First race weekend in the Porsche GT4 CS
An unforgettable debut!
Last weekend, the time had finally come: my first race weekend in the PCHC series at the Nürburgring was just around the corner. After more than a year's break from real motorsport, I was able to take my place in a race car again, this time in Smyrlis Racing's Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.
Friday morning: Difficult start in the rain
The first practice session took place under difficult conditions, it rained from the start. It was the first time I had ever driven on a real race track in the rain. I approached the session with caution in order to bring the car back safely and without incident. Despite the wet conditions and the long break from real driving, I was able to gain valuable initial experience on a wet track, an important learning step for the future.
Friday afternoon: Dry practice and first race
In the afternoon, the Nürburgring was dry, and I was finally able to start pushing the limits and building confidence in the car. My lap times kept improving, and I felt increasingly comfortable in the GT4, even though there was still room for improvement.
Shortly afterwards, the first race was already underway. I was very cautious at the start and lost a few positions as a result. But after the first lap, I managed to overtake a car spectacularly on the outside, and at that very moment, something just clicked in my head. I felt confident in the car, found my rhythm, and made up more positions. Towards the end of the race, I was right behind P2 in my class. Unfortunately, the race was neutralized by a full course yellow phase, and the more experienced drivers knew exactly where they could drive slightly faster than allowed. As a result, P2 pulled away, and I finished my first race in a strong third place.
Saturday: Technical challenges and a strong second place
In the second race on Saturday, I was able to start with fresh tires for the first time, which was a completely new experience for me. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the tires up to the optimum temperature and start correctly, which later led to vibrations. In addition, the rev, ABS, and traction control indicators failed during the warm-up lap of the race. I therefore had to drive the car “blind” and estimate the optimal shift point.
Despite these difficulties, after a few laps I was able to hold my own in P2, pull away from the pack behind me and close in on the leader at the same time. Then there was another full course yellow phase, which caused me to lose time and move closer to P3. At the restart, I saw the green flag a little too late and the limiter couldn't be switched off immediately, so P3 passed me five minutes before the end. But giving up was out of the question: on the last lap, just four corners before the finish, I was able to regain P2 with a spectacular overtaking maneuver at over 200 km/h.
Conclusion: A weekend full of excitement and progress
With P3 and P2 finishes, I not only celebrated my first podiums in real motorsport, but was also able to compete on equal terms with significantly more experienced drivers. It was an intense, instructive weekend that showed me I'm on the right track.
Thanks to my supporters
A huge thank you goes out to everyone who supported my crowdfunding project. Without your contributions and your belief in me, this weekend would not have been possible in this form. You have enabled me to take the decisive step on my journey from sim racing to real motorsport, and for that I am incredibly grateful to you.
What's next?
In the coming weeks, I will be posting a vlog about the race weekend on my YouTube channel so that you can experience the whole thing, from the preparations to the emotional moments after the finish. At the same time, I am now working with a sports marketing company to find suitable sponsors for the 2026 season. My goal is to compete in more races and pursue my long-term dream: to make it into the Porsche Junior Talent Pool.
