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Bleekemolen wins Monaco race
Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, round 5 at the Monaco Grand Prix, Race report: Jeroen Bleekemolen repeats flag-to-flag victory in Monte Carlo
Stuttgart. At the first rain race of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) secured a easy flag-to-flag victory. In a repeat of his last year’s success here in the Principality of Monaco, the 26-year-old Dutchman climbed to the top of the podium.
Due to difficult track conditions the 420 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars started the 16-lap race behind the safety car. After the track was given the all-clear at the end of the second lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen defended his front position. With a faultless run, the Jetstream Motorsport PZ Essen pilot gave his pursuers no chance on the 3.3 kilometre circuit and held onto his lead to the finish after a maximum race duration of 30 minutes.
Approximately seven-tenths of a second behind Bleekemolen came Damien Faulkner (Ireland) in second. The 31-year-old reigning vice-champion of the world’s fastest international one-make series had taken up the race for his SAS Lechner Racing squad from second on the grid. The third step of the podium was occupied by Sean Edwards (Great Britain) driving for Konrad Motorsport. The 21-year-old Monaco-resident had qualified his Porsche on fourth for his home event. In the race through the narrow streets he profited from a failed overtaking manoeuvre of Uwe Alzen (Germany). The 40-year-old Porsche specialist, who this year competes for SPS Performance – PZ Aschaffenburg, saw the chequered flag in fourth behind young Edwards.
Fifth position went to former DTM pilot David Saelens (Belgium), followed by his team mate in the Irwin Racing squad, Patrick Huisman (Netherlands). Unlike Saelens, who held onto his fifth qualifying position, the four-time Supercup champion Huisman had managed to move up the field by three positions. He had started from ninth on the grid to cross the finish line in sixth. René Rast (Germany, VELTINS MRS Racing), the current points’ leader Jan Seyffarth (Germany, Konrad Motorsport) and Chris Mamerow (Germany, Damac Kadach Racing Team) secured positions seven to nine respectively, with Slovakian Stefan Rosina (Lechner Racing Bahrain) rounding off the top ten.
Michael Bleekemolen celebrated a very special anniversary in Monte Carlo. The 58-year-old racer from the Netherlands contested his 30th race in Monaco. Bleekemolen, who last contested a full Porsche Supercup season in 2006, took up the race as a guest driver for the Racing Team Jetstream PZ Essen. Bleekemolen’s first race in Monaco was back in 1977 at the wheel of a Formula 3 racing car.
Sharing the championship lead on 76 points each after the fifth round are Jeroen Bleekemolen and Jan Seyffarth. Ranking second is Damien Faulkner. The reigning vice-champion has 64 points to his credit so far this season. Fourth is Chris Mamerow (59 points), with Uwe Alzen sitting just two points behind in fifth.
The next championship round of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup takes place on 22 June on the Circuit de Never in Magny Cours, as support to the French Grand Prix.
Jeroen Bleekemolen (winner): “That was a fantastic day for me and my family. My father celebrates his 30th race here – so it was great to mark this special occasion with a pole to flag victory. My huge complements to Damien. He was incredibly fair today and didn’t take any risks by trying to overtake me, even though I detected he was actually faster than me today.
Damien Faulkner (second): “It’s strange to start a race behind the safety car, but it was definitely the right decision. Under these conditions a normal start would have been too risky. It’s great to climb the podium again, especially here in Monaco. Maybe I could have done better but it doesn’t matter now. It’s wonderful to be up the front. The team worked extremely hard for this and deserves this result. For us all it was a wet but great day.”
Sean Edwards (third): “My car was perfectly prepared today and set-up for these conditions. I reckon a win was possible with my car. But with such rain it was impossible to overtake. There were huge puddles off the ideal line. Third is a super result for my team and me.”
Race result:
1. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Jetstream Motorsport PZ Essen, 31:04.876 min (96.714 km/h)
2. Damien Faulkner (IR), SAS Lechner Racing, + 0.695 seconds
3. Sean Edwards (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 1.290
4. Uwe Alzen (D), SPS Performance – PZ Aschaffenburg, + 1.725
5. David Saelens (B), Irwin Racing, + 2.117
6. Patrick Huisman (NL), Irwin Racing, + 2.612
7. René Rast (D), VELTINS MRS Racing, + 3.855
8. Jan Seyffarth (D), Konrad Motorsport, + 5.056
9. Chris Mamerow (D), Damac Kadach Racing Team, + 6.557
10. Stefan Rosina (SK), Lechner Racing Bahrain, + 12.438
Drivers’ standings after five of twelve rounds:
1. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), 76 points
2. Jan Seyffarth (D), 76 points
3. Damien Faulkner (IR), 64 points
4. Chris Mamerow (D), 59 points
5. Uwe Alzen (D), 57 points