Robert de Haan Reclaims Championship Lead in Dramatic Porsche Carrera Cup Race

Robert de Haan has surged back to the top of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland standings after a thrilling victory in the penultimate race of the season at Hockenheim. A late penalty for the then-leader, Alexander Tauscher, handed the win to de Haan, who was aided by a remarkable display of sportsmanship from teammate Keagan Masters. This dramatic turn of events sets up an intense championship finale, with de Haan now holding a narrow advantage over his rival Alessandro Ghiretti.

Key Takeaways

• Robert de Haan took the lead in the championship standings following his win in race 15.

• A penalty for Alexander Tauscher, due to exceeding track limits, gifted the victory to de Haan.

• Keagan Masters displayed team spirit by voluntarily handing the lead to de Haan.

• Alessandro Ghiretti is now just two points behind de Haan heading into the final race.

• Michael Schrey and Sacha Norden secured their respective ProAm and Rookie class titles.

A Race of Twists and Turns

The 15th race of the season was decided in the closing laps when Alexander Tauscher received a penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits, forcing him to complete a "Penalty Lap." This unexpected turn of events propelled Robert de Haan into the lead. De Haan expressed his gratitude to Keagan Masters, who had been running in second place and voluntarily ceded the position to his teammate, a move pre-discussed before the race.

De Haan had anticipated a penalty for Tauscher due to his frequent track limit infringements. However, Masters' finishing time was also adjusted with a five-second penalty for an overtaking maneuver, dropping him to third and impacting the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia standings.

Ghiretti's Fightback

Championship rival Alessandro Ghiretti, starting from 13th on the grid after a penalty, managed to climb to sixth place. Despite a strong performance, the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup champion couldn't quite reach the leading group. "From 13th on the grid to sixth at the flag – that was all I could manage today," Ghiretti stated.

Championship Showdown

With only one race remaining, Ghiretti holds a slim two-point lead over de Haan. The championship will be decided at the Hockenheimring finale, where de Haan must finish ahead of Ghiretti to secure the title. A tie in points would also favor de Haan, as he has more wins this season.

Class Champions Crowned

In the ProAm category, Michael Schrey clinched the title with a strong performance, despite a minor mistake during the race. Sacha Norden secured the Rookie title with his eighth victory of the season, making him untouchable in the newcomers' class.

Final Race Details

The season finale will take place on Sunday, October 5th, at the Hockenheimring. Alexander Tauscher will start from pole position, with Flynt Schuring alongside him on the front row. Fans can follow the race live online.