A good preparation for the season

What should normally have been the first race weekend of the season unfortunately turned into a disappointment due to snow…..

The first race week of the year starts at Manthey!

Thursday is my introduction day for the PETN Porsche Talent Pool 2026. Together with 8 other talents, I have been selected from the Porsche participants and are now officially part of the Porsche Talent Pool 2026! We are expected at 09:00 at the Manthey factory, the factory team of Porsche Motorsport in Germany. The supplier of everything Porsche racing in Germany. To prepare us for the season, several cool activities are planned. We start with the:

Factory tour
The factory tour is a great guided tour through all departments at Manthey, including information about the company itself, such as its history and future plans.

Media training
The media training was given by the commentator and pit reporter of the NLS series. We were taught how to give strong and effective interviews and how to avoid saying things without thinking.

Simulator training
The simulator training took place on Manthey’s simulator, where they converted a crashed GT3 car into a 1:1 simulator. Here, we had two time slots with an engineer to drive the simulator. After each session, we evaluated together with the engineer. Everything you mentioned or noticed was immediately written down to work on in the next session.

Engineering explanation
To finish the day, we received an explanation to help us analyze our own race data. They showed us how to check and coach ourselves, so you can also work with your data independently and not only when an engineer is available.

A great day with many new impressions. 

Once back at the circuit, I go straight to the pit box. Of course, I had already seen pictures of the new car, but I really wanted to see it up close. Touch it, feel it, and check if everything is right. Yes — it looks amazing. With all these impressions, it turns out to be a very good day. I’m recharged for tomorrow and ready to hit the track.

Friday

Friday starts early. First, I had to register myself for the training day. Normally, free practice starts around 15:00, but today it already begins at 09:00 to give us some extra time ahead of the first race of the season. Before we are allowed to drive, the car has to go through scrutineering at 09:40.

After that, we can head out on track for some laps. Due to a few small points of attention and final checks, we’re not able to drive much early in the morning. But at 11:45, I finally get on track for the first time! As I go out for the first lap, it immediately starts raining. That first lap on slicks is therefore quite exciting. I inform the team via the intercom about the track conditions and immediately advise to let others start on rain tires. Of course, after a long and careful lap, I come straight back into the pits to switch to rain tires.

With limited experience in the rain on the Ring, especially not in this car, it’s actually very useful to have a full day of rain in preparation for Saturday. Alternating between driving laps and reviewing data together with my teammates Heiko and Nico works really well. I find good pace in the rain. The data shows that we can learn a lot from each other. Both of us are faster in different sections. Nice!

After completing a total of 9 laps, the day comes to an end. Immediately after this free practice, we gather with the Porsche Talent Pool in the Porsche lounge. Here we review the day together, and Porsche Motorsport shares some useful insights and valuable advice. Then it’s time for the briefing, and we prepare for Saturday. The weather forecast says there’s a chance of snow, let’s hope for the best! 

Saturday:

When waking up, it’s already clear that it will be difficult. There is snow! When we speak with other drivers in the pit box, opinions are divided. Some say, “this is not going to happen, we can go home,” while others say, “it’ll be fine, just wait and it will melt.”

We meet our group of Dutch marshals who are on their way to their posts… Everything suggests that we will “just” start this first race of the new season with some delay. The organization sends out a message: at 10:00 there will be a meeting with the teams. At 10:20, a decision follows. During this meeting, teams vote, and the tire suppliers are also consulted for advice. Can we race safely with these temperatures and the available tires?

For a moment, it seems like it will go ahead. The team springs into action, engines are started, drivers put on their helmets, yes, we’re going racing… or maybe not, there’s uncertainty again… But at least we’re ready, standing by to go if allowed. Then finally, the final decision comes. After more than 2,5 hours of waiting to see if the weather would improve, the organization is forced to cancel the event.

A big disappointment, but safety comes first of course. Despite the disappointment, I was completely ready. But Thursday and Friday turned out to be a great preparation for the season.

It is what it is, so on to next week; the first race of the PETN!