What a great weekend for the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East as well as for Robert de Haan and Janne Stiak! Stiak, the 18-year-old German, was crowned the new champion of the series already in race 1 on Saturday, while de Haan dominated the weekend with two pole positions and two victories. In general the PCCME one more time was honored to be part of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP at the fascinating Bahrain International Circuit.

Robert de Haan was already fastest in the first free practice. The Dutch Porsche Supercup driver was followed by Stiak and Khaled Alahmadi from Saudi Arabia, leading the ProAM and GCC class. Topping the Masters category was Bankcy from Japan. The second practice, which took place in a great atmosphere under the bright lights of the famous Bahrain International Circuit just after the Formula 1 superstars had left the track after their second session of the day, gave the 14 Porsche GT3 drivers the chance to show their talent to the international public still present. De Haan again topped the time sheet ahead of Janne Stiak, with Khaled Alahmadi in P3 again fastest in the ProAM and GCC class and Bankcy leading the Masters category.

For qualifying around midday on Saturday, it was very hot and sunny at the Circuit, but the different conditions didn´t make much difference regarding the pecking order: Robert de Haan set pole position for both races ahead of Championship leader Janne Stiak, who was set to already secure the title at the Bahrain GP weekend, and Angus Whiteside from Great Britain in P3. Alahmadi in P4 overall was fastest in the ProAM and GCC class, with Bankcy again topping the Masters category.

De Haan then won the first race on Saturday, which happened just after a very interesting F1 qualifying, while Janne Stiak in P2 already secured the championship title 2024/25. “I’m very happy to win the title in the first race. To be a Porsche Cup champion is very special and this has been the perfect preparation for our summer in Europe”, said Stiak. “After winning the title in Race 1, my focus for Sunday now will be to just chill a bit because I’ve not been feeling well and just focus on doing the best I can.”

Caleb Sumich from Australia made it up to P3, while Khaleb Alahmadi won the ProAM and the GCC class. Alexandra Vateva from Bulgaria, the only female driver in the series, after a very strong performance reached another ProAM podium finish with P2 in class, while Saud Al Saud and Soeren Spreng had to retire due to heavy flat-spotted tyres. Bancky from Japan was the winner of the Masters category, after Krister Andero lost his chance for victory with a little mistake on the last lap. 

To crown his perfect weekend, de Haan scored a second victory on Sunday in a race that opened the Bahrain GP race day and saw the Dutchman crossing the finish line five seconds ahead of already crowned champion Janne Stiak with Brit Angus Whiteside in P3. Khaleb Alahmadi from Saudi Arabia in P5 overall won the ProAM- and the GCC class, while Bancky from Japan again topped the Masters category. “Today’s second race was a lot tougher than racing under lights last night. Compared to when I raced here last year, because we’re a month later, it’s a lot hotter and when I got out of the car I could really feel the heat but a huge thanks to my team for a fantastic weekend,” said de Haan. 

Before the final round of the season next week in Jeddah/Saudi Arabia. Alahmadi is leading the ProAM and GCC category ahead of Saud Al Saud, while in the Masters category Bankcy has a 16 points lead ahead of Mike Mim from Bulgaria. In the team championship it is extremely close between Saudi Racing with 195 points and Proton Huber Competition with 192. 

Series Head and Promoter Robert Lechner:  „First of all, congratulations to Janne Stiak for winning the overall title. He really showed great talent and dedication over the whole season, so he is a very well-deserved champion! For us it was a great weekend and we are proud to have been part of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP at Bahrain International Circuit. We really enjoy racing at this beautiful and perfectly managed track with its modern layout, where I come to since 2005 and where we are always very warmly received. This year it was very special as it also marked 20 years of Porsche racing in the Middle East. Now we are waiting to crown the other champions in the different classes next week in the season final in Saudi Arabia.”

General Manager Michael Schöch: „As I often say: After the race is before the next race for us. So we have now sent all our cars and equipment on the way to Saudi Arabia for our last race of the season in one week’s time. We are already very much looking forward to it, it will be another great event together with Formula 1 at this very fast street circuit in Jeddah with its very special atmosphere.”