Dirk Schouten and Filip Teunkens take victory in the opening race of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux and win the first race overall in the Belgian endurance championship
Next appointment in about a month, again at Circuit Zolder
Circuit Zolder, May 19, 2024. The first race of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux at Circuit Zolder almost remained undecided until the finish. Until the last lap, Dirk Schouten and Jan Lauryssen (Belgium Racing) did not give each other an inch and after a spectacular incident by the latter, Dirk Schouten crossed the line as the winner, resulting in a victory in the Q1 Trackracing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, which he shared with Filip Teunkens.
It was a situation that reminded us of a Porsche sprint race: in the final phase of the first 125-minute race of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux at Circuit Zolder, the difference between Dirk Schouten and Jan Lauryssen was less than a second. However, the Dutchman, who won last weekend during the opening weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux at Spa-Francorchamps, saw that things were going wrong for Jan Lauryssen. “On the hill to the 'rea' something suddenly went wrong with Jan's car and I saw him go off the track. Until then it was a great fight and he was pushing hard. I am happy that he is not hurt and I am really enjoying this victory, the second in a week on Belgian soil. I had to wait a while, but it's all happening very quickly now. I'm really enjoying this," Schouten told the story in the shadow of the stage. “It also feels very special for me,” said his teammate Filip Teunkens. “I had to work for this for years, but the victory is here. Finally!"
The Q1 Trackracing duo obviously won the race in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux, but were also first in the opener of the Belcar Endurance Championship, which is Porsche's fifth consecutive victory in the Belgian endurance championship.
Belgium Racing and MM Racing to silver and bronze
Despite the incident, the Belgium Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 - of Jan Lauryssen and Dylan Derdaele still crossed the line in second place. “A big hit,” said Lauryssen after finishing. “But Porsche builds sturdy and safe cars, so not only was I unhurt, but despite a rollover I was still able to cross the line. A hard story…”
Third place at Circuit Zolder went to the Meurrens family, who stood on the podium of the competition for the first time with their MM Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992. Behind the Porsche of Mick, Tom and Steve Meurrens, fourth place and victory in GTB went to Arthur Peters and Kenny Herremans in the Tip Top Rent Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. They gave Porsche the victory in the GTB class.
The next round of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Benelux is on June 22 and 23, also at Circuit Zolder.
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