News

3. Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Barcelona (ESP) Cancellation due to safety reasons

Mon, 14 May 2012 21:11:56 +0200

The 3rd round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup was cancelled. The Porsche One-Make Series Organisation came to this decision after deformations were found on some of the vehicles' rims. VELTINS Lechner Racing welcomes the decision of the Porsche AG. Strong top-10-results in one of the closest qualifying sessions of the last years. Next round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place from May 24th to 27th in Monaco.

"The decision, to cancel a race just before the start is surly one of the most difficult resolutions, one has to make in motorsports", team manager Walter Lechner jun. comments on the cancellation of the third round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup by the Porsche AG. "We all love racing, but the safety of the drivers has to stand in the foreground. We welcome the conclusion of the Porsche AG and we pay respect to the responsible people for this decision.

Until Sunday morning the world was still alright on the Circuit de Catalunya at the gates of Barcelona. For the opener of the European tour of the fastest makes cup world wide 21 of the 450 hp strong Porsche 911 GT3 Cup were ready for the start. However, during a last technical inspection in the pre-start area, rims deformations were found on some of the vehicles. "Due to the fact that the reason for this suddenly discovered damages could not be found without a proper and intensive metallurgical examination, the Cup-organisation cancelled the Barcelona round for the championship", says Walter Lechner jun. "The time management as well as the cancellation late in the pre-start phase was short-term, but it was right. We are sure, that Porsche will solve the Problem until the next round in Monaco on May, 27th.

In the free practice session as well as in the qualifying the Porsche of the two Lechner teams belonged to the top in the field. "We were not dominating the grid as we still did at the season opener at Bahrain", explained Norbert Siedler, "but we were good enough for the top-10-positions in this years highly competitive Supercup." With a gap of only 0.193 seconds on pole-sitter Christian Engelhart, the two-fold Supercup Champion René Rast clinched starting position five. "This quite close gap underlines, how close together the top group is this year and how strong our opponents are", says René Rast, who actually covers second rank in the championship behind Norbert Siedler.

Qualifying on positions eight and nine, VELTINS-Lechner-Pilots Norbert Siedler and Michael Ammermüller in the closest qualifying session of the last years lay in a time window of only half a second behind the best time. "The tenth of a second I lost in the first sector – because the tyres hadn't reached the optimum performance – couldn't be gained back in the remaining sectors of the circuit", comments former Formula 1 test driver Michael Ammermüller, who still was able to clinch best time in the free practice session at the season opener in Bahrain, on the tough competition in the Supercup. Andreas Mayerl, who joined Lechner Racing in Barcelona to participate for the remaining races of the year, qualified for nineteenth position. "Together with Porsche we are now working on the solution of the problems with the rims and then we are looking forward to the next round of the championship on May 27th, in Monaco.

At last years round in the principality at the Mediterranean Sea, René Rast fetched the pole position as well as the race win for Lechner Racing. It was the overall third Monaco victory for Lechner Racing since 2005. At this time Patrick Huisman won for the Austrian team. Furthermore the team claimed numerous podium finishes, amongst others Stephane Ortelli (2003), Alessandro Zampedri (2005) and Damien Faulkner (2008) finished second for Lechner Racing in the principality.

VELTINS with many years of experience in motor sports

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:48:29 +0200

Tradition and quality – two characteristics shared by Porsche and the brewery C. & A. VELTINS. Premium pilsener has been brewed in Meschede-Grevenstein in strict accordance with the German beer purity law since 1824. Sponsorship of Porsche motor sports is a well-known territory for the long-established brewery, as the company has been involved in sponsoring motor sports since 1997.

The brewery C. & A. VELTINS is the team sponsor of the "VELTINS-Lechner-Racing" team and is therefore represented by two vehicles in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. After winning last season's driver- and also team-championship, the new team chef Walter Lechner Jr. needs to deal with high standards. Following the leaving of defending champion René Rast, Norbert Siedler – runner-up 2011 – is ready to get off the starting blocks. This new driver combination completed by Michael Ammermüller is hungry for success. Both Porsche GT3 Cup will be externally distinguishable this season: Michael Ammermüller will fight for the victory in "VELTINS V+ Powerfruits" design and Norbert Siedler in the "VELTINS-Porsche". According to team engagement within Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the premium brand from the Sauerland presents itself as hospitality partner also within the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and the Porsche Sports Cups.

Besides motorsports, the brewery C. & A. VELTINS also supports further amateur and professional sports. Since 15 years VELTINS is partner of the German soccer club FC Schalke 04, as well as main sponsor and name giver of the VELTINS-stadium in Gelsenkirchen.

The brewery C. & A. VELTINS convinces not only in sports, it also convinces with a widespread range of products. Next to the fresh Premium Pilsener, the VELTINS Radler, VELTINS alcohol-free and VELTINS Malz are stocking up the wide variety. On top of that the traditional company from the Sauerland make sure to care for fresh, new and flavourful innovations. With "V+Powerfruits" the successful "V+" range of "V+Grapefruit", "V+Lemon", "V+Cola", "V+Energy", "V+Curuba", "V+Apple" is perfectly completed. VELTINS "Fassbrause", available in different tastes such as lemon and elder flower, is a tasty alternative to lemonades. This new alcohol-free Radler is brewed according to a new, mild recipe and can be treated equal to normal lemon and elder flower soft drinks. With just 22-23 kcal/100ml VELTINS Fassbrause is a nutritional refreshment alternative.

Furthermore, the C. & A. VELTINS brewery is also exclusive and licensed marketing- and distribution-partner of the product innovation "Bayão". With the temperamental call-up "Go Bayão!", this ready-to-drink-mix brings a frisky and crisp sense of life to Germany. After the successful market introduction of the Caipirinha-flavoured mixed drink, the Bayão-portfolio will be extended in its second year by a Cuba Libre-flavour.

Top Results 2011

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:24:10 +0100

Results 2011: Double Victory Porsche Carrera World Cup, Champion, Runner-Up and teams title with 11 podiums (5 x 1st Place, 4 x 2nd Place, 2 x 3rd Place).

Istanbul:
- 3. Norbert Siedler

Monaco:
- 1. René Rast

Worldcup Nürburgring Nordschleife:
- 1. René Rast
- 2. Norbert Siedler

Silverstone:
- 1. René Rast
- 3. Norbert Siedler

Nürburgring:
- 1. René Rast

Spa:
- 2. René Rast

Monza:
- 2. René Rast

Abu Dhabi I:
- 2. René Rast

Abu Dhabi II:
- 1. René Rast

10th and 11th Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Abu Dhabi – VELTINS Lechner Racing claims all titles

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:07:44 +0100

There is no way to do better – At the season finals of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Abu Dhabi, VELTINS Lechner Racing secures the title in the team standings as well as the title and the runner up in the driver standings of the fastest makes cup world wide. With a second rank on Saturday and his fifth season victory on Sunday, René Rast becomes Supercup Champion for the second time in a row. At the last weekend of the year Norbert Siedler managed to improve to runner-up.

It is Saturday about half past one, when the Lechner crew rejoicing throwing the arms up in the sky – finishing second, René Rast not only claimed another podium finish but with the result also saved the drivers title in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Even better, Norbert Siedler comes in on forth position and making clear, that VELTINS Lechner Racing also fetches the team title. "What shall I say? We have worked hard over the complete season and now we get paid for it", team principal Walter Lechener after the complete success at the Yas Marina Circuit shines. "Both drivers as well as all people in the team made a terrific job from the beginning until the end of the season!"

"A big load drops off my shoulders, I am simply happy now", comments a shining René Rast after his successful title defence. "It's not easy to find the right words for such a success, because this championship was even tougher than the previous one", so the old and new title holder. "The fact that we had a bad start into the season makes this effort even more worthwhile." Rast had everything under control at the season final. In the combined qualifying session he claimed second position for the starting grid on Saturday, and for the Sunday's race he fetched the pole position, claiming his first two points at this weekend. After his title-win the day before, the 25-year-old German could act from the pole position on Sunday without any tactical thoughts and crowned his weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit with his fifth season victory. "It was a final that couldn't have been better for a champion. I had a car, which was perfect from the first until the last lap", Rast praises his team. "What a terrific end of the year!"

Norbert Siedler, who with a fourth rank on Saturday scratched at the podium and with that put the foundation stone for becoming the runner-up, agreed. "My race was not bad and I almost ended up in third position, unfortunately I was lacking speed in the second sector. In the race on Sunday I will not think about the runner-up. I will fight and do what I can and than we see what it suffices for." Despite he had to fight really hard the next day, the 28-year-old kept word. "However, at first Jeroen Bleekemolen hit my car and than it was Kuba Giermaziak, who crashed into me. After that I decided to reduce the risk, taking it easy and safely finish the race", so the VELTINS-Lechner-Pilot. "I am really pleased about becoming the runner-up. A big thank you goes to VELTINS Lechner Racing and to all who gave us support for such a great season."

"If one wins championships, it is always perfect. It fills me up with pride that we could defend both titles we clinched last year, because this is even something very special for a man with such a long career than mine", team principal Walter Lechner is pleased. "After a difficult start into the season we did not only manage to make the big points like Monaco and the Nürburgring Nordschleife, in the end we have also clearly controlled the championship. I think that's a good reason to celebrate."

9th Round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Monza (ITA) Huge steps towards the Titles

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:23:30 +0200

René Rast extended his lead in the driver standings of the championship with a second rank at the ninth round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Monza. Finishing fourth, Norbert Siedler provided valuable points for VELTINS-Lechner-Racing in the team standings of the championship. In the driver standings the Austrian improved to third rank.

"I am the last one who is happy about the bad luck of other people", team principal Walter Lechner in his hour of success thinks about the opponent team tolimit, which in the title fight of the championship had to take a unfortunately set-back with the accident of it's driver Sean Edwards. "In conjunction with the flawless performance of our two drivers René Rast and Norbert Siedler, finishing on positions two and four, it helped us to gain a quite comfortable advantage on points and let us approach the two final rounds in Abu Dhabi a little more relaxed", Lechner, being the title defender in both, the driver and the team standings dares a looks to the season final.

Started from grid positions two (René Rast) and six (Norbert Siedler) both Lechner drivers delivered a strong race. René Rast right after the start of the 14 laps used the embarrassment in the first chicane to take over the race lead. Being at the top, he defended his position until a long safety-car-period. "After that I couldn't keep pace", the reigning Supercup champion draws a balance of his second rank. "Maybe we went into the race with a little too much rear wing", the fourfold season winner, who now leads the driver standings with an advantage of 17 points leaves a question mark in the room.

The so far toughest pursuer of the VELTINS-Lechner-Pilot, the Brit Sean Edwards, in the fight for the podium got in touch with Norbert Siedler. The tolimit pilot in the battle made a move to the inside, hit the Porsche of Norbert Siedler and than massively crashed in to the barriers of the Monza circuit. "The situation was triggered by the guest starter Alessandro Balzan, who had a bad exit out of a chicane", Siedler explained the incident. "Sean and I both wanted to use the chance to get pass him, and during this manoeuvre Sean touched me." The crash was really massive and made a temporary use of the safety-car necessary. However, Norbert Siedler could go on with the race and with his fourth rank - due to the fact that guest starter Balzan didn't receive championship points – collected the points for the third rank. "Despite it was a heavy crash, it was just a normal race accident, and the most important thing is that Sean wasn't hurt in it." In the driver standings of the Supercup Norbert Siedler with a gap of only two points on the second ranking driver Kuba Giermaziak improved to third position.

The next race weekend of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place as a double round for the season final on the YAS Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi from November 11th to 13th.

8th Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) Back at the top again

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:49:47 +0200

With a second rank in the eighth round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), VELTINS-LECHNER-Pilot René Rast snatched back the lead in the driver standings of the championship. Team mate Norbert Siedler with a strong performance managed a successful hunt through the field from starting position fourteen to seventh rank.

"I am really happy with the weekend, because with a perfectly setup car I could snatch back the lead in the driver standings of the Supercup today", René Rast shone, holding the fifth trophy of the current season in his hands. "I am full of respect about the forceful and courageous way in which René performed his overtaking manoeuvres", team principal Walter Lechner praises the reigning champion of the Supercup. "My compliments – one must be a really brave, determined and well skilled driver, to go so strong in the fight for the championship title."

René Rast started from fifth position into the eighth round of the current season. Within only a few laps the reigning champion managed to pass Nick Tandy, the runner-up of the last year, as well as the fourfold champion Patrick Huisman, and with that improved to second position. "And if the race would have lasted another lap, it would have even been enough to clinch the victory", the German is full of self-confidence. Within only a few laps Rast shortened the gap of about four seconds on the Poland Kuba Giermaziak to only 5/10 of a second. "Without any doubt René was the quickest driver on the track", even opponent Nick Tandy praised the Lechner-Pilot.

Norbert Siedler, driving the VELTINS-Carrera with his typical fighting spirit, managed to improve in the course of the race from starting position fourteen to seventh rank. "Norbert delivered a strong race performance today and with that provided the necessary points to extend our lead in the team standings up to nine points now", says Walter Lechner. After some problems in the qualifying, Siedler had to make his way up to the top-group from a midfield position. He passed opponent by opponent until he stuck behind the battling duo Sean Edwards and Christian Engelhart. "There was no way to pass these two drivers with a fair attack", he had to admit after the race.

The next round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place at September 11th in Monza (ITA). The final two races will be driven from November 12th to 13th in Abu Dhabi.

7th Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Budapest (HUN) Light and shade of motorsports

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:10:40 +0200

"Within 37 years in motorsports I learned to live with the light and shade and the ups and downs of racing", team Principal Walter Lechner tries to put his emotions in words after the race in Budapest. "Norbert Siedler has handed in a very strong performance toady, while René Rast was beaten by the bad luck that came over him."

Behind this factually words hides a race weekend, in which the team VELTINS Lechner Racing went through the complete spectrum of motorsports. With a gap of only 113/1000 of a second the fourfold season winner René Rast put his Lechner-Porsche into the second row of the starting grid, right behind Kévin Estre and Sean Edwards. "That's a result I can easily live with and what leaves all chances for the race open", the reigning champion made clear, that he was aiming for his fifth season victory in a row. Norbet Siedler returned rather disappointed from the hunt for the best positions in the starting grid. "The car was brilliant, the drivers performance poor", he commented self critically on the tenth position in the qualifying.

At really difficult conditions – due to drizzle the circuit was extremely slippery – both Lechner-Pilots had a brilliant start into the 14 laps of the race: Rast still in the initial lap was able to take over the lead, while Siedler in the troublesome midfield immediately improved positions. However, in the further course of the race Rast more and more had to fight with his car, and dropped back rank by rank. Four laps before the chequered flag his race was even completely over. The German had to park his Porsche with an engine problem. "That's really a disaster", was all he could say. "An advantage of fifteen points turned into a backwardness of one point. That means that after all we have to start from zero again. We still have four races to go and I want to take these victories now. To defend my title is my highest goal."

Norbert Siedler on the technically as well as drivingly high demanding race track once more proved his strong fighting spirit and on the finals stage of the race even managed to pass pole-sitter Kévin Estre from France. Finishing fourth after a poor qualifying, he could make the best of his situation and was able to defend third position in the driver standings of the championship. With a gap to the top of only nine points the Austrian is also provided with good chances in the fight for the 2011 title. "Norbert is the real winner of the weekend in Budapest. He delivered a great performance and now – as well as René – is involved in the title fight", Lechner praises his driver. "René had an unbelievable bad luck, because a blown Porsche engine in the Supercup is as seldom as ice in the desert."

Still in the paddock at Budapest both Lechner-Porsche are going to be prepared for the next operation. "We are travelling straight away to Monza to have some testing there", Lechner explains. "We want to be prepared for the final round in the Supercup as good as possible. In the four weeks brake until the next round in Spa on August 28th we will be quite busy to bring our mission 'title defence' to a successful end."

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, round 6 at the Formula 1 race on the Nürburgring/Germany

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:41:52 +0200

Stuttgart. The hero of the day in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup is René Rast. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by VELTINS Lechner Racing, the title defender from Frankfurt in Germany won the 200th race of the world's fastest international one-make series on the Nuerburgring. This marks his fourth win so far this season. In a gripping race under typical Eifel weather conditions, he relegated Poland's Kuba Giermaziak (VERVA Racing Team) to second place and further extended his championship lead.

The anniversary race of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, which has run as support to the Formula 1 worldwide since 1993, started with a worried glance at the low-hanging clouds. When the rain stopped shortly before the start, the majority of drivers opted for slicks – with Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (Team Bleekemolen) in position 12 on the grid selecting rain tyres. On the partly wet track, the Dutchman fought his way through half the field in the first lap to promptly move into first place. But his blaze of glory was short-lived: The slowly drying circuit foiled any further plans.

Sharing this fate were Britain's Nick Tandy and Frenchman Kévin Estre. The title aspirant from Konrad Motorsport and the Supercup newcomer driving for Hermes Attempto Racing had such a lively encounter in the second corner that they were thrown remorselessly to the back of the field and went home without any championship points. This was particularly bitter for Nick Tandy, who as reigning vice-champion has yet to notch up a victory this season and for whom this setback is possibly decisive in his bid for the title.

At the head of the pack René Rast and the first-time pole-sitter Kuba Giermaziak delivered a tough fight for victory right to the flag. Still, the Pole drove a cautious race to clinch his best Supercup result so far. Britain's Sean Edwards, who eventually brought home third in his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, posed no threat from behind. Trailing the Barcelona winner, Austria's Norbert Siedler (VELTINS Lechner Racing) secured fourth, but not before fending off a strong attack from Stefan Rosina. Driving for VERVA Racing, the Slovakian secured his best result to date with fifth ahead of Jeroen Bleekemolen (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit), two-time Supercup champion from the Netherlands.

Putting in their personal best Porsche Mobil1 Supercup performance to now at the anniversary race in the Eifel were William Langhorne and Mathias Lauda. The American, who races for SANITEC Aquiles MRS Racing, finished tenth with the Konrad Motorsport pilot from Austria and son of racing legend Niki Lauda in eleventh.

René Rast (winner): "That was a perfect race. The conditions were unbelievably tough. First it was totally wet, then dry again. When you're at the front it's very difficult to predict what's going to happen. You never know what to expect in the next second. It's a lot easier for the guys behind me. They can just wait to see what I do. Towards the end I slowed the pace a little to bring my victory home safely. With an eye on the championship, this was a great weekend for us."

Kuba Giermaziak (second): "Congratulations to René. He drove a strong race under the most difficult conditions. As the track dried up I was quicker, in fact I could have won today. At least we had the speed. But René is not one to make silly mistakes when he's under pressure. And I wasn't prepared to risk anything. So now we just have to keep waiting for our first win, but I'm quite sure it'll happen this season."

Sean Edwards (third): "A great race. I started from seventh on the grid and finished in third – that's not bad under such tough conditions. In the dry we simply didn't have the speed to attack."

Race result

1. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 30:00.552 minutes
2. Kuba Giermaziak (PL) VERVA Racing Team, + 1.001 seconds
3. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 5.288
4. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 8.042
5. Stefan Rosina (SK), VERVA Racing Team, + 8.628
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 9.964

Drivers' standings after 6 of 9 races*

1. René Rast (D), 105 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 90
3. Norbert Siedler A), 83
4. Nick Tandy (GB), 72
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), 70
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 68

* It has yet to be decided if and when there will be a replacement for the cancelled Formula 1 race in Bahrain with two rounds of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup.

Round 7 of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup takes place on 31 July as support to the Formula 1 race in Budapest/Hungary.

6th Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Nürburgring (GER) The Show goes on – Fourth Victory in a row

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:33:24 +0200

René Rast snatches the fourth victory in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in a row for the team VELTINS Lechner Racing. The reigning champion wins the 200th race in the history of the Supercup and with that clearly extends his lead in the championship. His team mate Norbert Siedler improves to third rank in the driver standings. Lechner still dominates the team standings of the championship.

"Being also the winner of the 200th race of the Supercup after we have already claimed the victory at the race for the Porsche Carrera World Cup makes us really happy, and we are really proud going through such a successful time", team principal Walter Lecher shone after the fourth victory of his driver René Rast. "At the moment we are moving from one to another highlight", Lechner alludes to the fact, that his team has been on the top stage of the podium already in Monaco, at the Carrera World Cup, at the classic in Silverstone and today, in the 200th race ever in the fastest makes cup of the world within a period of two month only. "In my eyes René is an almost perfect race driver who today – under most difficult conditions – again proved his outstanding talent."

Started from third position, Rast already in the initial phase found a way pass pole-setter Kuba Giermaziak and took over the lead. In the course of the 14 laps of the race, the reigning champion could keep the hard pushing Poland behind and finally won with an advantage of about a second. "It was not easy", said Rast, after he had received the winners trophy from the German actor Richy Müller. "To lead a race on such a slippery circuit is always a more difficult matter than driving behind the leader. However, Kuba (Giermaziak) never was a real danger for me today and so I backed off a little, and controlled the race until the chequered flag."

Team mate Norbert Siedler, coming from fifth position, delivered a great race as well. After a turbulent initial phase he battled one lap after another with the Slovak Stefan Rosina, who finally had to settle behind the Austrian. "Today it was a hard piece of work in which I succeeded only because of the brilliant car I had", Norbert Siedler said thank you to his team. Finishing on fourth rank, the Tyrolean now having 83 points on his account, could improve to third position in the championship. René Rast extended his lead in the driver standing up to 15 points. "Once again I could earn more points than my opponents Nick Tandy and Sean Edwards. In matters of defending the title, it looks quite good now for me", the 24-year-old appears optimistically.

"Under this really difficult conditions both drivers made the best of their race, and with that collected further valuable points for the team, as well as for the driver standings", team principal Walter Lechner explains. "I am proud on our drivers as well as on my complete team that has delivered a superb job again. If its after me we can carry on that way", Lechner is looking forward to the next round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which takes already place next weekend in Budapest (HUN).

5th Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Silverstone (GBR) Victory and championship lead in both standings

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:08:12 +0200

With his third victory in a row title defender René Rast takes over the lead in the driver standings of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. A third rank of Norbert Siedler secures the championship lead in the team standings of Europe’s fastest brands cup for VELTINS Lechner Racing.

The foundation stone of this superb result was laid already in the Qualifying: With a real dream of a lap, René Rast after the Monaco round for the second time put his VELTINS-Lechner-Porsche on the pole position. Norbert Siedler, with a gap of 0.322 second, drove the second fastest lap and with that provided a complete first row in the starting grid for the Austrian team. “I managed to do a really good lap and with the second rank of my team mate Norbert the team Lechner Racing, after the race for the Carrera World cup at the Nürburgring, covers again the complete first row of the starting grid.”

While René Rast could benefit from the pole position and immediately took over the lead in the race, Norbert Siedler had a poor start and dropped back to fourth rank. “Somehow I unfortunately lost two positions”, he admitted. However, during the twelve laps of the race the Austrian once again was able to prove his enormous fighting spirit. With a fault free drive he managed to fight down Nick Tandy as well as Kévin Estre and finally was awarded with his third podium finish of the current season.

At the top it was René Rast, who kept Nick Tandy behind, who especially in the last laps put strong pressure on the Lechner Pilot. “It was a hard piece of work, because I ruined my tyres with a flat spot from braking already at the early stage of the race”, Rast explained. “Due to this problem I had vibrations as well as braking problems during the complete race.” Lap by lap Tandy was able to get closer to Rast. However, after a mistake of the local hero the third win in a row of the German was perfect. “It paid off to fight so hard, because beside my third victory this season we also could take over the lead in the driver standings as well as in the team standings of the championship.”

Rast was able to gain a eleven points lead on Sean Edwards. Norbert Siedler, ranking fourth in the driver standings, is only five points behind the second. “What a great day”, team principal Walter Lechner appeared pleased about the continuation of the winning series that started six weeks ago with a victory in Monaco. “After our difficult start into the season we lead both, the driver standings as well as the team standings and with that we now are where we wanted to be. Today both of our drivers once again showed a great performance: The third win of René speaks as well for itself as the third podium finish in the fifth race of Norbert Siedler. I am proud about these efforts as well as about my team which made a perfect job again”, team principal Walter Lechner rejoices about the top-positions. However, these are also a big burden. “From now on we will be the team, which is hunted and we know from our experience, that this will not make our task easier. Now it will get tough, in the next races at the Nürburgring and in Budapest we will have to work even harder”, so Walter Lechner.

The next round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place on July, 24th in the context of the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.

René Rast takes the points’ lead with third straight win

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:21:51 +0200

Stuttgart. A change at the top of the points' table in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: In Silverstone, Germany's René Rast celebrated his third win in a row with his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by VELTINS Lechner Racing to snatch the points' lead in the world's fastest international one-make race series. Behind the title defender on the time-honoured circuit, local hero Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) secured second place, with Austria's Norbert Siedler (VELTINS Lechner Racing) in third.

In Silverstone of all places, René Rast made the most of the moment. After winning in Monaco and on the Nürburgring, he not only fended off his arch rival Nick Tandy, who last year secured his first victory in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on his home track. On the demanding Grand Prix circuit, he also profited from Briton Sean Edwards' unlucky weekend. Driving for the Abu Dhabi by tolimit squad, the Barcelona winner and former points' leader didn't quite find his usual speed neither in the partly wet qualifying nor in the race in dry conditions and had to settle for tenth. In the overall classification he ranks second two points ahead of Nick Tandy, who has finished four of the five races to now in second place.

While René Rast again demonstrated his skill with a lights-to-flag win, despite flat-spotting two tyres in the first lap, Kévin Estre narrowly missed out on a big surprise. The Supercup rookie from France took up the race from the second row for Hermes Attempto Racing, and salvaged his fourth place behind the leading trio with a mammoth effort after facing strong opposition from Christian Engelhart (Konrad Motorsport) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (Abu Dhabi by tolimit). This marks his best result in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup so far. Engelhart, the Istanbul winner from Germany, came fifth, with the double Supercup champion from the Netherlands yielding sixth place. Finishing behind them were Slovakia's Stefan Rosina and Poland's Kuba Giermaziak of the VERVA Racing Team in seventh and eighth respectively, with the Supercup record-winner Patrick Huisman (Team Bleekemolen) from the Netherlands finishing in ninth.

René Rast (winner): "That was a tough race. I got away well at the start and was able to pull away a little, but then Nick got faster and faster. In the first lap I flat-spotted both front tyres, and I had to really fight with the car. Luckily I could hold on to my first place to the flag. It was a fantastic weekend for our team."

Nick Tandy (second): "Obviously it would have been great to win my home race. But second place isn't bad. I caught up to René quicker than I thought after the start which just goes to show how great our car set-up was. But I was never in a position to really attack. In the last lap I tried again but went sideways a little off the circuit. And that was that. Now we'll try our luck on the Nürburgring."

Norbert Siedler (third): "My start was miserable otherwise I could have perhaps put René under pressure. But I think I can be very happy with third place in Silverstone."

Race result

1. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 25:38.805 minutes
2. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 0.691 seconds
3. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 2.415
4. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 10.928
5. Christian Engelhart (D), Konrad Motorsport, + 11.607
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 12.054

Drivers' classification after 5 of 9 races*

1. René Rast (D), 85 points
2. Sean Edwards (GB), 74
3. Nick Tandy (GB), 72
4. Norbert Siedler A), 69
5. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 58
6. Christian Engelhart (D), 53

* It has yet to be decided if and when there will be a replacement for the cancelled Formula 1 race in Bahrain with two rounds of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup.

Round 6 of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup takes place on 24th July as support to the Formula 1 race on the Nürburgring.

René Rast turns perfect lap to secure second pole position

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:17:24 +0200

Stuttgart. A gripping qualifying at the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup weekend on the storied Silverstone circuit: Putting in an immaculate lap, René Rast (Germany) clinched his second pole position of the season in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by VELTINS Lechner Racing. Over most of the session, the top contenders were only separated by thousandths of seconds with the provisional pole changing several times until the title defender snatched the pole shortly before the end, relegating his teammate Norbert Siedler (Austria) to the second grid spot by 0.322 seconds. Supercup rookie Kévin Estre from France surprised with the third quickest time at the wheel of Hermes Attempto Racing's Porsche, clinching his best qualifying result so far this season.

Local hero, Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) had to settle for fourth on his home circuit where he had celebrated his first victory in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup last year. Kuba Giermaziak (VERVA Racing Team) from Poland underlined his improving form on his 21st birthday with fifth on the grid, sharing the third row with double Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit) from the Netherlands. Christian Engelhart (Germany), winner of the season-opener at Istanbul for Konrad Motorsport, secured the seventh spot ahead of Slovakian Stefan Rosina (VERVA Racing Team). The top ten of the fiercely-contested qualifying were all within seven-tenths of a second, with Britain's James Sutton (SAS International), a guest driver from the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain claiming ninth place. Barcelona winner and points' leader Sean Edwards (Great Britain) surprisingly put his Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit-run Porsche 911 GT3 Cup only on tenth.

René Rast (pole-sitter): "To be on pole in Silverstone is a very special feeling. I'm very confident for the race as I only just ran in my second set of tyres over one lap today. I hope to be able to make up a few points in the championship and I'm especially pleased about our team effort with Norbert starting beside me."

Norbert Siedler (2nd in qualifying): "To have the first row occupied by VELTINS Lechner Racing – now that's perfect. Still, I'm not entirely satisfied. With my second set of tyres I wasn't able to realise everything that was possible today."

Kévin Estre (3rd in qualifying): "To stand so far at the front of the grid is great, especially on a famous circuit like Silverstone. I didn't get anywhere with my first set of tyres, I was far away from the top. On my second set I immediately put in my fastest lap. Of course, I'm very pleased with my third place."

Qualifying result

1. René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 2:05.621 minutes
2. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 0.322 seconds
3. Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 0.455
4. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 0.461
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), VERVA Racing Team, + 0.474
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 0.512

René Rast triumphs at greatest Porsche race in history

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:57:59 +0200

Stuttgart. It is the greatest success of his career: On the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife at the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, René Rast won the Porsche Carrera World Cup – the greatest Porsche race in history with 100 competitors from 25 countries. In a gripping duel for victory on the wet time-honoured track, the German put in a strong drive for his VELTINS Lechner Racing squad, relegating his Austrian team mate Norbert Siedler to second place with a gap of 1.9 seconds. Third place went to Germany's Lance David Arnold driving for the Motopark Oschersleben team.

The inaugural Porsche Carrera World Cup was a huge success. Drivers raved about the challenge of one of the world's most beautiful race tracks, as well as the excellent organisation of this record-breaking event and fans experienced one-make racing at its best. "I'm absolutely thrilled," said Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board at Porsche AG, who visited the Eifel race with other board members. "I've only heard positive things from the race drivers, and we're already fielding the first questions about doing it again. As far as I'm concerned I don't see why not, but we should order better weather." Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development, added: "I was particularly fascinated to see 100 of these wonderful Cup-911s competing and the incredibly exciting fight at the front. And all this under extremely difficult conditions. It was unparalleled. The images that we've sent around the world are certainly unique."

The greatest Porsche race of all time was also a logistical challenge: Tyre partner Michelin supplied 550 slicks and 550 wet tyres to the Eifel, where the world's best Porsche Cup pilots delivered an unprecedented power play. Not only the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, but also the well-supported Porsche Carrera Cups of Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and Scandinavia counted this race of records as championship rounds of their respective series and sent their stars to compete. Not surprisingly, right from the start, the competition was fierce on the 25.380 kilometre Nordschleife with the field of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup all racing with engine oil from Mobil 1. With torrential rain adding to the pilots' difficulties which only stopped after the first half of the race, pole-sitter Norbert Siedler got away well after the flying start to take the lead. But in the first lap René Rast slipped past his team mate and never looked back.

However, for the reigning champion of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, his bid for the most prestigious win of the year was not a walk in the park. On the contrary: Not only did Norbert Siedler make fierce attacks on the front-runner over the course of the race, with Siedler just 0.3 seconds shy of the leader after four of six laps. Britain's Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) also wanted to make his mark early on – but risked too much: In an attempt to snatch second place from Norbert Siedler in the Aremberg passage he braked too late, took a journey into the grass with two wheels and slid into the barriers. A similar fate befell seasoned Porsche Cup campaigner Uwe Alzen (Germany): As one of the great favourites, he lost contact to the lead in the first lap and ultimately had to give up all hopes when he came in to the pits after losing a wheel in a major off.

Pilots contesting the Category 2 with Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars from 2007 to 2009 also delivered breathtaking duels. Prevailing in the end was Timo Rumpfkeil (Motopark Oschersleben), a driver who normally stands behind the pit wall as team boss of the VERVA Racing Team in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup. Like René Rast as winner of Category 1, Rumpfkeil receives 11,000 Euro in prize money and a valuable watch from premium manufacturer Tudor.

The fight for victory continued to provide thrilling racing. Now it was Lance David Arnold who ensured that the leading duo didn't feel too secure. The German used his wealth of Nordschleife experience to negotiate the most spectacular overtaking manoeuvre of the entire race, inching past Britain's Sean Edwards to clinch third and celebrate his greatest success of the season so far. At the flag, only 3.6 seconds separated him from victory. That Norbert Siedler experienced a moment fright in the closing phase of the race was of his own doing. While hunting the leader, the Austrian suddenly found himself with two wheels off the track in the Brünnchen passage but managed to quickly stave off trouble with his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Others weren't so lucky – only 86 competitors saw the flag. Amongst those who retired were two princes: For Carl Philip Bernadotte, son of Sweden's King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, the wet Nordschleife proved to be slippery turf, as it was for Abdulaziz Al Faisal, a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family.

New Zealander Craig Baird, the world's most successful Porsche makes cup driver with 109 victories, occupied 38th place in the VIP-911 of Porsche AG. With the VIP-car fielded by Porsche Cars North America, Melanie Snow (USA), the 'world's fastest mum", did not see the flag at her first race on the Nordschleife.

René Rast (winner): "It's an indescribable feeling to have won the greatest Porsche race of all time. After the start I managed to overtake Norbert in the first lap and then tried to control the race. The key to success today was that I made not one mistake. Conditions were tough out there in the rain, particularly because I've never driven the Porsche on the Nordschleife in the wet. It was difficult to evaluate the grip level hence I was a little cautious at the start."

Norbert Siedler (second): "It's fantastic to be second at this incredible race. René was a tad quicker than me at the start and promptly overtook me. Later I was the faster one but it simply wasn't prudent to try to get past him. So I decided to bring home a safe second rather than risk coming home empty-handed."

Lance David Arnold (third): "That was the most awesome race I've ever contested. It was incredible fun driving the Cup-Porsche on the Nordschleife – in the rain. That's racing at its best! Overtaking Sean Edwards was not without risk. I almost took a trip onto the grass. But I couldn't resist giving it a go and my chance came on the Döttinger Höhe where it dips down. From eighth at the grid to third at the flag – I'm over the moon."

Overall result Porsche Carrera World Cup

René Rast (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing, 1:00:48.621 hours
Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing, + 1.9 seconds
Lance David Arnold (D), Motopark Oschersleben, + 3.6
Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 18.0
Nicolas Armindo (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 29.8
Kévin Estre (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 33.4
Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 37.0
Martin Ragginger (A), Schnabl Engineering, + 39.6
Patrick Huisman (NL), Team Bleekemolen, + 42.1
Stefan Rosina (SK), VERVA Racing Team, + 1:10.8 minutes

Result Porsche Carrera World Cup

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 11:54:07 +0200

Team boss Walter Lechner surely will keep June, 25th 2011 in his mind for ever. It is the day at which two of his drivers won the biggest Porsche makes cups race of the world. Right from the start René Rast and Norbert Siedler set the pace of a thrilling race.

4th Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Nürburgring Nordschleife Double Victory for VELTINS Lechner Racing

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:22:10 +0200

At the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring René Rast and Norbert Siedler secured a double victory for the Team VELTINS Lechner Racing. With the race win René Rast improves to second position in the driver standings of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Norbert Siedler now covers fourth rank.

"That was an unbelievable race, and best of all - we have clinched the best possible number of points this weekend", team boss Walter Lechner rejoices after the double victory at the Porsche Carrera World Cup at the Nürburgring.

Already in the qualifying the two drivers from the team VELTINS Lechner Racing dominated the session. With a lap-time of 8:35.809 minutes Norbert Siedler secured his first pole position of the current season. "That's really unbelievable. It's only the third time I am here on the Nordschleife and of all things I claim my first pole position of the season at this difficult circuit. Thanks to my team for the brilliant car I had today. My Porsche was setup perfect. Now I hope that I am able to pull away in the race right after the start", the Austrian shone. His team mate René Rast was not really satisfied. "Second place in the grid is not bad, but without running into the traffic it could have been the pole today."

At the start of the race on the 25 kilometres long Nürburgring Nordschleife the track conditions were not as good as the day before. Rain made the most difficult race track of the world even more demanding. However, it obviously were conditions, with which the Lechner team mates got along really good. "This was one of the best races I have ever had", says René Rast. Right after the start I could claim the lead and I was able to defend it until the chequered flag came out. Congratulations to my team mate Norbert Siedler, who with his second rank secured a double victory for VELTINS Lechner Racing", commented the German, who after his brilliant victory improved to second position in the driver standings of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

"At the beginning of the weekend I didn't even dare to dream about a second rank at the Nürburgring Nordschleife", Norbert Siedler was happy after the six laps of the race for the Porsche Carrera World Cup, at which about 100 vehicles were at the start. "At the end I tried to pass René, but at one attempt I came slid over the wet grass and had to let him pull away. Nevertheless, a great result for me and the complete team."

"We are really really happy and I have to give compliments to both of my drivers as well as to our racing engineer Franz Maier. A double win in such a historical race event, whit drivers from 25 nations at the start in 6 different championships means a lot to me", says team owner Walter Lechner. The perfect result reflects also in the team standings of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. VELTINS Lechner Racing improves to second rank.

The next round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place in two weeks. In the context of the FIA Formula 1 Championship the fifth round of the Supercup takes place in Silverstone, England.

3rd Round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup - Monaco Road sweeper – Rast and Lechner win Monaco

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:26:48 +0200

René Rast, driving for VELTINS Lechner Racing, wins the Supercup classic in Monaco. The German repeats his last year's success with a flawless drive through the narrow streets of Monaco. Best time in the free practice, best time in the qualifying as well as the fastest lap in the race. In the driver standings of the championship the reigning champion ranks third now.

"I am simply happy", are the first words of team principal Walter Lechner in front of the royal box in Monaco. Just some minutes ago he and his driver have received the winner's trophy. "I am full of pride, that René drives for our team and that he made sure today, that Lechner Racing with three wins is the most successful Supercup team in Monaco."

Rast fetched his second Monaco victory in a row in the style of a great champion: Started from the pole position, he draws away from his opponents already in the initial phase of the race. Until the chequered flag came out, he increased his lead on Nick Tandy up to 4.3 seconds. During the 16 laps he also drove the fastest lap of the race, what crowned his perfect race weekend in Monaco. "What can I say: Our intention was to find back to the top again – now we snatched the pole position, the race victory as well as the fastest race lap", the German shines to be back on the road of success again.

With the win of René Rast the fastest one makes cup of the world already had its third race winner in the third race. "The competition in this years championship is enormously high", Walter Lechner characterizes the grid. "To win Monaco in such a strong field is something very special. René proved today that he became a worthy Supercup champion last year. Team and driver have delivered a remarkable achievement. The team has setup an incredible good car", team principal Walter Lechner praises his crew.

The team owner also appeared to be satisfied with the second driver of VELTINS Lechner Racing, the Austrian Norbert Siedler. The Tirolean proved his huge fighting spirit and managed to improve in the close city traffic from ninth position to seventh rank. "Norbert has made his live difficult himself with a ninth rank in the Qualifying, because passing an opponent is almost impossible in the narrow streets of Monaco", so Lechner. "However, finishing seventh he has secured some important team points for us."

With the win of René Rast, Lechner Racing repeated the victory from last year's race. Altogether it was the third Monaco success since the year 2005, when Patrick Huisman fetched the victory for the Team from Austria. Additionally the team clinched numerous podium finishes in the principality. Among others Stephane Ortellie (2003), Alessandro Zampedri (2005) and Damien Faulkner (2008) finished second in Monaco and stood on the podium. With that Lechner Racing is the most successful Porsche team in Monaco.

The next round for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place in the context of the Carrera World Cup at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife from June, 23rd to 25th. "With this race, the second highlight of the year follows the Monaco round with more than hundred of the best Porsche drivers of the world", Walter Lechner is looking forward to next great task for his team.

2nd Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Barcelona (ESP) Team fetched solid points – hard work ahead

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:02:19 +0200

At the second round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup the VELTINS Lechner pilots René Rast and Norbert Siedler finished seventh and eighths. With that, the Austrian Siedler and the reigning champion Rast cover positions five and eight in the driver standings. In the team standings VELTINS Lechner Racing ranks third. Season highlight will take place already at the next weekend in Monaco.

"Our gap to the top is only twelve points; so there is nothing lost at the moment", team principal Walter Lechner once again takes a look back at the weekend in Spain. "However, we will have to work hard in the next days and weeks to close the gap to the top and to return back onto the road of success", the experienced team boss in his very special way demands from his team.

“Right from the first day on the weekend in Barcelona developed into the wrong direction.” With that Lechner alludes to the fact that last years Barcelona winner Norbert Siedler because of disregarding the yellow flags in the free practice session received a three place grid penalty for the race and with that had to start from seventh position. “With sixth rank I am not satisfied either”, says team mate René Rast. The reigning champion struggled finding the right setup with the new tyres as well as with an opponent in the qualifying. “At the end of my fast lap I closed up to a slower car and had to overtake it. That cost me some valuable time”, says Rast.

In the 14 laps of the race Rast and Siedler were involved in some tough battles in the top of the midfield. “Due to the really high competitiveness in the Porsche Supercup one easily looses the connection to the top during these fights, especially when the top is not under pressure”, the two professionals explain their situation in Barcelona. Particularly Norbert Siedler was strongly demanded. The Austrian had to keep the winner of the season opener in Istanbul, Christian Engelhart, behind himself. At that task the Lechner Pilot successfully defended numerous attacks and proved once more that he belongs to the best drivers in the field. “I could improve two positions right after the start, but than I suffered with a strongly understeering car and couldn’t not make any further improvement.” René Rast had to deal with similar problems. “We fetched some valuable points, but after all it was a disappointing weekend for me”, commented the four-fold winner of the last years Supercup season. “Right after the start I stuck between two opponents and with that the top could drag away.”

The 24-year-old René Rast places great hopes on the season highlight of the championship that takes place already next weekend in Monaco. Last year, the German was not only fastest in the free practice and the qualifying, but also took the race victory in Monaco. “In the principality we want to find back to our old strength”, he appears optimistic. “I hope that we don’t have to fight with tyre and setup problems of the car in Monaco”, team mate Siedler agrees.

The 3rd round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is delivered in Monaco from May 26th to 29th. Eurosport and Sky will provide a live coverage of the prestigious race.

1st Round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Istanbul (TUR) Podium finish in Turkey

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:08:11 +0200

Driving for VELTINS Lechner Racing, Norbert Siedler with a third rank fetched the first Podium finish at the season opener. The reigning Champion René Rast covers fifth position in the first race of the 2011 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. With the two good results, the team of the Austrian Walter Lechner ranks second in the team standings of the championship.

"All in all I am really satisfied", Walter Lechner, team manager of the last years champions team draws up a balance of the season opener of the fastest makes cup in Europe. "Our new entry Norbert Siedler had a splendid first race for the team and René Rast, after a not optimal qualifying, had some remarkable fights in the race and finally managed to finish in the TOP-5."

In the qualifying, the two Lechner-Porsche covered positions three and six in the field of the 21 sports cars. Until five minutes before the end of the session, the Austrian Norbert Siedler even held the best time. "I had my first pole position in the Supercup so to speak right before my eyes, but unfortunately in the last minutes two opponents still managed to beat my time by 18/100 of a second", Norbert Siedler comments on the close competition in the field of the 450 hp strong Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. "I don't know how to make the right use of the new tyres yet. We have to make progress with that matter", says René Rast, the reigning champion and fourfold race winner of last years season, about his gap of 0.5 second on the best time.

Coming from third position in the starting grid, Norbert Siedler delivered a strong performance during the 14 laps of the race. After a good start he defended his third rank throughout the complete distance, only at halftime he felt some pressure, but remained on his position. "I run into strong over-steer and so I had no chance to keep the pressure up on the two leading drivers", says Siedler. "However, third rank in the first race of the season is a result I can easily live with."
One of the pursuers of Norbert Siedler was also his team mate René Rast, who with a perfect start could improve forward to fourth position. In a thrilling battle with the Brit Sean Edwards and the Netherlander Jeroen Bleekemolen, the reigning champion of the Supercup only in the last laps struggled and had to let draw Edwards past. "I made a small mistake at the end of the start and finish straight and so Edwards managed to make a move on me", explains Rast. The Champion finally saw the chequered flag fifth.

"The performances of the team and our drivers was quite good, but we will have to cover the topic with the new tyres still a little more", team manager Walter Lecher declares one of the future tasks of his crew. "The change at the tyres from Michelin, which comes to use in the 2011 Supercup, as well as the rubber of the Formula 1 behaves completely different than it still did in last years season. That leads to a different driving behaviour of the Cup-Porsche. In such a competitive series like the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this is a decisive point on which we now will have an eye on in additional tests."

The next round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place in Barcelona (ESP) from May, 20th to 22nd. Last year, Norbert Siedler fetched his first Supercup victory there.

Salman crowned at glittering awards event

Sat, 07 May 2011 00:24:16 +0200

Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa was officially crowned the new champion of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at a glittering end of season prize giving ceremony in Dubai.

Abu Dhabi's Musaed Al Murar collected his trophy as the leading rookie in the 12-round Porsche one-make series which reached its climax at Dubai Autodrome.

And he joined forces with Tomlit Arabia team-mate Khaled Al Qubaisi to take the honours in the team championship.

Germany's Johannes Waimer, winner of the Mobil 1 Trophy for drivers over 45, was also among the drivers who collected their trophies during the prize giving evening at the headquarters of Porsche Middle East and Africa.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal may have lost his drivers title, but he was still a multiple trophy winner on the night.

Prince Abdulaziz, who collected his prize as runner up to Sheikh Salman, was also recognised for recording the most pole positions and the biggest number of fastest laps in the 12-round Porsche one-make series.
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Plans are now already being formulated to expand the championship ready for the start of the third season in November.

35 years of motorsport experience

Sun, 08 May 2011 17:32:37 +0200

With the start of the 2011 Supercup season, Walter Lechner looks back on 35 years in active motorsports. The Austrian has spent more than half of his life with racing.

If T-shirts are too short – the long VIP list

"On occasion of our 35th anniversary we wanted to produce a T-shirt for the Walter Lechner Racing School with all the names of the famous pilots who drove for our team or who made their first steps with us and learned their job", Walter Lechner let half of his motorsportive live pass by again. "However, we had to cancel the production for the time being." The reason for the decision appears quite humorous: "We ran out of place – already after the letter B the T-Shirt was too short", Lechner grins. It would have been more reasonable too produce a down to the floor long winter coat to have space enough for all the names like Schlesser, Wurz, Klien, Bartles, Berger, Formula 1 Team manager Franz Tost, Arno Zenzen or Stefan Bellof.

One of a kind - Stefan Bellof

"Stefan was the race driver who has impressed me most in all those years", Walter Lechner joyfully but also wistfully remembers the exceptional sportsman who died at the 1000 Kilometre race in Spa on September 1st in 1985. "If a young driver comes towards you, you know already after seconds, whether the chemistry is good or not." Between Lechner and Bellof it was good. "At the Harald Ertl Motorshow Geo Bellof came to me." The older of the two Bellof brothers had an appeal to the boss. "I wonder if you can give the kid a drive?" Lechner gave him a Formula Ford cockpit at Hockenheim and the young gun was thankful in his very special way. "Stefan with an unbelievable performance outclassed the rest of the field, and he did it with great joy and his very special waggishness", so Lechner. Stefan Bellof drove two years for Lechner Racing.

Here drives the boss

"If I could turn back time, I would have started with racing earlier", Walter Lechner refers to one of only a few points in his life, he perhaps would have done differently if he gets another chance. "I was already 26 years old when I started with racing and Lauda had already clinched his first Formula 1 championship, although we are both the same age. Nevertheless, Walter Lechner rages successfully through the world of the racing. He and his team claimed 19 Formula 3 titles and became German and European champion in the Formula Super Vau. "I thought it would go on like this for the rest of my life, but then I lost my sponsor and suddenly I was bankrupt", Lechner experienced the other side of racing but he learned his lesson. "I realized how important the economic side, and particularly marketing is in motorsports." He builds up his quite personal network. "Today I am proud when Dr. Wolfgang Porsche comes to me to shake hands at a Supercup race", he says. "It is the pride and the mutual respect for the life achievement which comes to the expression in such situations."

With 1.000 hp - Lechner's time in the Group C

"It was a fascinating crazy but also dangerous time", Lechner thinks back to his rides on the 1.000 hp cannon balls of the Group C time. "I am pleased with my years in this class but I am also happy to be still alive and still having both legs", Lechner takes it to the point in its typical way. "At that time we had to bury two colleagues each year." Running a small private team as a kind of "one man show" Lechner enjoyed annoying the big ones in the business. "I drove against Walter Brun or against the Joest Team and they realized soon, that it is better instead racing against Lechner to race with him", he still today laughs about the fact that the big teams often obligated him to be the third man in their team. In the Interseries he claimed more than a handful titles.

Touring cars in the end

"Austrians are not really known for having a good touring car championship", Lechner jokes about the motorsport activities in the Alpine Republic. "However, for two years we had a quite good show with terrific cars and good drivers." Behind the steering wheel of a Ford Sierra Cosworth RS 500 he fought against pilots like the upcoming Claudia Hürtgen or his compatriot Dieter Quester. Then he quit driving and changed the sides – From now on Lechner is only a team manager. He clinches titles in the Formula Renault and the Formula VW.

Boss in his own Porsche team

In 2003 he knocks at the Porsche door. His first cup season comes to an end with third rank in the Supercup. In 2005 he clinches the title for the first time. Alessandro Zampedri fetches the drivers title and together with Patrick Huisman the Lechner Racing School becomes team champion. Some years and ten race victories later the champions' trophy collection added up for five more titles. "You may never fade with your efforts, you always have to fight hard to make progress and have success", Lechner explains his personal strategy in motorsports. He continuously extends his business fields and since two years he is the organisation boss of the GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. "With drivers from this championship Lechner Racing also wants to go on in international racing. "In 2011 we want to participate in different long distance races. We are discussing the GTE Class (former GT2), and also Le Mans is one of our topics." The Lechner troop can't complain about a lack of work; Full employment prevails, vacation forms are traded like little gold nuggets. "Right after the Supercup season the Middle East championship started for us, and when it is over, it all begins again with the Supercup in Bahrain." Walter Lechner wants to defend the championship with René Rast. There are still some titles to win and beside that there are just 35 years gone since Walter Lechner started his career.