MRS GT-Racing was denied a possible 992 podium at this past weekend’s Hankook 12H MISANO as a result of damage sustained in an on-track collision with eventual winner Saintéloc Junior Team. 

Coming into the fourth European round of this year’s 24H SERIES powered by Hankook, MRS GT-Racing was chasing a top three finish in the 992-Am standings following its class podium one round earlier at Portimão. After an impressive start to the 12-hour race in Italy, MRS GT-Racing was comfortably in the 992 top five, and, at one stage, ran as high as 3rd overall in-class. 

Sadly, a brush with eventual Hankook 12H MISANO winner Saintéloc Junior Team at turn eight brought the #988 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup into the pits in answer to an ABS alarm. A suspected power steering failure would cost the team a further 90-plus minutes shortly afterwards.

The delay dropped the German team, a former multi-time class winner at the Hankook 24H DUBAI, more than 60 laps behind the 992 frontrunners, and eventually led to the car’s retirement altogether. 

In a post-race report, team’s sales and driver manager Johan Koning, though disappointed, was still quick to praise MRS GT-Racing’s mechanics and engineers, as well as drivers Silvain Pastoris (on his 24H SERIES debut), Rolando Saca, and Mantas Janavicius.

“Contact with another car can cause fatal problems, even when it is already repaired and you go out on the track again,” Koning explained. “That happened to the #988 after a very professional repair. The mechanics did a great job and the drivers did theirs, but as a result of the crash we suffered, we needed to retire 40 minutes from the end.”

Across a closely fought qualifying session, Janavicius, Pastoris, and Saca, banked the 7th fastest average time overall in 992, as well as the 4th in 992-AM. An impressive opening stint from Janavicius (back for only his second 24H SERIES start following his maiden outing in Mugello) meant the #988 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup finished the opening hour as the second highest 992-AM runner. 

Following the team’s lengthy pit repairs shortly before half-distance, consistent stints by Janavicius, Saca and Pastoris (minus one 10-second penalty for a track limits violation), plus issues for standings leader Red Ant Racing and minis  meant MRS GT-Racing was still running 6th overall in 992. After another lengthy pit stop during the penultimate hour however, and with handling and brake issues still prevalent, the car was retired from the event altogether. 

“That’s our beloved racing. The next one will be better.” – Johan Koning

Despite the disappointment, MRS GT-Racing has entered two Porsche 992 GT3 Cups for the Hankook 24H BARCELONA on 13-14-15 September, at which the German team took finished 2nd in 992-AM last year. MRS GT-Racing has also registered four cars for the inaugural 992 Endurance Cup on 6-7 September.