STUTTGART, Germany — Robert de Haan won race three of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
After 20 action-packed laps, the Dutchman crossed the finish line approximately three seconds ahead of his German teammate Janne Stiak. Third place went to Ariel Levi.
At the age of 17 years, ten months and five days, de Haan crowned himself as the youngest winner in the history of the one-make cup, which was established in 1990. Stiak, who rounded off the one-two victory for Porsche brand ambassador Timo Bernhard’s team, is nine months younger.
Finishing third, 23-year-old Levi is yet another talented youngster in the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland. He is also the first Israeli racing driver to clinch a podium result.
“That was a very interesting race,” said polesitter de Haan with a smile. “I made a mistake at the start which cost me the lead.” That was the moment when his teammate Janne Stiak swept to the front of the field for the first time in his career. “I had a great start but I didn’t get the rear tires up to temperature properly, so Robert got past me again.”
Larry ten Voorde and Marvin Klein were initially locked in a battle for third place. In a direct duel, the defending champion from the Netherlands nudged the French newcomer’s car into a spin. A trailing driver was unable to avoid the melee and rear-ended Klein – throwing them both out of the race.
Ten Voorde managed to continue driving but was immediately handed a penalty by the stewards. He had to take two penalty laps, which meant that twice he had to reduce his speed to 60 km/h for 50 metres. By the time he crossed the finish line, Larry ten Voorde had plowed his way back up to eighth place.
“Oschersleben is known for being chaotic in the first few laps. I used a defensive tactic and stayed out of all trouble. That paid off. I’m incredibly proud of my third place,” reported Levi, who started the race from sixth-place on the grid. He was followed over the line by Theo Oeverhaus from Osnabrück, Huub van Eijndhoven from the Netherlands and championship leader Harry King (Allied-Racing) from England.