Felix Hirsiger shines at Porsche Sports Cup Suisse in Imola

A Legendary Weekend on a Historic Track

Imola, June 23, 2024 – An exciting and challenging race weekend is behind Felix Hirsiger. During the third round of the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse on the historic Imola circuit, the young driver was able to impressively demonstrate his talent and mental strength.

The legendary Imola race track, officially known as Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, has a long and glorious history in motorsport. It is known for its demanding corners and the famous Acqua Minerali, which challenge the drivers to their limits. For Felix Hirsiger, it was the first time he raced on this traditional track.

Preparations Under Extreme Conditions

Felix, who is currently leading the GT3 Cup class championship, began his preparations with two intense test days on June 21 and 22. Despite extreme heat and high humidity, he quickly adapted to the track and dominated the time charts from the beginning. The Fach Auto Tech team, for which Felix races, did an excellent job throughout the weekend.

Qualifying Under Rainy Conditions

On the morning of June 23 at 9 AM, the qualifying session took place under difficult rainy conditions. Felix braved the wet asphalt and secured pole position for both races with an impressive performance. His best time was 1:58.294 minutes in the first qualifying round, and his second-best lap was 1:58.384 minutes, confirming his outstanding form.

A Turbulent Race Day

On Sunday, the race day, the weather conditions changed dramatically, and it began to rain. Despite a minor spin, Felix secured pole position for both races in qualifying.

The first race of the weekend started at 11:15 AM and lasted 35 minutes. Felix started from pole position but had to give up the lead early and struggled to regain it. Two safety car phases caused the field to bunch up repeatedly. As the track dried quickly, the rain tires overheated, and Felix finished the race in fifth place.

Triumph After Hard Work

Disappointed by this result, Felix used the time after the race to analyze his mistakes and mentally prepare for the second race. Again starting from pole position, Felix significantly pulled away from the start and built a comfortable lead after one lap. The new rain tires quickly reached optimal temperature, allowing him to extend his lead to 7.2 seconds. Through excellent tire management, he managed to maintain the lead to the finish and won the race.

With this victory, Felix celebrated his first success in Imola and continued his winning streak from the last race weekend. His impressive mental strength and determination to come back with a dominant victory after a challenging first race showcase his exceptional skills as a driver.

Looking Ahead to the Summer Break and the Next Challenge

Now the drivers enter an eight-week summer break before heading to Portimao, Portugal, for the fourth round of the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse on August 29 and 30. Felix Hirsiger will enter the next phase of the championship with strengthened confidence and great motivation.