Theo Oeverhaus champion after fantastic Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East weekend at F1 start in Bahrain
The 19-year-old from Germany crowned himself the first overall champion of the series with two races still to go at Bahrain International Circuit just before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in front of an impressive crowd! With seven victories and two podium finishes out of ten races so far, Oeverhaus, also reigning German Porsche Carrera Cup rookie champion, dominated the first season in an impressive way!
Being part of the start of the new Formula1 season 2024, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the Bahrain International Circuit, was a great honour for the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East. An impressive field of 20 drivers representing 13 countries saw nine in the PRO category, six in ProAM, and five in the AM class, making a key statement for the PCCME.
After two free practice sessions, Oeverhaus set pole position in qualifying for the first race, one tenth of a second ahead of Dutchman Robert de Haan, with British Porsche Supercup driver Harry King in P3. Khaled Alahmadi from Saudi Arabia led the ProAM and GCC categories, while Italian Sebastian Gorga was on top of the AM category. The second fastest lap of each driver in qualifying decided the grid for race two. De Haan came out on top of Oeverhaus, and German youngster Janne Stiak. Khaled Alahmadi was again fastest in the ProAM and GCC categories, as well as Sebastian Gorga in the AM category.
Under the shining lights of the Bahrain International Circuit, Harry King won the first race on Friday night after making it from P3 on the grid into the lead already after an action-filled first lap. Runner-up to the British Porsche Supercup driver was Robert de Haan, ahead of Theo Oeverhaus, who was keen to secure very important points to still be able to clinch the title during the Bahrain weekend. Soeren Spreng had been in the lead in the ProAM category for quite some time, but finally Khaled Alahmadi from Saudi Arabia took the win there as well as in the GCC category, while local hero Jaber Al-Khalifa from Bahrain, a former AM champion, came first in this category.
The second race on Saturday, in front of a huge Formula 1 crowd, went to Robert de Haan, who, from pole position, immediately took the lead and was able to pull a small gap over Harry King, who crossed the line second ahead of youngster Janne Stiak. Finishing P5 after a small off was enough for Theo Oeverhaus to secure the overall PCCME title with two races still to go. Another German, Soeren Spreng, claimed victory in the ProAM category, Khaled Alahmadi in the GCC category, and Saif Al-Ameri was on top of the AM category for the first time.
General Manager, Michael Schöch:
"As I often say, after the race is before the next race for us. So we have now sent all our cars and equipment on the way to Saudi Arabia for our season final in one week. We are already very much looking forward to it; it will be another great event together with Formula 1 at this very fast street circuit in Jeddah with its very special atmosphere.”
Head and Promoter, Robert Lechner:
"First of all, congratulations to Theo Oeverhaus for winning the overall title. He really showed great talent and dedication over the whole season, so he is a very well-deserved champion! For us, it was a great weekend, and we are proud to have been part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Bahrain International Circuit, this beautiful and perfectly managed track with its modern layout, where I have come since 2005 and where we are always very warmly received, for the third time already in the first PCCME season. Now we are waiting to crown the other champions in the different classes next week in Saudi Arabia.”
Copyright: Lechner Racing