A Promising Guest Start for the Future

Last weekend, Felix Hirsiger participated in the final race weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (PCCD) at Hockenheim with the FACH Auto Tech team. Like last year, Felix competed as a guest starter, but this time with significantly more experience and a championship title under his belt, which was reflected in his results.

As part of the Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft (DTM), the drivers of the Porsche Carrera Cup also fought for the last decisions of the season. By Thursday, the drivers had three test sessions to get accustomed to the track. The changeable weather conditions made it difficult for Felix to find a consistent rhythm, but the priority was to adapt to the much higher level of competition compared to the previous year.

The only official test session took place on Friday at noon — one of the longest sessions for Felix this season, lasting an hour. Unfortunately, heavy rain complicated the setup for the later qualifying session at 5 p.m., which was expected to take place in dry conditions. Felix was, however, ready to give his all in both qualifying sessions. The PCCD conducts two 12-minute qualifying sessions to determine the starting grids for the two weekend races. The challenge was to bring the tires up to temperature quickly and find a clear lap in a field of 27 cars. Felix managed to qualify in P18 for the first session and P15 for the second. Due to significantly improved track conditions, the timing of the flying laps was crucial. However, later on Friday evening, Felix received unfortunate news: He and four other drivers were penalized for speeding under a red flag in the first qualifying, resulting in their times being canceled. Felix had to settle for starting from 24th place in the first race.

A Comeback after a Scare

The weekend began with the first PCCD race scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on Saturday. Even at that early hour, the grandstands at Hockenheim were well filled, creating a unique atmosphere. The conditions for the first race were challenging: the racing line was dry, but the track was still damp off-line. After two formation laps, the 27 drivers lined up for a standing start. Felix got off the line well but had a scare in the second corner when he locked up off the ideal line. Fortunately, he managed to avoid the front runners and focused on making up positions. The race was turbulent, with numerous collisions and retirements. However, there were few interruptions from the safety car, and Felix was able to hold his pace well. After some overtakes in the Motodrom, he found himself in P10 in the closing laps, achieving his personal goal of finishing in the top 10. Proudly, he parked his 992 GT3 Cup in Parc Fermé. Felix gained 14 positions in this race and matched the pace of the top 5 drivers.

Fighting for Position Despite Setbacks

Sunday started with promising prospects for Felix and the team. The final race of the PCCD season was on the schedule, and the championship titles were still up for grabs. On Sunday, 95,000 spectators poured into Hockenheim — a true motorsport festival. Felix started from P15, once again setting his sights on the top 10. After a successful start, chaos ensued in the first few corners, dropping Felix to P19. However, he fought his way back up in the following laps. The race was marked by numerous safety car phases, during which the field was repeatedly bunched up, adding extra tension to the restarts. Shortly before the halfway point of the race, Felix was lightly tapped in the Mercedes corner, and a car ahead of him spun, leading to a minor collision. The car sustained some battle scars and was no longer in ideal condition. Despite this, Felix continued to make up positions and ultimately secured P11. Due to the many interruptions, only five effective racing laps were completed, preventing Felix from fully showcasing his pace. Nevertheless, his performance was impressive, earning him positive feedback. The team gained valuable insights from the collaboration, preparing them to work with Felix for the coming year.

This weekend offered a glimpse into the next year, where Felix aims to compete in the Carrera Cup against the best drivers in the 992 GT3 Cup. Together with our strong partners, we are working on the 2025 campaign and look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Next up for Felix is Misano, Italy, where he will compete in his final race of the season in the Porsche Sports Cup Switzerland, in which he is already crowned champion.