News release, September 14, 2020
Güven and Latorre share in the spoils.
Top contenders Ayhancan Güven (Martinet by Alméras) and Florian Latorre (CLRT) both triumph at the first round of the 2020 season.
The first round of the 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup France at Magny-Cours recalled 2019 when Florian Latorre (CLRT) dominated so effectively. He took both two pole positions, ahead of 2019 Rookie runner-up Marvin Klein (Martinet by Alméras) and two-time defending champion Ayhancan Güven (Martinet by Alméras). Latorre proved he is still a major contender in this 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup France season.
The 23-year-old Frenchman had left everyone in the dust in Race 1 until he incurred a 15-second penalty for a false start and fell to fifth position. The top step on the podium went to Ayhancan Güven ahead of New Zealander Jaxon Evans (BWT Lechner Racing) and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (BWT Lechner Racing). Marvin Klein was on his way to securing second place in this opening round, but a puncture to his left rear tyre one minute from the checkered flag relegated him to sixth place.
In Pro-Am, though Nicolas Misslin (BWT Lechner Racing) was seeking a third consecutive win with a third different team and had managed to score the pole, in the end Sylvain Noël (Racing Technology) made a remarkable comeback and claimed the top step on the podium ahead of Christophe Lapierre (Sébastien Loeb Racing) and Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology). Emil Caumes (CLRT), the most experienced Am driver at the start, triumphed over Maxence Maurice (IMSA Performance) and François Lansard (CLRT).
In Race 2, Latorre showed off his skills once more on this track, leading the race from start to finish, and giving CLRT its first win in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. The team was recently created by Côme Ledogar, himself a previous winner of the Cup (2014). Latorre finished ahead of Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, who at times dominated this weekend, and Marvin Klein, who was rewarded for his consistent presence at the head of the field. Jaxon Evans and Ayhancan Güven rounded out the top 5.
In Pro-Am, Sylvain Noël held the lead early in the race, but a small mistake opened the door for Nicolas Misslin. However, the latter eventually lost the win to Christophe Lapierre in the last minutes. Victory in the Am category went to Maxence Maurice ahead of Emil Caumes and Franck Leherpeur (Racing Technology).
The first races of the 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup France did not disappoint, and now competitors are looking forward to the second round of the year in preamble to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only one 45-minute race is on the programme (Saturday, 19 September at 09:15), but the drivers consider it the highlight of the season. At nearly 14 kilometers in length, this circuit is where Porsche has written some of its most beautiful motorsport chapters. There is no doubt the competitors are impatient to make the 911 GT3 Cup car’s 485 horses roar on the Mulsanne Straight and put its chassis to the test in the Porsche corners.
The race will boast 54 PCCF entrants including 29 Pro, 14 Pro-Am and 11 Am, plus competitors from the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland and Benelux. The field is so prestigious that it includes the top 9 from the 2020 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, with in order Larry ten Voorde, Dylan Pereira, Ayhancan Güven, Jaxon Evans, Florian Latorre, Max van Splunteren, Marvin Klein, Leon Köhler, and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer. And let us not forget the participation of famous actor Michael Fassbender!
Ayhancan Güven (Martinet by Alméras), Race 1 winner
“We had a difficult qualifying session, but the race went very well after that. I moved up from third to second place, my rhythm was good but not enough to challenge for first place. At that moment, I was informed the lead car had been penalized, so I made sure to manage my car and my tyres until the finish to win. It’s always nice to start the season with a victory, these are big points for the championship.”
Florian Latorre (CLRT), Race 2 winner
“It was a rather successful weekend for us, where we showed a solid level of performance and I am happy that it has ended in victory. We deserve it because we did a nearly flawless race and it really bodes well for the future. Let’s not forget that this is CLRT’s very first win in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. It’s really great to start with six cars and to show such a level of competitiveness. Few teams can boast such a result. Now I will do everything I can to win at Le Mans and take my revenge on 2017.”