Monza – Temple of Speed, as the circuit is called, is the fastest race track on the calendar for the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse. For me, this meant an unknown race track, a new team, a new car, and, therefore, all sorts of new things to learn.

On the first day, I struggled with the setup, for example, keeping the tire pressure in an optimal window or finding the right balance between top speed on the straights and downforce in the braking areas and corners. It took us a moment to find the optimal setup for me. The practice sessions were successful, and we were always within the top 5.

In qualifying, we delivered the results from the training successfully. P3 for me in the Sprint Quali, P1 for Yannick Mettler, my instructor and the Endurance, Teammate in the Endurance Quali.

In the Sprint race, I lost a place at the start due to some caution, but this was not tragic. Unfortunately, I misjudged my speed in the braking zone to turn 1 in lap two and had an accident, so I could not finish the race and remained without points – DNF.

As a result, I had to start from last place in the second sprint race and therefore had to fight my way through the field. I didn’t get near the top 3 because the overtaking maneuvers cost me time lap after lap. Nevertheless, I finished the race in P4, which was definitely a success.

The Endurance race was a full success for Yannick and me. Through a clever pit-stop strategy on the one hand, a good starting position, and a top performance, especially from Yannick, we celebrated the season’s first victory— an overwhelming feeling, especially under these circumstances.

At this point, a big thank you to AMAG First Rennsport, who was able to get the car ready again in the shortest possible time, and of course, to Yannick Mettler, who not only prepared me successfully and accompanied me through the race, but also played a major role in our success in Endurance.

Race Report: Porsche Sports Cup Suisse 2023 – Monza