Porsche settles into the leading group after good start

The Porsche customer teams have started successfully into the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The nine-eleven (#911) fielded by Manthey-Racing with Kévin Estre (France), Michael Christensen (Denmark), Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) had taken up the race from position three and have now settled in amongst the leading pack.

The No. 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R campaigned by Frikadelli Racing initially dropped out of the top ten. However, the crew consisting of Matt Campbell (Australia), Mathieu Jaminet (France), Romain Dumas (France) and Sven Müller (Germany) put in fast lap times to rejoin the top group.

Bad luck plagued last year’s winners Patrick Pilet, Frédéric Makowiecki (both France), Richard Lietz (Austria) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain). While leading, their 500+hp Manthey-Racing nine-eleven with the starting number 1 lost 4:30 minutes due to a puncture. They are now battling their way back up through the field.

Manthey-Racing’s third Porsche 911 GT3 R (#12) driven by Matteo Cairoli (Italy), Dennis Olsen (Norway), Otto Klohs and Lars Kern (both Germany) has survived the initial phase well and is chasing down the top ten group. The nine-elevens fielded by Iron Force by Ring Police (#8), Falken Motorsports (#44) and Frikadelli Racing (#30) continue their charge through the field and, like all Porsche customer teams, are heading into the long night at the Nürburgring well prepared.