Porsche Mobil1 Supercup round 8 at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Jeroen Bleekemolen eager for first win of season
Stuttgart. The Porsche Mobil1 Supercup enters the final phase of the season with the Hungaroring race on 1 August. Just one week after the meeting on the Hockenheimring, the teams bring their 911 GT3 Cup racers to the challenging circuit on the outskirts of Budapest, where the Iron Curtain opened for Formula 1 in 1986. In Hungary, title defender Jeroen Bleekemolen from the Netherlands rejoins the action of the world’s fastest international brand trophy series.
Nicholas Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport
The Al Faisal Lechner Racing pilot and double Supercup champion missed the rounds in Silverstone and Hockenheim due to his commitments in the American Le Mans Series, where he has already won two races this year with his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. In the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, however, he is still waiting for his first victory. “I’m pleased to back racing in Budapest,” says Jeroen Bleekemolen, who claimed third there last year and so far this season has notched up three podium results in Bahrain, Barcelona and Valencia. “I’d probably not be able to rejoin the title fight if everything goes normally, but I’d very much like to win a race. Why not on the Hungaroring?”
Two drivers are particularly motivated to make sure this does not happen: René Rast and Nicholas Tandy are keen to keep the fight for the 2010 title amongst themselves. So far this season the pair have delivered a gripping duel. After René Rast (Germany) brought home four wins for his Al Faisal Lechner Racing squad, the Konrad Motorsport Supercup rookie Nicholas Tandy (Great Britain) struck back with his first victory at Silverstone in front of a huge home crowd. But when the two yielded zero points last weekend at the Hockenheimring after their clash, the top of the points’ table is no longer the sole domain of the two. Joining them as a title aspirant is Slovakia’s Stefan Rosina, who profited from the pair’s skirmish and moved past Jeroen Bleekemolen up the points’ ladder to now rank third – just one point in arrears of Nicholas Tandy. For the remaining three rounds in Budapest, Spa and Monza, this is a sure guarantee for thrilling racing.
On paper, René Rast holds all trump cards in his hand for the Hungaroring race. Last year, he was in a class of his own on the 4.378 kilometre Grand Prix circuit, not only securing victory, but also pole position and the fastest race lap. No wonder that he says: “This track suits me. I feel great there.”
The race in Budapest on 1 August is broadcast live by television stations Eurosport 2 (11.45 hours) and Sky Sport 2 (11.40 hours). Additionally, Eurosport televises highlights on Sunday evening in its “Motorsports Weekend” programme.
Drivers’ classification after 7 of 10 races
1. René Rast (D), 106 points
2. Nicholas Tandy (GB), 90
3. Stefan Rosina (SK), 89
4. Norbert Siedler (A), 80
5. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 74
6. Jaap van Lagen (NL), 68
BBS Rookie classification after 7 of 10 races
1. Nicholas Tandy (GB), 90 points
Team classification after 7 of 10 races
1. Al Faisal Lechner Racing, 196 points
2. Konrad Motorsport, 151
3. VELTINS MRS Racing, 140
Source: © 2010 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
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