When Morris Schuring crossed the finish line first in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, he was crowned the youngest Supercup race winner yet at the age of 18 years and five months. 21-year-old Frenchman Alessandro Ghiretti secured the title in the Rookie classification. Up to 32 of the 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup tackled the eight rounds of the 2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
“One of the most suspenseful seasons”
The 2023 season will go down as one of the most suspenseful in the history of the Porsche Supercup: two out of three championship decisions went down to the wire at the very last race of the season finale. In Monza, Italy, a mere 0.4 seconds decided the title fight between Bastian Buus (BWT Lechner Racing) and Larry ten Voorde (Team GP Elite), with the Porsche Junior from Denmark ultimately coming out on top. Australia’s Harri Jones (BWT Lechner Racing) narrowly missed out on clinching the Rookie crown by less than 0.3 seconds. This accolade went to the Frenchman Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras). BWT Lechner Racing from Austria won the team title in the Porsche Supercup for the 13th time.
“This year’s Porsche Mobil1 Supercup was a real nail-biter with some wild races – and the fans were once again treated to some top-level entertainment. The thrilling duels underline the high level of competition at the top. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible professionalism of the teams. I congratulate Bastian Buus, Alessandro Ghiretti and BWT Lechner Racing on their titles and would like to thank all the teams, our partners and the entire Supercup squad for a successful year,” says Oliver Schwab, Project Manager Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Guest drivers from 20 nations
Eight races run as support to the Grands Prix in Monaco, Austria, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy made up last season’s Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup calendar. Each of the sprint races took around 30 minutes. Sixteen teams competed with a total of 52 permanent drivers and guest drivers from 20 countries. The Netherlands provided the largest contingent with twelve drivers, ahead of the United Kingdom (7) and Italy (6). But the flags of Argentina, Venezuela, USA, South Africa, Australia, China and, for the first time, North Macedonia were also flown on the B-pillars of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
In terms of victories, Harry King was the most successful driver. The UK racer occupied the top step of the podium three times. Morris Schuring (Fach Auto Tech) from the Netherlands won twice, while Porsche Junior Bastian Buus, Loek Hartog (Team GP Elite) from the Netherlands and Alexander Fach (Fach Auto Tech) from Switzerland each won once. A total of eleven drivers climbed the podium in 2023. Buus and ten Voorde both finished in the top three five times. Buus, ten Voorde and King clinched pole position twice each, with the newly crowned Supercup champion Buus turning more fastest race laps (4) than anyone else. The Dane also delivered the best performance in terms of speed, lapping the Formula 1 circuit in Monza at an average of almost 190 km/h.
Alessandro Ghiretti – first Rookie champion, then Porsche Junior
Newcomers to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the so-called rookies, enjoy special support. As a coach, Marco Seefried, himself an active racing driver, is on hand to help with questions about technology or tactics, for example. The young drivers also benefited from a special fitness regime including a pre-season medical test. The rookies also exchanged ideas with seasoned specialists such as ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock and former deputy race director of Formula 1 Herbie Blash.
With four victories, the Frenchman Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras) secured overall victory in the Rookie classification. Huub van Eijndhoven (GP Elite) from the Netherlands crossed the finish line twice as the best-placed rookie. The Belgian Benjamin Paque (CLRT) and Harri Jones (BWT Lechner Racing) from Australia each scored one Rookie-class win in the Supercup.
Moreover, Ghiretti prevailed in the in-house Rookie ranking, which, in addition to the race results, also assessed criteria such as fitness, punctuality and attention to detail, for example in race reports. At the end of the season, the 21-year-old Frenchman also won the shootout to become the 2024 Porsche Junior. Ghiretti follows in the shoes of Supercup champion Bastian Buus.
Ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock contests two races as a guest driver
In Budapest and at the finale in Monza, ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock took the wheel of the Supercup’s VIP nine-eleven. The German produced a documentary for the Sky Sports TV channel, for which he now accompanies the Grands Prix as a commentator. As part of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Glock helmed the 5,000th Cup 911 ever built and finished in 15th place. At the Italian Grand Prix, he called on his wealth of experience in the turbulent Supercup race: Taking up the race from P23 on the grid, Glock advanced through the field to take the flag in eleventh place.
Worldwide media coverage
More than two dozen TV channels broadcast the eight races of the 2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup live or recorded in over 100 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa. The official Formula 1 internet channel (f1tv.formula1.com) provided additional live images and information. In addition, the Porsche Motorsport Hub (motorsports.porsche.com) gave fans background reports, interviews, portraits and live timing of free practice sessions, qualifying sessions and races.
2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in facts and figures
14,737.935
kilometres – this is the total distance covered by all drivers during the eight races of the season.
3,093
laps turned in total by all drivers at the eight races.
2,988
Michelin control tyres used in the eight races and pre-season tests, including 2,598 slicks.
189.303
km/h: average speed for the fastest race lap of the season. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (Denmark/BWT Lechner Racing) turned the record lap at round eight in Monza.
175.890
km/h: highest average speed in a race. Morris Schuring (Netherlands/Fach Auto Tech) set this pace at Spa-Francorchamps and won.
127.284
km/h: average speed of winner Harry King (BWT Lechner Racing) at the season opener in Monte Carlo. The race on the streets of Monaco was the slowest of the season.
82.340
km: Distance of the Silverstone race – the longest of the season.
55.908
km: Due to the sudden onset of heavy rain, the race in Spa-Francorchamps was red-flagged and classified after the eighth lap – making this race the shortest of the year.
52
different drivers contested the eight rounds of the 2023 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
28
As the track license does not allow more vehicles, the field of participants at the season opener in Monaco was capped at 28 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
20
countries from which the drivers came. The Netherlands made up the majority with twelve permanent participants and guest starters, followed by the United Kingdom (7) and Italy (6). Also represented: Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Australia, Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, North Macedonia, South Africa, Norway, USA, Finland, United Arab Emirates and China.
20
drivers qualified within one second: That’s how close it was at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza during the Italian Grand Prix. On average, the 13 fastest drivers in qualifying were separated by less than a second.
18
years and five months: The age of Morris Schuring (Fach Auto Tech), when he celebrated his first Supercup victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Dutchman is the youngest winner in the history of the Supercup.
17
Just two weeks after his 17th birthday, Flynt Schuring made his first Supercup guest appearance for the Huber Racing team as part of the Dutch Grand Prix. The Dutchman was the youngest participant in the 2023 season.
16
different teams fielded up to four Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. This included the Supercup’s own squad, which campaigned the VIP 911 twice for ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock.
11
different drivers celebrated on the podium. Champion Bastian Buus (Denmark/BWT Lechner Racing) and predecessor Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Team GP Elite) were podium guests five times each. Also on the podium: Harry King (United Kingdom/BWT Lechner Racing) three times; Morris Schuring (Netherlands/Fach AutoTech), Loek Hartog (Netherlands/Team GP Elite) and Dorian Boccolacci (France/CLRT) twice each; Leon Köhler (Germany/Huber Racing), Alexander Fach (Switzerland/Fach Auto Tech), Robert de Haan (Netherlands/Richardson Racing), Alessandro Ghiretti (France/Martinet by Alméras) and Simone Iaquinta (Italy/Huber Racing) once each.
10
drivers scored points in the rookie classification. The overall winner was Alessandro Ghiretti (France/Martinet by Alméras).
7,004
Length of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in kilometres – the longest circuit of the season.
7
different racetracks hosted the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2023. The race in Imola, Italy, which was cancelled due to bad weather, was replaced by a second race as part of the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
5
different drivers won at least one race: Harry King (United Kingdom/BWT Lechner Racing) won three times, Morris Schuring (Netherlands/Fach Auto Tech) twice. The remaining victories went to Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (Denmark/BWT Lechner Racing), Alexander Fach (CH/Fach Auto Tech) and Loek Hartog (Netherlands/Team GP Elite).
3.337
kilometres: Length of the street circuit in Monaco – the shortest race track on the Supercup calendar.
3
Third place was the best result for a rookie, secured by Alessandro Ghiretti (France/Martinet by Alméras) at Silverstone.
2
championship leaders during the season: Harry King (United Kingdom/BWT Lechner Racing) initially led the series with a win at the season opener in Monaco. In round two, Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (Denmark/BWT Lechner Racing) took the lead and held onto it to the end.
2
Second place was the best result for a guest driver thanks to Dutchman Robert de Haan (Richardson Racing) in the Supercup race on the Formula 1 track in Silverstone.
1,818
seconds was the advantage held by winner Harry King (United Kingdom/BWT Lechner Racing) over second-placed Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Team GP Elite) in Monaco – the greatest margin in 2023.
0,219
seconds was the gap between the winner Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (Denmark/BWT Lechner Racing) and second place-getter Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Team GP Elite) at the Supercup race in Spielberg, Austria – no other race was closer in the 2023 season.
0,048
seconds was the closest margin in a qualifying session. At Silverstone, Dorian Boccolacci (France/CLRT) secured pole position with this lead over Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Team GP Elite).