Porsche Cup: With presence of mind to victory

FAST AND WELL REACTED Only in the endurance race for the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse at Mugello did one of the three young development drivers prevail. Gregor Burkard won the sprint in a turbulent final phase. Those beaten in the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse at Mugello were just as surprised by the unexpected outcome of the GT3 Cup sprint race as the happy [...]

Editorial - September 29, 2020

19 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup started in Mugello for the sprint race. None of the three juniors seen at the front was first at the end (Deckbar Photography).

At the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse in Mugello, those beaten were just as surprised by the unexpected outcome of the GT3 Cup sprint race as the happy winner. Gregor Burkard benefited from a confusing situation at the end of a caution period on the final lap and crossed the finish line in first place.

Fach buries early title hopes
Antonio Teixeira initially had to give way to Dominik Fischli from pole position. Both, like championship leader Alexander Fach, are sponsored by the Association of Swiss Porsche Clubs and Porsche Schweiz AG.

In the second of 13 laps, the reigning runner-up put the order right again. Behind the two, Gregor Burkard lurked for his chance but had to defend himself against a furiously attacking Fach. When the third Junior driver slid off the track with his 911 GT3 Cup towards the halfway point of the race, his chances of deciding the title early were ruined.

Alexander Fach's Porsche from the family-owned team had to be freed from the gravel bed. During this caution period, Burkhard found his way back to the front.

Yellow or not yellow?
Burkard took advantage of the resulting safety car phase to close the gap to the top two. A short time later, he passed Fischli to move up to second place.

When double yellow flags were waved on the last lap because of another incident, events came to a head.

At the end of the tempo-limited danger zone, Teixeira could no longer accelerate. Fischli took advantage of the irritation and took the lead. A little later, however, he feared he had accidentally overtaken under yellow and made way for Burkard again.

At that point, it still smelled like a victory for Antonio Texeira, who led the field behind the safety car ahead of Gregor Burkard, Dominik Fischli, Peter Hegglin, who retired shortly before the end and caused a double yellow, Andrea Corradina and Jose Texeira.

Luck at the decisive moment
The way in which this came to victory surprised him himself.

Gregor Burkard: "That was turbulent. I hadn't expected this success at all. In the midst of the junior drivers, I was in the best of company and had to fend off Alexander Fach's overtaking attempts again and again in the beginning. The last lap was a bit chaotic. I was lucky to emerge victorious."

Second place went to Jose Teixeira, Antonio's older brother. With Burkard, he thus ensured a double victory for Sportec. Andreas Corradina, on his comeback in the GT3 Cup, advanced to fourth position behind Fischli, followed by Marc Arn, Sébastien Pidoux and Mike Knutzon.

Unexpected sprint podium in the GT3 Cup (from left): Jose Texeira, Gregor Burkard and Dominik Fischli.

Texeira's revenge on the long haul
Antonio Teixeira took revenge for missing out on victory in the Endurance race. The 18-year-old had taken pole position in the GT3 Cup classification and immediately converted this advantage into the class lead at the start.

For the most part, Dominik Fischli followed closely behind him. The duo also completed the mandatory stop at the end of the twelfth of 31 laps as a pair. After that, however, Gregor Burkard slid in between the two before turning into the pit lane one lap later.

On lap 27, however, Burkard had to let Fischli pass again. At the finish, the two junior drivers were separated by just 0.691 seconds.

Fourth place went to Alexander Fach ahead of the double team of Ernst Inderbitzin/Christopher Zöchling, who thus crowned their great race to catch up from the 14th starting position. The soloists Marc Arn, Sébastien Pidoux and Joachim Günther followed in the other positions.

The question of the 2020 champion will now only be settled in three weeks' time at the season finale in Misano.

Antonio's revenge followed late Sunday afternoon with a sprint win ahead of Dominik Fischli.

Another double strike from Fenici
In the GT4 Club Sport class, Francesco Fenici once again left no stone unturned: The Roman emerged victorious from both races.

The overall classification of the 100-mile Endurance was secured by Jan Klingelnberg/Dino Zamparelli in their 991-II GT3 Cup from the Open GT group ahead of the duo Andy Feigenwinter/Jürg Aeberhard in the 997 GT3 R, who were leading until the last lap.

In the Porsche Drivers Competition Suisse, Daniel Bütler turned the most regular lap on the 5.245-kilometer GP circuit just outside Florence. We will cover GT4, GT Open and PDC in a separate report.