pilot comments with a grim sense of humor.

Paul Schlotmann, who at the Lausitzring acted not only as technical director, but also as team manager for the diseased Jörg Michaelis, sums up: “We expected way more from the weekend. We know that we are fast. Unfortunately, we had some adjustment issues at Sascha’s car and a strategy fault in Sean’s qualifying. In the race, some things happened that are quite normal in such tight position fights. Thus we were only able to achieve two points for the championship standings.”

tolimit managing director Hans-Bernd Kamps adds: “Now we need to make sure that the team does not hang the heads and continues to look ahead. Success means to stand up once more than you fell down. Despite quick lap times, we don’t achieve the results that would be expected. And we will change that quickly.”

Next race of Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland takes place on July 4, at the Norisring (Nurnberg). A summary of the race at the Lausitzring will be broadcast on June 9, in the “Motodrom” show. “n-tv“ and “DMAX“ show race extracts on June 8, in “PS Spezial“ (4.25 p.m.), respectively on June 13, in “DTM Magazin” (noon).

“Team Deutsche Post by tolimit” pilot Sascha Maassen finishes the first run of Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland in Hockenheim on position seven. His team mate Sean Edwards fell back in the very last lap due to the loss of fuel pressure and saves position ten.

The race weekend started well for the 23-year-old Brit Sean Edwards. The fourth-best time in qualifying with a gap of only two hundreds of a second to the top brought him to the second row on the grid. After a successful start, the ambitious race driver was able to break away with the top flight around Nick Tandy, Nicolas Armindo and Christian Engelhart and showed the spectators some exciting battles. By the way, he was able to set the fastest race lap. Unfortunately, some of the 911 GT3 Cup suffered from the loss of fuel pressure. This technical problem hit Armindo and Engelhart as well as Sean Edwards.

“It happened in the very last lap, that I was also hit by the fuel pressure problem after it had showed up on Christian’s and Nicolas’ car. With a stuttering engine, I was able to save position ten. The weekend started very well, but unfortunately didn’t end with the respective outcome. Anyway I was able to drive the fastest race lap. That’s motivating for the next races”, says Sean Edwards.

For Porsche one-make-cup repatriate Sascha Maassen qualifying position 13 hadn’t been the desired result. In the race, however, the 40-year-old race driver played out his experience. Although he had to shortly drive off track at the start and needed some laps to clean his tyres, he was able to avoid all duels and collisions.

His tactics: as a tyre-saving driver catching some less-experienced with dismantling tyres. With a constant performance, the former Porsche works driver achieved position seven and profited from the technical problems of the leading group: “My qualifying didn’t bring the desired result. In the race, however, I was sure to be able to catch up. Position seven is ok, but can of course be improved.”

Team manager Jörg Michaelis comments: „It’s of course annoying that Sean was hit by the fuel pressure problem in the very last lap. His fastest race lap and his constant performance in the race, however, showed that we will be a serious competitor in this championship. Sascha played off his routine. The result overall means 15 points in the team championship. That’s ok for the first race weekend.”

tolimit general manager Hans-Bernd Kamps adds: „Sometimes you need to be lucky in racing. Today, luck wasn’t on our side. Despite of this, we are pleased that we were able to show some exciting races to the spectators, the fans and our partners – above all from Deutsche Post and Windreich AG.“