Speed Weekend wraps up at BIC with Simmenauer and Pereira taking Porsche wins

JB Simmenauer and Dylan Pereira were both victorious on Saturday to wrap up the fourth and penultimate round of the 2019/2020 Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, held as part of Speed Weekend at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Simmenauer won the meeting’s second race while Pereira claimed Race Three for his second victory in as many days.

Pereira won the meeting’s first race from pole on Friday, and then Simmenauer matched his feat in the second 12-lap sprint around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix track.

Simmenauer had clinched pole with a fastest lap of two minutes 02.170 seconds during the second session of Qualifying. He then went on to defend his leading position and take the Race Two chequered flag in a winning time of 24:58.103.

The victor was followed by Leon Koehler who was 1.654 seconds behind, while Pereira came third 2.075s back. Each of the top three overall were competing in the Porsche’s Pro class.

Jesse van Kuijk was triumphant in the ProAm category ahead of Daan van Kuijk and Christoffer Bergstroem; while the top three finishers in the Am class were Michael Knutzon, Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa and Jean-Marc Cordier.

In the third and final race of the round, Jesse van Kuijk was on pole but Pereira was able to claim the impressive win. He completed the event 4.068s ahead of runner-up Koehler and 10.545s in front of Simmenauer.

Jesse Van Kuijk was once again triumphant in the ProAm category ahead of Groeneveld and Daan van Kuijk; while in the Am category Shaikh Jaber led Knutzon to the finish with Michael Doppelmayr coming third.

The winners were presented their respective awards in podium ceremonies held after each race.

The 2019/2020 Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East now heads to its final round of the season from March 19 to 22, to be held once again at BIC and in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020.