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Sven Müller (GER), Matteo Cairoli (ITA)

Race report

Sven Müller (GER), Matteo Cairoli (ITA)
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, race 9, Formula 1 race at Monza/Italy, Race report
Porsche Junior Sven Müller enjoys perfect race weekend

It was an impeccable weekend for Porsche Junior Sven Müller: The 23-year-old from Germany won the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup races on Saturday and Sunday. At round nine on the Monza high-speed circuit in Italy, he beat a strong field of international rivals to cross the finish line ahead of Porsche Junior Matteo Cairoli (I/Market Leader Team by Project 1) and Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner Racing Middle East). “You don’t get it better than this! I can hardly believe it myself that I’ve won four of the last five races. I feel very good in the car – it’s simply running fantastically,” beamed Müller. This result has shuffled the Lechner Racing Middle East pilot up the points’ table to now rank third overall. Philipp Eng (Market Leader Team by Project 1) still leads the series with 137 points. Behind him sit Christian Engelhart (D/MRS GT-Racing, 120 points) and Müller (110 points).

When the German national anthem was played at the award ceremony at the “Autodromo Nazionale di Monza”, the German pilot had an action-packed race behind him. The challenging corners and ultra-fast straights on which the 460 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers could reach a top speed of up to 280 kilometres per hour became the benchmark for the 37-strong field contesting Sunday’s race. Cairoli and Müller, who took off from positions one and two, made a cracking start into the race, with Müller winning the initial sprint and settling in at the front of the 18-nation field. He put in an immaculate drive over the 18 laps to build up a 4.9-second gap to the rest of the field.

Cairoli successfully fended off his pursuers to take the flag in second place for the second time this weekend. “My aim, of course, was to win the race. But Sven was simply too strong this weekend. I’m pleased that I could climb the podium at my home race,” declared the 19-year-old youngster from Italy. Ammermüller crossed the finish line in third place and, with his earned points, he preserved his chance in the fight for overall honours at the end of the season. With 106 points, the Barcelona winner ranks fourth just four points behind Müller. Uwe Brettel, Head of Porsche Motorsport Sales, presented the trophies to the Supercup drivers.

Alex Riberas (The Heart of Racing by Lechner) from Spain occupied fifth place in the race and now lies fifth in the championship with 104 points. Sixth and seventh position went to Austria’s Christopher Zöchling (Fach Auto Tech) and Eng. “I’m glad this weekend is over. We have to work on the car. I’m understandably not happy with sixth and seventh, but it’s not the end of the championship,” concluded Eng. Starting from 18th after a fluffed qualifying, Porsche Junior Connor de Phillippi (USA/VERVA Lechner Racing Team) saw the flag in eleventh. “Today was all about damage control. Now I need to set my sights on my home race at the finale in Austin.”

Austin/Texas hosts the next race weekend of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on 23 to 25 October. Forty points are still up for grabs at the double-header season finale. The “Circuit of The Americas” is a home race for Porsche Junior Connor de Phillippi (VERVA Lechner Racing Team). Although the American comes from California, the 22-year-old is looking forward to racing in Texas: “It’s my first home race in three years. My family is coming to the track and that, of course, makes it something very special for me. I’m bringing my cowboy hat for good luck and I hope for top results.”

Result
Race 9 Monza
1. Sven Müller (D/Team Lechner Racing Middle East)
2. Matteo Cairoli (I/Market Leader Team by Project 1)
3. Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner Racing Middle East)
4. Christian Engelhart (D/MRS GT-Racing)
5. Alex Riberas (E/The Heart of Racing by Lechner)
6. Christopher Zöchling (A/Fach Auto Tech)
7. Philipp Eng (A/Market Leader Team by Project 1)
8. Jeffrey Schmidt (CH/ The Heart of Racing by Lechner)

Points’ standings after 9 of 11 races
Drivers
1. Philipp Eng (A/Market Leader Team by Project 1), 137 points
2. Christian Engelhart (D/MRS GT-Racing), 120 points
3. Sven Müller (D/Team Lechner Racing Middle East), 110 points

*Results and points standings preliminary