After the season opener in Imola in northern Italy, another Formula 1 circuit is on the agenda of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland: the one-make cup will hold its third and fourth races of the season at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. As part of the supporting programme of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will start on Friday and again on Saturday for two sprints, each lasting around 30 minutes.

Due to the differences in altitude and fast corner combinations, the circuit in the triangle between the cities of Spa, Stavelot and Malmedy is respectfully nicknamed the "Ardennes roller coaster". "For me, it's a highlight of the season," says Robert de Haan, looking forward to the storied 7.004-kilometre circuit. The 18-year-old Dutchman from the German team Proton Huber Competition travels to Spa-Francorchamps as the leader of the standings after his two victories in Imola. "The long straights guarantee exciting slipstream duels and offer good opportunities for overtaking. And of course, the Eau Rouge is one of the most challenging and coolest corners of the year."

Robert de Haan knows the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps from previous starts just as well as his direct pursuers in the drivers' standings. His French teammate Marvin Klein, who finished second in the standings, won a race here last season in the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Porsche Junior Theo Oeverhaus finished sixth and seventh at the last Spa round of the German Carrera Cup two years ago. "One of the most iconic and challenging race tracks in the world," enthuses the Osnabrück native. "The combination of fast corners, elevation changes and legendary passages like Eau Rouge makes every lap an absolute experience." Oeverhaus, who competes for Bonk Motorsport, currently occupies third place overall.

Among the rookies, Matheus Ferreira is at the top ahead of the Spa weekend. The Brazilian, who competes for the Italian team Target, is also the best-placed rider from the talent pool. For the first time, the Dutchwoman Emely de Heus (ID Racing) is also a female driver in Porsche Germany's junior development programme. In the ProAm classification, Michael Essmann is in the lead. The entrepreneur from Rheine drives a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from Team75 Bernhard, the team of Porsche brand ambassador and Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard.

The 28 permanently registered participants in the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland will feature two guest drivers at the third and fourth races of the season. One of them is the Spaniard Mikel Azcona. In the Hadeca Racing team, the former European and World Cup winner in touring car racing has already proven his talent at Imola: In only his second race in the rear-wheel-drive Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the front-wheel drive specialist crossed the finish line in ninth place.

"The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the longest of the eight race tracks on this year's Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland calendar. Alternating between long straights and fast corners is a particular challenge for the drivers. The changeable weather often brings additional excitement into play. I'm also expecting a great crowd in the supporting programme of the FIA World Endurance Championship," says Thorsten Rückert, Project Manager of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland, looking ahead.

Synthetic fuel for the first time

With the approach of reducing CO₂ emissions in motorsport, the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland will use the synthetic fuel "DTM Pro Climate" for all eight race weekends in the 2025 season, which its partner ADAC is also using for the first time for its DTM, ADAC GT Masters and GT4 Germany series.

The circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has been the venue for the Belgian Grand Prix since 1925, with interruptions. After the most recent reconstruction in 2007, the route length was reduced from the original almost 15 kilometres to about half. Today's 7.004-kilometre circuit features some famous corners, including the downhill-uphill combination of Eau Rouge with a gradient of 15 per cent. Most recently, the German Carrera Cup competed in Spa-Francorchamps in 2023. The two race victories were celebrated by Harry King (Allied-Racing) and Loek Hartog (Team GP Elite). The Briton and the Dutchman will no longer compete in the German one-make cup this season.

Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland on TV and on the Internet

Fans can follow all races live on the Internet, including on the Porsche Motorsport Hub as well as the channels of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany at YouTube and on Facebook.

The TV station ProSieben also broadcasts on the Internet portal of ran racing both races live and also broadcast a summary on free TV. In addition, ntv, auto motor und sport TV and Motorvision will provide information about the races and background of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland with their own magazine articles.

Regardless of the race weekends, fans and media representatives worldwide can follow the one-make cup at any time on social networks. Instagram and X follow.

Schedule Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany

Round 2, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)

Thursday, May
8 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Training

Friday, 9 May
10:10 – 10:45 hrs: Qualifying
16:50 hrs: Start of season race 3 (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 10 May
9:20 hrs: Start of season race 4 (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Standings after 2 of 16 races

1. Robert de Haan (NLD/Proton Huber Competition), 50 points
2. Marvin Klein (FRA/Proton Huber Competition), 27 points
3. Porsche Junior Theo Oeverhaus (DEU/Bonk Motorsport), 26 points

Full results and standings:

https://racing.porsche.com/de-DE/carrera-cup-deutschland/ergebnisse

Race calendar Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland 2025

18 – 20 April: Imola (ITA), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
8 – 10 May: Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
6 – 8 June: Zandvoort (NLD), DTM
4 – 6 July: Norisring Nürnberg (DEU), DTM
8 – 10 August: Nürburgring (DEU), DTM
22 – 24 August: Sachsenring (DEU), DTM
12 – 14 September: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg (AUT), DTM
3 – 5 October: Hockenheimring (DEU), DTM