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New names on the team.
This year, the team’s race car will be driven on the track by four racers: Ieva Šlimas, who already tried her luck and gained experience last year, car enthusiast Porsche Anton Hegelmann, Edgar Zujus and circuit racing professional Robertas. Kupčikas.
“Preparing for this year’s season was not easy, but it was fun. The season was supposed to start in June when we had to participate in the 6-hour BEC race, but the Palanga race will be the team’s first race of the season. Global turmoil, like everyone else, adjusted the plans. We could only spend a month to train, but after putting in an intensive preparation program, we did everything on time and we will go to the track to make sure, ”says Robertas Kupčikas, project manager for Porsche Racing Experience and team leader for Porsche Baltic.
He adds that all the trainings were held at the “Nemunas Ring” race track in Kačerginė, all team members participated in joint trainings to get to know and understand each other better.
Ieva Šlimas, who has been representing the Baltic team at Porsche for the second year, says that due to the quarantined opportunities and canceled races, I had to try to make up for the training, and she was personally helped by the experience gained last year. “I have more confidence in my strength this year. Last year was my debut, so there was excitement. This year is calm because I already know the car and I am friends with it, the training sessions were effective. Now all that remains is to make friends with your skills and fight for a better moment ”, says Ieva with enthusiasm.
Team Photo / Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
A newcomer to the team, but not driving Porsche cars, Anton Hegelmann says that after receiving an offer to join the Porsche Baltic racing team this year, he didn’t think for a long time, because that opportunity is unique, so he prepared for the race responsibly.
“I myself belong to the Porsche Club of Lithuania and last year I had the opportunity to ride the track. I really enjoyed the track, so after receiving an offer to participate in the race this year together with the Porsche Baltic team, I did not hesitate for a long time. I knew and started the training, during which I became familiar with the car, I had to work with the simulator, and now for the first time I will try to participate in this race “, – the newcomer of the team shares his experience.
Edgar Zujus, who has a sporty and fast Porsche 911 GT3 in his garage, also joined the team this year, so he had the courage to sit next to the race-ready Cayman GT4. Furthermore, R. Kupčikas’ lessons helped to better understand the car and drive it.
“Every time we meet Robert, we receive valuable comments and instructions on how to drive the car, how to get into the curves, how to get out of them, where to stop. The car is perfectly controlled because, for example, my personal Porsche 911 GT3 is more powerful and more difficult to drive, and this one is much easier to control. Our Cayman GT4 is sport-ready and very comfortable for the races we will participate in, ”says Edgar, who so far has shared his impressions with the Baltic team at Porsche.
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
The Porsche Cayman used by the team is actually an almost ideal car for such a race: it is perfectly designed, as the weight balance between the front and rear axles is 50:50. The mid-mounted 3.8-liter engine reaches 400 hp and 420 Nm, and the transmission has a 7-speed automatic PDK. The car has an adjustable sports anti-lock braking system (ABS) and stability control (ESP).
Hegelmann pointed out that this is a true race car, so I had to get used to some things that are not common in other models. “When I sat behind the wheel the first time, it was weird: the sitting position was low, the wheel was very close. I liked the car, and what makes me happier is that it has an automatic transmission. I think Porsche really knows how to design and build a well-managed car, ”says a team member about his experience getting to know the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.
Ieva Šlimas, who will be driving this car for the second year in a row, has very warm feelings for this car.
“Sometimes some people drive for a year and are already looking at another car, but I love this car, I add a hand and have fun. There really is something to do with it, despite the fact that there is also traction control and an ABS system, ”says Ieva.
This year, the 1,006-kilometer marathon race will start on July 15, and participants will line up at the start line of the main race, which will feature the Baltic team from Porsche, on July 18. This year, the team expects a tough fight in the new GT4 class and will aim to drive its Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport so they can climb onto the podium at the end of the race.
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