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PCCF |

The Porsche Carrera Cup Le Mans the highlight of a dream 2023 calendar

Press release, October 27, 2022

With six events and eleven races, the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup France calendar once again skillfully balances prestigious European destinations and renowned French circuits. The most famous among them will host the Porsche Carrera Cup Le Mans as the opening race to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-11 June).

In the landscape of French motorsport, the Porsche Carrera Cup France never disappoints, succeeding season after season in offering an increasingly attractive programme. Next year is no exception with the traditional preseason tests at Magny-Cours (04/04), then the official season-opener at Barcelona (21-23/04) with two ELMS races, before returning to France (05-07/05) for a FFSA GT4 Championship weekend.

Followed by the most anticipated moment of the season, the Porsche Carrera Cup Le Mans, to be held in the form of a single round as a preamble to the iconic 24-hour race! The centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-11 June) promises to be historic in more ways than one. It will indeed mark the 100th anniversary of the race, but will also signal the return of Porsche to the head class with its LMDh prototype developed by Porsche Penske Motorsport.

To honour the occasion, the Porsche Carrera Cup France has partnered with the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia to offer its drivers one of the finest playing fields in the world. The last running of this exciting round was held in September 2020 on a wet track after which Larry ten Voorde (Nebulus Racing by Huber) came out on top in the field of 52 starters.

At nearly 14 km in length, Le Mans is one of the most legendary circuits in existence, and also where Porsche has written some of the most outstanding pages in its sporting history. As a worthy successor to the 911 RSR that won LMGTE Pro class at the 2022 24 Hours, there is no doubt the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992 will be in its element on the Mulsanne Straight and in the Porsche Curves.

The second half of the 2023 season is certain to prove just as thrilling, with competitors hitting the track at the Red Bull Ring (08-10/09) in Austria, then heading to the Monza circuit (22-24/09) known as the Italian temple of speed, both for the GT Open. The Porsche Carrera Cup France typically comes down to the wire, so the two traditional finale races at the Paul Ricard circuit (06-08/10) will provide yet another electrifying close to an exceptional season.

Marc Meurer, CEO Porsche France: “The 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup France is once again shaping up to be an excellent season of racing. The calendar is designed to allow our drivers to demonstrate their talent all while thoroughly relishing being at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992. The Porsche Carrera Cup Le Mans just before the centenary running of the 24 Hours, coinciding with Porsche’s return to the head class, will certainly be one of the great highlights of the season. We are delighted to co-organise this event with the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia since we share the same ambition: to bring motorsport to life for our drivers and the spectators in pure Porsche tradition, through professionalism, sportsmanship and enjoyment.”

PCCF |

Klein crowned for the second time in a row

Press release, October 16, 2022

Arriving with five victories each in Le Castellet for the final meeting of the Porsche Carrera Cup France season, Marvin Klein and Dorian Boccolacci reserved a breathtaking finale. With two more victories in the Var, Marvin Klein has won his second consecutive title at the age of 23.

If it is never easy to win a first title, confirming it is often even more complicated. This is however the superb performance achieved by Marvin Klein at the end of the last meeting of the Porsche Carrera Cup France 2022 held on the Paul Ricard circuit. Having arrived in the lead in the Var, just fourteen points ahead of Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras), his great rival of the last two seasons, the CLRT driver reaffirmed his intention to achieve the pass of two by winning the pole positions in each of the two confrontations.

But Boccolacci remained in ambush, finishing each qualifying session as runner-up. It was undoubtedly on Saturday, during the first race of the weekend, held after dark, that Marvin Klein struck the biggest blow. Indeed, he signed an uncontested victory in front of Boccolacci and Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras) to present himself at the start of the last race of the season, with a lead of twenty-two units.

Unless Klein had a surprise counter-performance, it was going to be a difficult mission for Boccolacci in race 2. However, he once again showed his characteristic panache, taking the lead at the end of the race thanks to an excellent start. But he eventually succumbed to the repeated attacks of Klein, who took his seventh victory of the season and thus his second consecutive Porsche Carrera Cup France title. Boccolacci, once again second, actively contributed to the victory of Martinet by Alméras in the Teams category. Third in this last race, Bastian Buus (Allied Racing) failed by 2 units to beat Ghiretti, who was forced to retire, for the third position in the final general classification of the 2022 Cup.

Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology) and Sébastien Dussolliet (ABM) were also among the winners of the year, in Pro-Am and Am respectively. They arrived at Le Castellet with eight wins each from ten rounds, and confirmed their status as leaders by taking the respective pole positions in their categories for each of the two contests on the programme. Dussolliet achieved a faultless performance, with two new victories, and a title confirmed on Saturday evening. Boullery was also crowned at the end of the first day of racing, thanks to a second position behind Sylvain Noël (Racing Technology), and he finished on Sunday in style by climbing for the ninth time this year on the highest step of the Pro-Am podium.

The Porsche Carrera Cup France was once again a thrilling event, fought out to its conclusion, offering its drivers an exciting field of expression and the same kind of sensations.

PCCF|

Boccolacci and Klein trade equal blows!

Press release, September 19, 2022

The Porsche Carrera Cup France made its first ever trip to the Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo racetrack as part of the GT World Challenge. Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras) took honours in race one before Marvin Klein (CLRT) hit back in the rain in Sunday’s race. Better placed on the starting grid for Race 1, Dorian Boccolacci was the fastest out of the blocks. He grabbed the early lead and went on to dominate the race, never seriously troubled by his rivals. After running wide onto the gravel, Marvin Klein managed to find sufficient pace in the second half of the race to fight back and finish as runner-up. Bastian Buus (Allied Racing) took the final podium spot. Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology) produced a solid performance in the Pro-Am class to take first place whilst the ABM team dominated the AM class as Sébastien Dussolliet led home a one-two-three, followed by Sébastien Poisson and Karim Ajlani. Conditions were different on Sunday for Race 2 with rain falling from the opening stages. Marvin Klein made the most of his pole position to get off to the best start, before diving into the pits quickly to fit wet weather tyres. This aggressive strategy enabled him to take the lead and then hold onto it until the end of the race. His fifth win of the season ensured Klein remains top of the Cup standings. Dorian Boccolacci managed to grab second place ahead of Vincent Andronaco (Allied Racing). Jérôme Boullery took advantage of mistakes by Sylvain Noël and Clément Mateu to claim his second win of the weekend in the Pro-Am class, whilst ABM outshone their rivals once again in the AM category, as Sébastien Dussolliet took top honours and Sébastien Poisson and Karim Ajlani completed the podium.

PCCF |

Boccolacci throws the Cup back wide open!

Press release, June 19, 2022

At round four of the 2022 Porsche Carrera Cup France held in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras) was expected – and perhaps needed – to bounce back, coming into the weekend trailing defending champion and in-form Marvin Klein (CLRT) by forty-three points after the last meeting at Magny-Cours. On this unusual track, with its banked corners, Boccolacci was in unbeatable form, grabbing pole position for both races before converting his starting grid advantage into two race wins. Meanwhile, Klein had to settle for second place in race 2 as his best result, allowing his rival to close the gap in the standings to just 14 points. Boccolacci produced a perfect performance in the opening race, leading from start to finish, despite constant pressure from his team-mate Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras). Whilst fighting with Simone Iaquinta (Dinamic Motorsport) for third place, Klein’s race was ruined when the two clashed. The closing stages of the race were also eventful in the Pro-Am class as an error by Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology) allowed his team manager Sylvain Noël (Racing Technology) to take advantage, whilst Sébastien Dussolliet returned to winning ways after a poor weekend at Magny-Cours, taking his fifth victory of 2022. A dramatic start to the second race saw Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras) retire with a mechanical issue, whilst Boccolacci was in a class of his own, claiming a commanding lights-to-flag win. Marvin Klein (CLRT) finished as runner-up, a place somewhat more in keeping with his ambitions, whilst Iaquinta (Dinamic Motorsport) took the final podium spot once again. Jérôme Boullery and Sébastien Dussolliet confirmed their status as favourites in their categories, each claiming a sixth class win in Pro-Am and Am respectively. The Porsche Carrera Cup France now takes a break for the summer, returning to action in Valencia on 16-18 September.

PCCF |

Klein in total control

Press release, May 15, 2022

A week after Spa-Francorchamps, the Porsche Carrera Cup France headed to Magny-Cours for round three of the series, held as part of the Championnat de France FFSA des Circuits. Marvin Klein (CLRT) produced a flawless performance in central France, claiming two pole positions and two race wins to take maximum points from the weekend and extend his championship lead. A crash in race one cut short the racing action to a ten-minute sprint. Klein managed the restart perfectly, holding off the attentions of Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras) to collect his third win of the season. Danish driver Bastian Buus (Allied Racing) took the final podium spot. Meanwhile, Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology) bagged his fifth consecutive win in the Pro-Am class, while Stéphane Louard (ABM) finished ahead of Patrick Charlay (TFT Racing) in the Am class. In Saturday’s race, Marvin Klein (CLRT) executed his plan perfectly as he dominated the race from start to finish, once again collecting a bonus point for the fastest race lap. Forced to score heavily after finishing fourth in race one, Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras) pushed hard to try and get past the leader but to no avail. He finished runner-up ahead of Bastian Buus (Allied Racing) and remains in touch with Klein in the Cup standings. Clément Mateu (CLRT) took advantage of the close battle between team-mates Sylvain Noël (Racing Technology) and Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology) to grab victory in the Pro-Am class. Finally, Sébastien Poisson confirmed the domination of ABM in the Am class as he grabbed the team’s second win of the weekend, finishing ahead of Stéphane Louard and Patrick Charlay (TFT Racing). The Porsche Carrera Cup France now takes a four-week mid-season break. Action resumes on 18-19 June – again as part of the GT World Challenge Europe – at the demanding Zandvoort race track, where the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992 generation) drivers are sure to enjoy a special thrill taking on the iconic Tarzan corner, famous for its overtaking moves.