Dennis Olsen driving the #4 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup during the Porsche Supercup race at Spa-Francorchamps, 27 August 2017
As the season approaches its latter stages, the duel for the crown of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup has come to a head. Porsche Junior Dennis Olsen (N/Walter Lechner Racing Team) won round seven and eight at Spa-Francorchamps/Belgium in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. On Saturday, 26 August 2017, he beat Mattia Drudi (I/Dinamic Motorsport) and Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner MSG Racing Team) to the finish, and on Sunday he beat Ammermüller and Dylan Pereira (L/Lechner Racing Middle East) to the top step of the podium. “Now only eight points separate me and Michael in the championship and we still have three races left on the calendar, with a total of 60 points still to be won. That’ll be really exciting for everyone. I’m feeling strong and I’ll attack,” said Olsen after the weekend’s racing.
Michael Ammermüller negotiates Eau Rouge in the #1 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup during the Porsche Supercup race at Spa-Francorchamps, 27 August 2017
Olsen took off from pole position just before the Formula 1 race on Sunday witnessed by spectators in the packed grandstands. The 21-year-old Norwegian immediately settled in at the front of the field. Two safety car phases eroded the gap that Olsen had built, however, the Porsche Junior held tight to his lead until the finish. In the meantime, spectacular overtaking manoeuvres behind him pitched Ammermüller from third to second place on lap ten. “After a collision between two cars, radiator fluid was left on the track and the safety car had to be deployed. When the race went green again, Nick Yelloly slid slightly wide which left the door open for me to get past. That allowed me to earn 18 points for second place and I think ultimately every point could be decisive in the championship,” explained Ammermüller.
Nick Yelloly in the #22 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup leads a pack of cars during the Porsche Supercup race at Spa-Francorchamps, 27 August 2017
Pereira also profited from Yelloly’s off and he was rewarded with a podium spot shortly before the end. This marks the third podium result for the Luxemburg racer so far this season: “I managed to slip through and I’m thrilled. We’re competing in Monza this coming weekend. I had a great test there and it’d be fantastic if I could be amongst the top three again.” The Spa trophies were awarded by Uwe Brettel, Head of Sales at Porsche Motorsport, and Max Welti the former motorsport boss at Porsche, and one of the founders of the Porsche Supercup in the year 1993.
Mattia Drudi in the #28 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup leads a pack of cars during the Porsche Supercup race at Spa-Francorchamps, 27 August 2017
Britain’s Nick Yelloly (MOMO-Megatron Team Partrax), who contested his first Supercup race weekend this year, crossed the line in fourth place. Fifth place went to Porsche Junior Matt Campbell (AUS/Fach Auto Tech) which earned him important points towards the championship: “We’ve all edged closer in the points and I’m pleased about that. I started the race from ninth and finished in fifth place. The two safety car phases were good for me, because I was able to make up positions each time. The competition in the Supercup is incredibly tough and it’s very difficult to overtake.” Steven Palette (F/Martinet by Almeras) crossed the finish line in sixth place. The trophy for the best B-class driver went to Mark Radcliffe (GB/IDL Racing). The internationality of the series at the Spa round was reflected in the fact that nine different nationalities were represented in the top ten drivers.
Matt Campbell in the #7 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (left) and Josh Webster in the #5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (right) go head-to-head during the Porsche Supercup race at Spa-Francorchamps, 27 August 2017
In the championship, Olsen has closed the gap to Ammermüller, making the situation gripping with three races left. Ammermüller ranks first with 150 points, while Olsen sits just eight points behind him (142). Daniel Cammish (GB/Lechner MSG Racing Team) has 100 points to his credit and is only nine points ahead of Campbell. In fifth, Robert Lukas (PL/Olimp Racing) lies within striking distance with 85 points. The competition is also proving tough in the B-category: Due to the collision-related retirement of Egidio Perfetti (NL/MOMO-Megatron Team Partrax) and Roar Lindland (N/MRS Cup-Racing), Roland Bervillé (F/Martinet by Almeras) now holds the lead of the amateur classification. In the Nations League, Germany leads with 150 points ahead of Norway in second (142).
Standing proudly with their trophies after the Porsche Supercup at Spa-Francorchamps on 27 August 2017: (from L-R) Michael Ammermüller, Dennis Olsen and Dylan Pereira
Next up on the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup calendar is round nine on the high-speed circuit of Monza (Italy) from 1 to 3 September.
