Record-Breaking Win at Zolder
Our national driver Ayhancan Güven left round five of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Benelux with a win. The round was held on 16-17 September alongside the European Touring Car Cup and the European Truck Racing Championship.
Competing with the main sponsorship of the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) and SporToto, 19-year-old Ayhancan raced at Belgium's Zolder circuit in a Turkish flag-liveried car prepared by Attempto Racing.
LAP RECORD BROKEN IN QUALIFYING
Ayhancan set the fastest times in both qualifying sessions on Saturday 16 September to take pole position. The 1:33.621 he recorded in qualifying for race two was also logged as the fastest lap ever set at Zolder by a Porsche GT3 Cup car, making him the circuit's new record holder…
TURKISH NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYED ON THE PODIUM
Sunday 17 September's races were hard-fought from start to finish. Ayhancan lined up on pole position for the first race, but wheelspin on the dusty surface at the start dropped him to fifth. Climbing steadily with attacks in the following laps, the driver took the lead and was first across the line to take the chequered flag. Collecting the winner's trophy on the podium as the Turkish national anthem played, Ayhancan Güven secured one of the most important results of his career.
RISK IN RACE TWO DROPPED HIM TO FIFTH
Light rain before the second race, held in the early evening, made conditions considerably trickier. With parts of the track remaining dry, Ayhancan, like many drivers, decided to start on slicks, which proved a very different experience. Dropping to third at the start, our representative made a successful move on the car ahead and pushed up to second. After the safety car came out following a crash further back, Güven chose to take a risk, went off the road and fell to sixth, finally crossing the line fifth under the chequered flag.
NEXT STOP: BARCELONA, SPAIN
Ayhancan will next compete in the joint Porsche Carrera Cup France and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Benelux event, with 40 drivers entered, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 30 September-1 October.
