News release, September 19, 2020
The scene of the second round of the 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup France season, the run-up race to 24 Hours of Le Mans, lived up to its reputation with plenty of action and excitement!
Despite being delayed from June to September due to the pandemic, the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans lost none of its unpredictability! After yesterday’s practice session, which saw Florian Latorre (CLRT) take the pole as he did in 2017, the 52 competitors hit a wet track for the only race of this second round of the 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup France, which also counted for the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.
The weather caused grip and visibility conditions and put drivers to the test as they took on the most famous race of the season! Seventeen-year-old Loek Hartog (Bas Koeten Racing), from the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, had the best start along with recent Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup winner Larry ten Voorde (Nebulus Racing by Huber). Ayhancan Güven (Martinet by Alméras), fourth on the starting grid, nabbed the lead from Florian Latorre in the third lap.
Whereas the battle for victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup Le Mans was limited to a three-way fight between Hartog, ten Voorde and Leon Köhler (T3/HRT Motorsport), the battle for supremacy in the Porsche Carrera Cup France saw Latorre lose ground little by little. On the other hand, Güven held his position expertly, even fighting for an overall podium despite the efforts of Jaxon Evans (BWT Lechner Racing) before the latter was spurned by an opponent. Marvin Klein, Güven’s Martinet by Alméras teammate who started from 10th position, also threatened, even taking the lead in the Mulsanne Straight in the last lap. In the end, Güven scored his second win of the season after Magny-Cours, improving his chances in the championship.
After the checkered flag, Klein received a five-second penalty for a crash earlier in the race, giving remarkable Adam Eteki (CLRT) in fifth a second place finish in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. The 2019 Junior Porsche Carrera Cup France, held at one of the most demanding circuits in the world, saw Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (BWT Lechner Racing) accompany him on the podium, after a very successful weekend (ninth in qualifying). A result that allowed the 19-year-old Frenchman to become the runner-up to Güven in the provisional national classification. Klein and American driver Jaden Conwright (Dinamic Motorsport) trailed in fourth and fifth places, respectively. Twelfth under the checkered flag, Latorre was forced to settle for sixth place ahead of Richard Wagner (BWT Lechner Racing) and 2020 Junior Porsche Carrera Cup France winner Victor Weyrich (Pierre Martinet by Alméras) adding a respectable 16th place finish to his Rookie category win against Evan Spenle (Sébastien Loeb Racing).
In Pro-Am, Sylvain Noël (Racing Technology), who made an impressive comeback last week in Magny-Cours, could do no wrong on a track that had already seen him take the overall win in 2010. Nicolas Misslin (BWT Lechner Racing), his runner-up on the starting grid, was forced to return to pit lane after a tyre puncture so the category podium was rounded out by Christophe Lapierre (Sébastien Loeb Racing) and Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology). In Am, pole-sitter François Lansard (CLRT) triumphed ahead of Franck Leherpeur (Racing Technology) and Tugdual Rabreau (CLRT). Special mention goes to Maxence Maurice (IMSA Performance) who had an excellent showing before getting hit by another driver.
After this undeniable highlight of the season, the drivers now have a few days to recover before competing at the three races of the third round at Paul Ricard (2-4 October) within the framework of the French Circuits Championship.
Ayhancan Güven (Martinet by Alméras), Winner Porsche Carrera Cup France: “It is always a special feeling to race on this 24 Hours track, in the run-up to such an event. It was my second participation in Le Mans after 2017, the first time I drove here in the rain and I really enjoyed racing in these conditions. I am all the happier because the result allows me to take the lead in the championship before the triple meeting at Paul Ricard where we will pass the mid-season mark.”